Our Team

Principal Lawyer (LLM, LLB, GDLP)

Michael Moussa

Michael Moussa is the Principal Lawyer of National Criminal Lawyers® and exclusively specialises in Criminal Law. He is the force and drive of the firm and is responsible for some of Sydney’s most high profile matters.

Michael is both a member of the Law Society and also a member of the Criminal Division of the legal aid panel.

Michael has worked with and managed some of Sydney’s best Criminal Law firms and has obtained outstanding results in what others may describe as some of the most complex of cases.

Michael is a renowned criminal lawyer for his advocacy skills and putting the prosecution to vigorous testing. Michael’s courtroom style and demonstrated ability to crack even the most compelling witnesses has led to him being nationally recognised as an outstanding criminal defence lawyer.

Michael has appeared in high profile criminal cases, including Indecent Assault charges, Acts of Indecency charges, Fraud charges, Manslaughter charges, and Abduction charges. Appearing daily in the Local Courts, District Courts, Supreme Court of NSW, and the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Michael is passionate about ensuring that justice is seen and served for all his clients and gains no better satisfaction than winning his cases, regardless of how small or complex the matter is.

Michael also specialises in Apprehended Domestic Violence Order applications, parole hearings, NSW Crime Commission proceedings and Coronial Inquests. Some of the best advocates of our time, including Supreme Court Judges and Senior Counsel, have mentored Michael’s rise as a criminal lawyer. He is only one of the very limited criminal lawyers in Australia who has completed a Masters in Law (Criminal Practice).

Michael has an Egyptian Australian background and speaks Arabic fluently. He has a large middle eastern clientele in Western Sydney. He has a wealth of experience in complex and serious criminal cases and possesses the skill to digest enormous amounts of material, and issue resolve, whilst formulating the best of case strategies that will result in the dismissal of charges and not guilty verdicts. Michael has conducted a number of presentations for advocacy which has allowed him to be a highly respected courtroom lawyer.

Michael has become an advocate for those mistreated by the police. His passion is helping those who have been made vulnerable and aggrieved by the improper conduct of police during a person’s arrest. He is an advocate who ensures that both the NSW and Federal Police conduct their inquiries within the parameters of the law.

Michael prides himself on providing clear and accurate legal advice, with a careful assessment of each case. He takes pleasure in securing the best possible result for his clients, helping to bring them a step closer to putting their lives back on track. He brings a wealth of knowledge to the criminal field ensuring that all clients are treated fairly during all proceedings. He continues to strive to protect the rights of those who have been accused of criminal offences. Michael is a dedicated, focused, and ambitious Criminal Lawyer who is a defender of the rights of those charged with Criminal and Traffic offences.

If you wish to get in contact with Michael for a FREE consultation for any of your legal issues, contact National Criminal Lawyer’s office on 1800 CRIM LAW and our warm and caring administration team will schedule an appointment that’s suitable for both parties.

Highlights

• Violent kidnapping accused makes bail bid
• Craig Kelly Adviser Faces AVO
• Charges Dropped for Girlfriend of Bikie
• Investor Accused of Fraud Granted Bail
• Banditos Bikie Receives Bail
• Sydney Store Pervert Avoids Jail
• Bail Granted for Serious Allegations
• Charged Dismissed
• Granted Bail Twice
• Reduced Sentence
• Achieved Bail, Despite Hefty Fraud Accusations
• Abduction Charge, Charges Dropped
• Security Guard Charged with serious Sexual Offences Sentenced to ICO

Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer

John Amiradakis

John Amiradakis is an experienced solicitor with over 20 years of experience in various fields within the legal profession, working abroad in South Africa and locally within Australia now for 8 years. He is National Criminal Lawyers’® Senior Criminal Defence Lawyer.

He obtained his law degree from the University of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2003 and was admitted as an Attorney in the High Court of South Africa in 2006. He later did his law conversion through the Legal Profession Admission Board of NSW in 2016. His years of experience as a legal professional both abroad and locally, enables him to provide sound legal advice and deliver exceptional results to all his clients.

John’s experience in litigation has allowed him to use his skills in various areas of the law which include commercial law, liquidations, employment law, criminal, and traffic law. He has practiced exclusively in criminal and traffic law for several years of late and has a passion in this field.

John strives to achieve excellent outcomes for all his clients as he is a good communicator and gives honest and upfront advice, so clients feel at ease and there is a “no surprises” approach. He is both professional and personable at the same time.

John, as a Senior Criminal defence Lawyer for National Criminal Lawyers®, holds a large caseload filled with various different criminal and traffic matters, including various high profile cases.

He is able to relate to people from a wide variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. John understands that when people are charged with criminal offences that this causes them stress, anxiety, and uncertainty in their lives. He is thorough and diligent and goes out of his way to make clients of National Criminal Lawyers® feel comfortable, well informed, and prepared. He is with them every step of the way.

John’s extensive experience has made him an effective and fierce cross examiner and his success in conducting Local Court Hearings and District Court all grounds appeals and severity appeals is testament to his strong work ethic and dedication to his clients and his work. His experience and preparation, no matter how big or small the matter is, is key to him achieving fantastic outcomes.

John has conducted numerous Local Court hearings all over Greater Sydney and NSW. In the last few years, he has a achieved a win ratio of 85% of all defended hearings. He is meticulous and analyses briefs of evidence thoroughly. His attention to detail is exceptional and this allows him to carefully absorb and dissect his cases, identifying both strengths and weaknesses in every matter he deals with.

Where a prosecution case is strong and the evidence is not in favour of the accused person, he negotiates the charges and the facts with the police and/or the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that the most lenient outcome can be achieved for his clients.

He also conducts numerous sentencing hearings, mental health applications and release applications on behalf of National Criminal Lawyers®. He instructs both psychiatrists and psychologists in matters where mental health is an issue and ensures that psychological reports are used effectively as and when required. His matters range in various complexities and types and he has dealt with inter alia domestic violence matters, including defending of Apprehended Violence applications, drink driving and drug driving, assaults of all nature, affrays, drug possession and drug supply, aggravated break and enters, driving whilst disqualified and suspended and license appeals.

John’s passion for people and the law and obtaining outstanding results for his clients is testament to his strong work ethic and communication skills.

An example of one of John’s successful outcomes within National Criminal Lawyers® was a case where a father was charged with assaulting his son of 8 years of age causing actual bodily harm. The bruising to the child was extensive and a court would generally find that a term of imprisonment would be warranted. This is because domestic violence offences are of a serious nature. The offence was committed in the home of the child, a place where he is supposed to feel safe and secure and due to the vulnerability of the young child. Upon taking instructions from the father, it appeared he may have significant mental health issues which have been ignored and pushed aside for a number of years. John instructed a psychologist to prepare a psychological report and it transpired that the father had complex PTSD along with depression and anxiety. The father was himself subjected to physical, verbal, and emotional abuse as a child at the hands of his stepfather. Whilst his actions to his son were unlawful and could in no way be regarded as lawful chastisement, the court placed great weight on the psychological report of the psychologist as a mitigating factor in his sentencing. This enabled the father to commence counselling to address his mental health issues and complete a domestic violence programme. In the absence of the psychological report, the father would almost have certainly been sentenced to a term of imprisonment. This was avoided and he received a good behaviour bond.

Another example is where a person was found guilty at the conclusion of the local court hearing. Advice was given to the client to lodge an all-grounds appeal which John did. John argued that the complainant in the matter was not an accurate, honest, and reliable witness. John pointed out all the contradictions and inconsistencies in the complainant’s evidence including her prior inconsistent statement. The District Court agreed and upheld the appeal. The final AVO was further dismissed by the Court. The client was relieved and could apply for his Australian citizenship and his good character was maintained.

Outside of work, John is a devoted family man, and his focus is on his two sons, his wife, and his beloved sausage dogs. He is an avid golfer and has represented his golf club at a scratch league level for a number of years.

Criminal Defence Lawyer

Timothy Stern

Timothy Stern commenced his legal practice at National Criminal Lawyers® in 2023, with his sole focus being criminal and traffic law.

Tim graduated with Juris Doctor at UTS in 2019 with graduate legal practice certificate in 2022. Prior to legal training, Tim also obtained a Bachelor of Education with Honours at UTS in 2004, and a Master of Business at the University of Tasmania in 2010.

Prior to his legal career, Tim worked in a variety of senior executive roles in the public health and the community services sector. Tim has established services to assist the underprivileged in the community in areas of mental health, drugs and alcohol and preventative medicine.

Tim’s professional and life experience allows him to thoroughly assesses all legal and personal issues in the initial conference with clients at National Criminal Lawyers®.  This enables Tim to offer each client well thought-out advice.  Tim is committed to ensuring you hear the truth of your circumstances – which may not necessarily be what you want to hear.  This will ensure a realistic, holistic and client centred approach to your matter.  Tim takes time to understand his clients and their unique personal circumstances, to ensure the best possible legal outcome.

Unlike many lawyers in the profession, Tim keeps in regular contact with his clients and making himself available to them. Facing court for the first or second time can be a daunting experience for most, and a life changing experience for many. That is why Tim is good at explaining to his clients’ important legal concepts and the court process, from start to finish. Tim draws on his legal knowledge and life experience to strategise ways to use legal methods and court processes to obtain the best possible outcome for his clients. In doing so, he gives each client a full set of realistic options and advises them on what is in their best interests and why. With a nonjudgemental attitude and a calm demeanour, Tim makes his clients feel understood and well informed so they may have confidence in the legal process.

Since commencing legal practice, Tim has experience in running defended criminal hearings, sentencing hearings, mental health application hearings (section 14), bail applications, defended AVO hearings, and suspended licence appeals.

While Tim has interest and knowledge across all areas of criminal law, he has a particular interest in working with clients who experience mental health issues, and clients who have been wrongly identified by police as being the aggressor when they are in fact the victim.

Tim has a particularly high rate of obtaining successful section 14 applications within National Criminal Lawyers®, diverting clients away from the criminal system and into mental health care.

Due to his community service sector background, Tim greatly understands the impact of mental illness on an individual, the connection between their mental health state and the alleged offence. Tim comprehensively instructs highly reputable psychologists and other treatment specialists to have his clients assessed, providing an effective psychological report for use in court.

Tim also has a particular interest in working with victims who have been wrongly identified by police as the aggressor. A matter so often seen in the case of domestic and family violence, Tim is passionate about ensuring the wrongly accused perpetrator is justly vindicated and not forced to take a ‘deal’ to end the matter quickly.  A common feature of these cases is systems abuse – such as fabricating a statement to police or exploiting their victim having a language barrier. There are many ways perpetrators can use and abuse the systems available to them – Tim’s experience and expertise working with these systems, which spans over 25 years, will ensure a successful defence in these matters.