O'Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors, Sydney

29/08/2026

$80M in v**es, gold bullion, and luxury watches 👀

Sydney's latest organised crime bust came with a charge sheet most people don't fully understand, directing a criminal group and proceeds of crime hit very differently to a standard importation charge.

We broke it down 👇

A $80M v**e and to***co bust made headlines, but the charges that matter (directing a criminal group, proceeds of crime) are heavier than the importation offence itself. We explain why.

27/08/2026

You don't need to own a 3D printer, or have ever made anything, to be charged with a serious fi****ms offence in NSW.

Just having the file of a 3D gun on your phone or laptop can be enough to be charged with serious consequences.

We've put together a fact sheet covering what the law actually says, what police look for, and what to do if you're approached.

Worth a read if you work in tech, manufacture, or just want to know where the line is.

Charged over a 3D printed gun or blueprint in NSW? Manufacturing carries up to 20 years, possession of the file up to 14. Know your rights - call O'Brien Solicitors.

27/08/2026

We've spoken before about deaths in custody in NSW, but the issue isn't going away.

A NSW government inspector found ligature points in cells, mould, vermin, and crumbling infrastructure at MSPC, Long Bay Jail. The inspector recommended it be permanently closed.

Months later, a 19-year-old on remand died by su***de there.

Sign the petition below calling on the NSW Government to act. If this matters to you too, add your name.

https://www.change.org/p/close-mspc-at-long-bay-jail

26/08/2026

Another 5 star review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I had my first experience in court, Brooke Collins was representing my son on an assault charge. With great advice and confidence, her professionalism is outstanding.

So young and beautifully polished. Brooke excelled and got us the best results. We are very happy. Thank you, Peter and Brooke."

Thank you for trusting Brooke and our Principal, Peter O'Brien, with something this serious.

25/08/2026

Three professional athletes stopped an ABC journalist from publishing their private group chat messages.

Not through defamation.

Here's how that's legally possible 👇



https://obriensolicitors.com.au/private-messages-gag-order-nsw/

23/08/2026

Think a small parcel of steroids means a small charge? Not necessarily.

The offence threshold for steroid importation isn't based on how much you imported, it's based on purity.

A handful of high-concentration vials can breach the "critical quantity" and trigger a far more serious charge than a much larger batch of low-purity tablets.

If Australian Border Force has intercepted a package addressed to you, or you've had a visit from investigators, a seizure isn't a conviction, but how you respond next matters.

Our latest fact sheet breaks down:

🔹 Why steroid importation is charged under the Customs Act (not the drug laws most people assume apply)
🔹 How the "critical quantity" threshold decides which offence, and which penalty, applies
🔹 Why personal use vs. commercial-style evidence changes how a case is treated
🔹 What to do (and avoid) if ABF contacts you

Read the full guide below.

Facing something similar? Our team acts from the moment you're first contacted.

Caught importing steroids into Australia? Learn the Customs Act penalties, your rights with ABF, and how a lawyer can help your case.

21/08/2026

A NSW court stopped the ABC publishing three athletes' private group chat.

Our Special Counsel, Stewart O'Connell, explains why breach of confidence can protect private information even when every word of it is true.

"Breach of confidence is a separate cause of action that protects your right to control information you shared in private. If the information was shared in confidence and you never consented to its further disclosure, the law may be able to step in and stop publication.

If the publication has already occurred, you may be able to sue for breach of confidence even in circumstances where there is no defamation claim."

- Stewart O'Connell

19/08/2026

This is why people come to our firm for criminal representation: when one avenue closes, we find the next one.

When our client was refused bail at his first application, our criminal team didn't stop there.

Senior Associate, Elliot Rowe, had argued our client's limited history and the absence of any prior violence convictions, and proposed surety from a family member. The court refused bail regardless.

From there, our top Criminal Lawyer and instructing solicitor, Sidnie Sarang, kept managing the file closely, coordinating fresh evidence to support a renewed application.

Our team immediately began preparing an application to the Supreme Court.

Principal Solicitor, Peter O'Brien, then addressed the court at length, working through the prosecution's own statement in detail to identify inconsistencies and unsupported claims, addressing the show cause test directly, and setting out our client's circumstances, including his fragile mental health, his first time in custody, and his compliance with his existing bail conditions.

If you or someone you know needs experienced criminal representation, get in touch.

14/08/2026

If you lease commercial property in NSW, this one's for you.

Since 1 July 2026, it's a criminal offence for a landlord to knowingly let a tenant sell illicit to***co or illegal v**es from their premises.

Maximum penalty: 12 months in prison, a $165,000 fine, or both.

The legal test is "knowingly permit": awareness is what creates the risk, not ownership alone.

If you become aware of illicit sales at your premises, what you do next now matters for your own exposure, not just your tenant's.

Own or manage a commercial lease? Save this post or send it to another lessor.

11/08/2026

A young woman posted on Reddit that she was arrested, held overnight, and strip searched in WA, even though no one suggested she was hiding anything... 📲

Her question is simple: Was that allowed? The thread is taking off on Reddit, with hundreds of comments. It quickly lands on an uncomfortable idea: that the “consent” police ask for is really just a formality.

Read the full story and access the Reddit post in the article below.

Was this fair? Let us know in the comments 👇

Strip searches after arrest in NSW need reasonable grounds, not consent. Learn when police can search you, and how it affects criminal charges.