Lionel Rattenbury
He explained what was realistic, what the process looked like, and what we were going to do about it. And in the end, the charge was dismissed. I cannot recommend him highly enough…”
★★★★★
“I had no idea what I was walking into. I’d never been in trouble in my life and suddenly I was facing charges I didn’t know how to process. From the first phone call, Lionel was direct and completely across everything, but also caring and reassuring. He explained what was realistic, what the process looked like, and what we were going to do about it. And in the end, the charge was dismissed. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”
– Sarah B.Many people facing a criminal charge have never been in trouble before.
And most of them spend the days after being charged in a state of fear that nobody around them fully understands.
You’re not sleeping properly. You’ve opened the same legal website fifteen times and come away more confused each time. You’re replaying the situation in your head wondering how you got here. And underneath all of that is a fear you haven’t said out loud yet — that this is going to follow you. Into your job, your professional registration, your next visa application, your family’s opinion of you.
The law doesn’t care about any of that. It moves at its own pace, on its own terms, and if you’re not across it, it will move without you. The prosecution are career lawyers who do this every single day. Most people on the other side of them walk in without proper representation and accept whatever outcome they’re handed — not because nothing could be done, but because nobody told them what was possible.
A charge is not a conviction. What happens between now and your court date matters enormously — and getting proper advice early is the single most important thing you can do.
A former Police prosecutor, now fighting for you.
There are a lot of criminal lawyers in Sydney. But very few of them have sat on the other side of these cases and know precisely how the prosecution builds its argument.
Lionel Rattenbury’s career, both in policing and in law, has been guided by one straightforward philosophy: that every person facing a criminal charge deserves clear, honest advice from someone who knows what they’re talking about, before they commit to a strategy, and before they receive a bill.
He brings 20+ years of courtroom experience and a prosecutorial background that tells him exactly what the other side is thinking — with a track record of outcomes that includes dismissed charges, section 10 orders, and sentences reduced well below what clients were initially told to expect.
He is the co-author of Local Court Criminal Practice, a resource used by practitioners across NSW. He charges fixed fees, agreed with you before a single court appearance.
What his clients remember most isn’t the credentials. It’s that he picked up the phone, gave a straight answer to a hard question, and showed up prepared — fighting for every outcome his clients deserved.
Book a free confidential call
Pick up the phone or fill in the form, and we’ll respond the same day. Your first appointment costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
We tell you exactly where you stand
We review your charges, give you an honest assessment of the realistic outcomes, and walk you through the options. No vague reassurances, no legal jargon.
We fight for the best possible outcome
Whether that’s a section 10 dismissal, a reduction in the charge, or the minimum sentence the circumstances allow — we prepare thoroughly, argue precisely, and keep you across every development.