Best Criminal Lawyers in Auckland

Top 5 Criminal Lawyers in Auckland

The top 5 criminal lawyers in Auckland are Emma Priest Barrister, John Munro Barrister, Adam J Holland, Active Legal Solutions, and Lawyer Help, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each.

• 1

  Emma Priest Barrister

  ★ 4.9 96 reviews Top5 Score 161

  5★ 92 4★ 2 1★ 2

  Emma Priest Barrister gets results across sentencing, bail applications, and Parole Board hearings, including cases where clients had previously been told bail was unlikely. Clients consistently describe receiving straight-talking advice with no false promises, and her team responds to calls and messages the same day.

  Reviews most often describe: Serious criminal charges needing a relentless fighter

  • ✓ Achieved sentence reductions in cases other lawyers had not resolved
  • ✓ Prepares clients honestly for worst-case outcomes before each hearing
  • ✓ Same-day phone contact when clients reach out during urgent matters

  location_on Level 9/115 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland

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• 2

  John Munro Barrister

  ★ 5.0 85 reviews Top5 Score 160 -1

  5★ 83 4★ 2

  John Munro Barrister has secured not-guilty verdicts on serious sexual violation and sexual assault charges, and represented clients facing alcohol-related offences through to sentencing, achieving community-based outcomes where imprisonment was a real risk. Clients across multiple cases describe John and Ashley keeping them informed at every stage, remaining personally accessible throughout proceedings that stretched well over a year.

  Reviews most often describe: Serious charges where calm, strategic courtroom advocacy matters

  • ✓ Not-guilty verdicts achieved on multiple serious sexual violation charges
  • ✓ Clients and families kept informed and reassured throughout lengthy proceedings
  • ✓ Team accessible for questions and concerns during the full case period

  location_on level 4/62 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland

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• 3

  Adam J Holland - Auckland Criminal Lawyer

  ★ 5.0 99 reviews Top5 Score 159

  5★ 99

  Adam J Holland has won full acquittals and discharges without conviction across serious criminal trials, including sexual offending charges, assault, drink driving, and cases where deportation was a real risk. Clients describe him cutting through complex material to identify what actually matters, giving honest assessments without softening the picture, while keeping them and their families informed throughout proceedings that often ran for over a year.

  Reviews most often describe: Clients facing serious charges with life-altering stakes

  • ✓ Full acquittals secured across multi-day criminal trials in Auckland courts
  • ✓ Clients kept informed and calm through proceedings lasting a year or more
  • ✓ Discharge without conviction achieved in multiple cases across different charge types

  location_on Sentinel Chambers level 4/62 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland

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• 4

  Active Legal Solutions Ltd

  ★ 4.9 46 reviews Top5 Score 152 +1

  5★ 45 1★ 1

  Active Legal Solutions has reduced criminal driving charges to lesser speeding offences, secured discharges without conviction, and achieved backdated disqualification periods for clients whose licences and livelihoods were at risk. Sami works through the full picture with clients, including court-readiness steps like defensive driving courses, so they arrive at hearings having visibly demonstrated responsibility rather than just pleading their case.

  Reviews most often describe: Driving and criminal charges needing clear, guided process

  • ✓ Charge reduced or downgraded from criminal to lesser offence
  • ✓ Clients guided through preparation steps before court appearances
  • ✓ Kept clients informed at every stage including evening callbacks

  location_on 40 Sierra Street, Glendowie, Auckland

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• 5

  Lawyer Help

  ↑ 2 verified Verified
  ★ 4.5 61 reviews Top5 Score 149 +5

  5★ 52 4★ 2 1★ 7

  Lawyer Help takes on difficult criminal matters including Section 106 applications, S94 proceedings, and cases where the potential consequences were described as life-changing, securing outcomes clients did not think were possible. Melanie breaks down complicated legal questions into clear steps, while Christopher keeps communication steady throughout proceedings, so clients arrive at hearings feeling informed rather than overwhelmed.

  Reviews most often describe: High-stakes criminal matters needing calm, transparent guidance

  • ✓ Secured outcomes clients believed were impossible before engaging them
  • ✓ Melanie and Christopher both stay in contact throughout the court process
  • ✓ Costs came in far lower than clients expected given the case complexity

  location_on Cathedral House Level 5/48-52 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland · schedule Mon–Fri 8:30am–9:30pm · Sat–Sun 10am–9:30pm

  language lawyerhelp.co.nz call 021 911 133 map Map verified View profile

More top criminal lawyers in Auckland

The next five highest-scoring criminal lawyers in Auckland. Worth considering if your first choices aren't available.

• 6

  Ian Brookie, Barrister, at Sentinel Chambers

  ↓ 1
  ★ 4.9 39 reviews Top5 Score 149 -1

  5★ 38 1★ 1

  Ian Brookie has secured charge dismissals on serious drug manufacturing offences carrying life sentences, guided clients through dealings with police and agencies, and achieved results clients describe as beyond what they thought possible. Clients across multiple serious matters report being contacted after hours and on weekends, with Ian and associates Marcus and Chelsea keeping them informed and treated as a priority throughout.

  Reviews most often describe: Serious criminal charges where outcome felt impossible

  • ✓ Clients updated at every stage so no uncertainty about case status
  • ✓ Calls and questions answered promptly even outside business hours
  • ✓ Honest about odds and decisions without softening the picture

  location_on level 4/62 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland

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• 7

  Daniel Schellenberg | Criminal Defence Lawyer Auckland

  ↓ 1
  ★ 4.9 32 reviews Top5 Score 146 +1

  5★ 31 1★ 1

  Daniel Schellenberg has secured charge reductions, discharges without conviction, and home detention outcomes in cases where prison looked likely. Clients across lengthy proceedings describe Daniel and Matthew keeping them informed at every stage, explaining the process clearly so they understood what was happening rather than just waiting for a verdict.

  Reviews most often describe: Serious cases where charges need reducing or dropping

  • ✓ Charges reduced or dropped across multiple client cases
  • ✓ Clients kept informed throughout lengthy proceedings with regular updates
  • ✓ Transparent about costs and case direction from the outset

  location_on Level 8 Southern Cross Building, 59 High Street, Auckland

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• 8

  Bloem Law

  ★ 4.8 21 reviews Top5 Score 136

  5★ 20 1★ 1

  Bloem Law has secured not-guilty verdicts in multi-day jury trials, achieved charge dismissals, reduced sentences, and won early parole for clients facing serious criminal allegations. Across contested courtroom matters, Anoushka, Melanie, and Adrian are described as leaving nothing on the table, carefully unpacking flawed investigations and building defences that hold up through unexpected legal complications.

  Reviews most often describe: Complex criminal trials needing meticulous, tenacious preparation

  • ✓ Charges dropped or reduced across multiple serious criminal cases
  • ✓ Clients kept updated with regular, direct contact throughout proceedings
  • ✓ Sentence reductions and early parole achieved in addition to acquittals

  location_on 67 Corinthian Drive, Albany, Auckland

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• 9

  Claire Farquhar Barrister

  ★ 5.0 12 reviews Top5 Score 131

  5★ 12

  Claire Farquhar Barrister has reunited clients with their families through successful appeals, defended assault and criminal charges through to aborted trials, and secured outcomes where clients were facing serious consequences including deportation. From the first meeting, Claire sets clear expectations about likely outcomes and then works to achieve them, covering every aspect of the case so clients feel genuinely prepared rather than left to guess.

  Reviews most often describe: First-time offenders and overseas clients navigating NZ courts

  • ✓ Explains NZ legal process step by step to clients unfamiliar with it
  • ✓ Responds to client queries immediately throughout proceedings
  • ✓ Achieved outcomes clients describe as reuniting them with their families

  location_on Sentinel Chambers, level 4/62 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland

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• 10

  Shane Tait Barrister

  ★ 4.3 23 reviews Top5 Score 130

  5★ 18 4★ 1 1★ 4

  Shane Tait Barrister fought serious criminal charges including false accusations, secured bail in urgent situations, and brought cases to resolution significantly faster than expected timelines. Shane takes a direct, no-false-promises approach from the first meeting, and the team keeps someone available to answer questions throughout proceedings so clients and their families are never left waiting.

  Reviews most often describe: Serious criminal charges needing fast, no-nonsense resolution

  • ✓ Resolved a projected 18-month case in roughly six months
  • ✓ Team maintains availability so client queries are answered throughout proceedings
  • ✓ Clients facing serious charges report calm, honest strategy from first meeting

  location_on 12/9 Freeman Way, Manukau City Centre, Auckland

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