David Hancock

Barrister

Bar Roll: 19 November 1998
Admitted: 1 March 1993

David is a barrister with broad experience in criminal, civil, disability, mental health, and human rights law, including appeals, judicial review, guardianship, and victims’ compensation cases.

About David

David accepts briefs across criminal, commercial, administrative and family law, with a focus on indictable criminal trials in the County Court.

In particular, David has appeared for the Crown in various indictable trials since 2018.

Admitted in 1993 and signing the Bar Roll in 1998, David has appeared in the Magistrates’, County, Supreme, Federal, Family, and High Court, as well as VCAT and various other State Administrative Tribunals.

His expertise includes:

  • Criminal Law – including indictable trials, appeals and judicial reviews;
  • Human Rights and Disability Discrimination – trials in the Federal Court involving disability and racial discrimination;
  • Family Law – trials in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia involving property and parenting matters;
  • Mental Health and Guardianship/Powers of Attorney – appearances at the Mental Health Review Board, Guardianship List at VCAT, and Supreme Court; 
  • Administrative and Regulatory Matters – appearances at Victorian Firearms Appeals Committee, VCAT, and all other State Administrative Tribunals in firearms licensing appeals matters.

 

Prior to coming to the Bar David worked as a solicitor at Rennick & Gaynor for six years, primarily conducting plaintiff personal injury, TAC, Workcover, product liability, professional negligence, intellectual property and building cases. He also acted in wills and probate matters, summary and indictable criminal proceedings, and social security, mental health and migration cases.

David has a strong interest in human rights and disability law and regularly mentors law students.

Outside of practice, he enjoys travel, writing, playing music, and restoring classic cars and motorbikes.

Areas of Practice
Animal WelfareASIC investigations and ProsecutionsCare and ProtectionCivil and Human RightsCommercialCommissions or Tribunals and Other InquiriesCoronial InquestsCrimes Against the PersonCriminalCriminal AppealsCriminal AppellateDefamationDiscriminationDomestic and Family ViolenceDrugsFamily Law and GuardianshipFood Industry RegulationFraudIntellectual PropertyIntentional TortsJudicial Review and Administrative LawMental IllnessMerits ReviewParenting OrdersProceeds of CrimeProceeds of Crime or Money LaunderingProfessional NegligencePropertyProperty Offences and Theft or Robbery or BurglarySexual AssaultTrafficVictims of CrimeWhite Collar and Corporate CrimeWork Health and Safety
Jurisdiction
All Australian States and JurisdictionsVictoria
Contact
To enquire about this barrister’s availability, suitability, or fees, please contact our our experienced Barristers' Clerks using the details below.

Anna Svenson

Director & Principal Clerk


Olimpia St George

Barristers' Clerk

Kristie Sullivan

Barristers’ Clerk

Dr Angus Cameron

Barristers' Clerk

Svenson Barristers Melbourne

Find the best
Barrister for your matter

Over 180 Melbourne and interstate barristers skilled in advocacy, advice, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution—delivering tailored, exceptional legal representation you can trust.