Phil practices predominantly in criminal law and intervention order matters. He accepts briefs to advise and appear in all criminal jurisdictions, and regularly appears in the Supreme Court of Victoria, County Court of Victoria and Magistrates' Court of Victoria for both the prosecution and defence.
Phil has extensive trial and advocacy experience across a broad range of criminal matters, including homicide, serious violence, sexual offences, drug offending and fraud. He is experienced in conducting contested hearings and has successfully argued a range of complex evidentiary and procedural issues, including no case submissions, applications for discontinuance, severance of trials, and the exclusion of irrelevant, unfairly prejudicial and unreliable evidence.
In addition to his criminal practice, Phil regularly advises and appears in intervention order proceedings.
Phil is committed to the profession and the wider community. He continues to volunteer with community legal centres, including the Salvation Army Legal Service, Springvale Monash Legal Service and Fitzroy Legal Service. He also regularly serves as a moot court magistrate for the Victorian Bar Readers' Course and the Victoria Police Prosecutors' Course, and presents pro bono continuing professional development seminars to law firms across Melbourne.
Phil read with Mr Peter 'David' Drake.
In this episode of Brief Chats, Anna Svenson, Director and Principal Clerk at Svenson Barristers, is joined by Barristers Philip Skehan and Caitrin Davis to unpack the history, purpose, and challenges of juries in the justice system. They explore how juries have evolved from panels of peers to representatives of the public, and how they continue to shape verdicts through the lens of community standards.
Over 180 Melbourne and interstate barristers skilled in advocacy, advice, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution—delivering tailored, exceptional legal representation you can trust.
