Amanda Burnnard

Amanda accepts briefs to advise on and appear in public and administrative law matters, appeals, regulatory and disciplinary matters, examinations, inquiries and commissions, coronial inquests, and supervision orders. As experienced jury trial advocate, Amanda has a particular interest in public law and coronial matters that intersect with the criminal law. 

Regulatory and Disciplinary Matters

Amanda is briefed by regulators, individuals and companies to advise and appear in regulatory matters. She also accepts briefs to appear for regulators and individuals in disciplinary proceedings. Amanda has experience in environmental prosecutions, legal practice matters, heavy vehicle matters, occupational health and safety proceedings and in health practitioner review and professional misconduct proceedings.

Inquests and inquiries

Amanda has been briefed to appear for the Northern Territory Police Force in complex inquests including the Inquest into the Death of Ralph Donald (2025), the Inquest into the Death of Kumanjayi Emitja (2025) and the Inquest into the Death of Kumanjayi Walker (2022-2025).  She has also been briefed to appear in Victoria in the Inquest into the Death of Kelly Ann Thompson (2015-2016) and as a solicitor appeared in the Inquest into the Death of Ayen Chol (2012). 

Police and Government Matters

Amanda is regularly briefed by the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office to appear for the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police on matters involving public interest immunity. 

Tribunal Work

Amanda appears in the Review and Regulation List at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). She has also appeared for consumers in the Mental Health Tribunal and has sat as a tribunal member for a regional AFL league. 

Criminal Law

Amanda appears led, unled and with juniors in criminal appeals and trials and is available to draft written cases for the Court of Appeal. Recent COA matters include Rhodes (a pseudonym) v The King [2024] VSCA 15, DPP v Allen [2020] VSCA 292, Turney v The Queen [2020] VSCA 131 and Sam v The Queen [2019] VSCA 180. 

Amanda appears in proceeds of crime matters and proceedings pursuant to the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness To Be Tried) Act 1997 and the Serious Offenders Act 2018. Amanda holds a Victorian Bar Indictable Crime Certificate and is a Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister. 

Continuing Professional Development

Amanda has delivered training and CPD sessions to fellow barristers and instructing solicitors. She has coordinated two conferences and chaired multiple CPD seminars for the Criminal Bar Association. Amanda also teaches a session to Victorian Bar Readers. 

Memberships and Professional Associations

Amanda is a member of Crockett Chambers and is on Foley’s List, where she is an elected member of the List Committee. Amanda has contributed to the Foley's publications A Defence Practitioner's Guide to Criminal Law (2023) and Crime and Defence (2016).

Amanda previously served as an elected committee member of the Criminal Bar Association. Amanda has also served on the Victorian Bar’s Student Engagement Committee, the Magistrates’ Court Criminal Court User Group, and the Victorian Custody Reference Group.

Appointments

In 2026, Amanda was appointed as a member of the Firearms Committee, which reviews decisions of the Chief Commissioner with respect to firearms licences. 

Readers

Amanda has had five readers: Thea Casey,  Sam Jayasekara, Janey Fisher, Dr Sitthana Theerathitiwong and James Dalrymple. 

To engage Amanda, please contact Foley's List on 9225 7777.