Lisa Papadinas

Lisa has developed a diverse public and private law practice in Victoria with a special interest in matters that involve elements of both criminal and public law. 

Lisa is a member of Niagara Lane Chambers.

Primarily, she appears and advises in all criminal law and quasi-criminal law matters, coercive examinations, coronial inquests, public inquiries, intentional torts, mental health review matters, and regulatory and disciplinary proceedings at VCAT. She also has a strong family law practice and regularly appears in family violence and personal safety intervention order hearings. 

Criminal Law

Lisa appears at all stages in indictable crime work including committals, bail applications, and County and Supreme Court pleas and criminal jury trials. She also appears in summary matters across all metropolitan courts and throughout regional Victoria.

Her experience spans both State and Commonwealth criminal proceedings, including trials for serious Commonwealth offences. She also appears in matters arising under the Serious Offenders Act and the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act.

Lisa's practice often involves dealing with complex evidentiary and procedural matters, with experience challenging DNA and other expert evidence. She provides merits and strategic advice on all aspects of these matters.

Lisa has a particular interest in the following:

• Homicide and violence related offences.
• Drug related proceedings - including offences involving the importation, trafficking, manufacture and cultivation of illicit drugs and related offences (such as money laundering and dealing with the proceeds of crime).
• Coercive powers - including State and Federal bodies exercising coercive powers, for example, the ACIC/ACC, OCE, ASIO and IBAC.
• White collar and corporate crime - including offences that have arisen out of investigations conducted by State Police, the AFP, ATO, ASIC and ACCC.  Also, offending relating to allegations of bribery, fraud, deception, theft, breach of directors’ duties, market manipulation and insider trading. 

Family Law
Lisa regularly appears in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in relation to parenting and property proceedings. Lisa has particular expertise in matters involving family violence and risk, and often where there are related criminal proceedings. She appears at all stages and in both final and interim defended hearings, as well as mediations on behalf of an individual party.

Disciplinary Proceedings

Lisa also advises on merit and appears regularly in disciplinary cases in the Review and Regulation List at VCAT, including related proceedings about:

• Architects, under the Architects Act 1991
• Building practitioners, under the Building Act 1993
• Health practitioners, under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (Vic) 2009 and its predecessors, including doctors, nurses, midwives, psychologists, dentists and chiropractors.
• Legal practitioners, under the Legal Profession Act 2004 and the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014
• Surveyors, under the Surveying Act 2004
• Teachers, under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006
• Veterinary practitioners, under the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Her work in this jurisdictions spans all disciplinary and registration related matters involving:

• Merits review of professional registration and occupational and business licensing decisions made by regulatory authorities, boards, panels and com

Northern Territory

Lisa practiced at the NT Bar for 3 years which significantly broadened her practice. She appeared regularly at the NT Supreme Court in all indictable crime, including jury trials and related serious offender review matters.

She frequently appeared as Counsel at the NT Mental Health Review Tribunal, and was involved in several Supreme Court Appeals relating to Tribunal determinations on involuntary admission, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and community management orders.

Lisa also conducted independent investigations for NTAFL, chaired disciplinary hearings for the Darwin Greyhound Association, provided independent advice to the NT Office of the Children's Commissioner on FOI matters involving children in detention, and acted for individuals called before the ICAC.

Prior Experience

Prior to her coming to the Bar Lisa worked as an Associate at the County Court of Victoria in both the Criminal and Commercial Lists.

In addition to her work as a Barrister, Lisa worked as a Teaching Associate at Monash University Law School in Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedure.