Geoffrey Miller Chambers

Seamus Rafferty SC was admitted to practice in December 2002, after completing his articles of clerkship with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia. Between 2002 and 2009, he was a State Prosecutor, prosecuting serious offences in the Supreme and District Courts.

He commenced work as a sole practitioner in August 2009 before operating the firm Seamus Rafferty & Associates until January 2023. During that 14-year period, he defended many high-profile clients as well as many clients who were legally aided.

In January 2023, he was called to the Bar and now operates as a Barrister working from Geoffrey Miller Chambers.

Seamus was appointed Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice of Western Australia in November 2023. The Supreme Court media release noted that, ‘appointment as Senior Counsel is based on eminence in the practice of law, especially in advocacy, unquestioned integrity, availability and independence.’

He takes briefs in the following matters:

• Appeals against conviction and sentence in the Court of Appeal
• Trials in all criminal courts
• Sentencing in all criminal courts
• Bail applications
• High Risk Serious Offender matters
• Liquor licensing matters
• Disciplinary proceedings

Mr Rafferty SC has also held the following positions:

• Chairperson of the Liquor Commission of Western Australia (2011 – 2021)
• Chairperson of the Combat Sports Commission (2011 – 2016)
• Advocate at the AFL Tribunal for the Fremantle Dockers Football Club (2007 – present)
• Member of the WAFL Tribunal (2017 – present)

Mr Rafferty SC has over 20 years’ experience as an appellate and trial advocate in the criminal law jurisdiction.

Christian Porter was admitted to practice in 1998, first working in Commercial Litigation at Clayton Utz and then later as a Senior State Prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions WA, where he prosecuted serious criminal offences in both the District and Supreme Courts and also represented the State in appeals. Between 2006 and 2008 Christian also lectured both Criminal Law and Evidence at the University of Western Australia and was a Professor of Law at Curtin University.

In 2008 Christian was elected to the WA Legislative Assembly as the Member for Bateman. While in State politics he served variously as the Minister for Corrective Services, Treasurer and Attorney-General.

In 2013 Christian was elected to Federal Parliament in the House of Representatives as the Member for Pearce. While in Federal politics he held various portfolios, including as Commonwealth Attorney-General from December 2017 to March 2021.

Since retiring from Federal politics in April 2022 Christian has returned to the law. He established Henley Stirling Lawyers where he worked as a Solicitor and Barrister, appearing in jury trials, appeals, sentencing matters and bail applications. In early 2023 he was called to the Bar and now practices out of Geoffrey Miller Chambers.

Christian brings unique experience, knowledge, and skills to his practice as a Barrister. He specialises in criminal and quasi-criminal matters and has extensive experience in a range of other litigation, including interlocutory, administrative, and regulatory proceedings in a full range of Courts.

Practicing around Australia, as well as in WA, his primary practice areas include:

• Appeals to the Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court
• Reviews of administrative decisions
• ASIC prosecutions
• Proceeds of crime matters and confiscation proceedings
• Jury trials
• Sentence proceedings
• Inquiries, Commissions, Tribunals and Inquests
• Professional disciplinary matters
• Bail applications

After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Behavioural Science, Kate completed an articled clerkship at Central Desert Native Title Services, working exclusively in the field of Native Title law, spending time on country and assisting Native Title claimants across an area that covers almost one-third of Western Australia. Kate then moved across to criminal law, commencing with Legal Aid WA in 2010, working in the Perth office before relocating to Legal Aid’s Geraldton office in 2015. From 2019-2023 she was the director and partner of two criminal law firms.

Kate’s career spans Legal Aid, ALSWA and the private sector. Kate takes access to justice seriously and is committed to ensuring fairness in the criminal justice process, including being the inaugural Legal Aid Panel Member Award recipient for the Attorney General’s Community Service Law Awards.

Kate has appeared in all Western Australian courts and has a comprehensive understanding of court processes and procedures. Kate has acted on a number of high profile, complex and sensitive matters in both State and Commonwealth Jurisdictions.

Kate joined the WA Bar in 2023 operating out of Geoffrey Miller Chambers.

Tony has practiced as a Criminal Lawyer in Western Australia and Victoria for over 15 years. He has worked as In-House Counsel for both the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA and Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.

Tony has vast experience in the field of criminal law. He has appeared as lead Counsel in courts of summary jurisdiction, Children’s Court, District Court, County Court and Supreme Court for jury trials, pleas in mitigation and sentencing, contested bail applications and contested interlocutory hearings. Tony also regularly appears on behalf of respondents in proceedings brought under the High Risk Serious Offenders Act in the Supreme Court. Tony is a member of all Legal Aid Criminal Law Panels and takes pro bono briefs for the under-privileged.

Tony practises in the following areas:

• Criminal law including Murder, Sexual offences, White Collar crime, Assault, Property offences, Drug offences and Dishonesty offences.
• Traffic matters including drink driving, driving whilst under suspension and reckless driving.
• Coronial Inquests, Regulatory prosecutions, Commonwealth offences.

He completed a Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) at the University of Western Australia in 2007 and Masters of Laws (Criminal Justice) at the University of Western Australia in 2012.

Tony is a passionate lawyer who uses his advocacy skills and extensive knowledge of the law to achieve the best outcomes for his clients.

A passionate criminal defence and family lawyer, Kate’s academic accomplishments include a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Business (Major in Management) at Edith Cowan University in 2013, followed by a Master of International Commercial Law at the University of Western Australia in 2015.  In 2014, Kate was admitted to practice in Western Australia.

Since being admitted, Kate has worked in criminal law in a range of private settings and at a community legal centre. In addition, she has spent time practicing law Internationally – in 2014 at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and in a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights. Kate also co-authored a book on International Commercial Relations between Australia and China. Additionally, Kate worked as a teaching assistant, teaching the ‘Mental Health and the Law’ unit at Notre Dame University from 2017 to 2019. This background has proven her to be a highly talented and capable advocate with international experience rarely seen. She is able to provide comprehensive advice on a range of matters.

Kate accepts instructions in the areas of criminal law, family law, care and protection, and restraining orders. She is currently on all Legal Aid WA Criminal Law panels other than Murder and Appeals, and all Family Law (including Care and Protection and Restraining Order) panels other than Independent Children’s Lawyer work.

Kate has a strong interest in criminal law and has acted in a range of complex and sensitive matters, including appearing in the State Administrative Tribunal, Children’s Courts, Magistrates Courts, District Courts and Supreme Courts, and acted in matters from Traffic to serious violent and sexual offences, including High Risk Serious Offender applications. She has also assisted with Murder matters. Kate was acknowledged as a Doyle’s Guide Rising Star in 2021.

Roisin is a criminal Barrister with considerable experience advocating on behalf of clients in the Children’s Courts, Magistrates Courts, and District Courts of Western Australia. She has assisted in a number of lengthy trials before the Supreme Court and has a keen insight to offer those involved in a wide range of criminal proceedings.

Roisin graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Notre Dame and began her career in criminal law working as a clerk for one of Western Australia’s most prominent Kings Counsel. Following her admission in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2017, Roisin worked exclusively in criminal law, gaining experience at a number of reputable, specialised criminal law firms in Perth.

Roisin has a comprehensive understanding of criminal law and is proficient in dealing with court processes and procedures.  Roisin appears daily in the Magistrates Courts, Children’s Courts, and District Courts of Western Australia, both within the Perth Metropolitan area and Western Australia’s outer regions. Roisin has appeared as trial Counsel in a variety of complex and lengthy criminal trials for both adult and juvenile offenders as well as appearing at sentencing hearings and bail applications on a regular basis.