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Awards and Recognition
Results matter. So does recognition.
At Emma Turnbull Lawyers, we’re proud to be recognised as one of Melbourne’s top criminal defence firms, not just by our clients, but by our peers across the legal industry. Our team of accredited criminal law specialists has earned national recognition for their courtroom advocacy, strategic expertise, and client outcomes.
Criminal law is a high-stakes, results-driven field. Every charge, every hearing, every trial matters. And while we let our courtroom outcomes speak loudest, these awards reflect the skill, dedication, and strategic excellence we bring to every case.
From individual accolades in criminal advocacy, legal innovation, and lawyer wellbeing, to firm-wide recognition for our leadership in criminal law, these acknowledgements are a testament to the high standard we hold ourselves to every day.
These awards aren’t just nice to have, they’re another reason clients, referring lawyers, and industry professionals trust us with their most serious matters.
A selection of the awards and accolades we’re proud to have earned include:
Doyles Guide Annual List
Doyles Guide publishes an annual list ranking the top criminal lawyers in Victoria and interstate. The lists are the result of industry votes and independent review:
- Emma Turnbull has been acknowledged annually since 2015 as a Leading Criminal Lawyer. In 2025, she is included in the Leading Criminal Lawyer List and Leading Traffic & DUI Lawyers List.
- Since 2022, Adrian Lewin has been acknowledged annually as a Recommended Lawyer in the Leading Criminal Lawyer and Leading Traffic and DUI Lawyers List including the 2025 lists.
- Partner, Manny Brennan, was awarded the prestigious Rising Star Award for Criminal Lawyers in 2019 and as a Recommended Leading Criminal Lawyer in 2025.
- Senior Associate, Joseph Adamo, was awarded the Rising Star Award for Criminal Lawyers in 2024.
- Senior Associate, James Gilfillan, was awarded the Rising Star Award for Criminal Lawyers in 2025.
Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards
Firm Director Emma Turnbull has received the following accolades:
- Finalist 2025 Criminal Partner of the Year
- Winner 2024 Wellness Advocate of the Year
- Finalist 2024 Partner of the Year
- Finalist 2023 Partner of the Year
- Finalist 2023 Managing Partner of the Year
- Finalist 2023 Criminal Partner of the Year
- Finalist 2022 Women in Law Awards – Thought Leader of the Year Award
- Finalist 2021 Partner of the Year Award
Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards
Our Firm, Emma Turnbull Lawyers has been recognised as:
- Finalist 2025 Boutique Law Firm of the Year
- Finalist 2024 Innovator of the Year
- Finalist 2023 Law Firm of the Year
Australasian Lawyer
The Australasian Law Awards celebrates the best of the legal professions by providing recognition of law firms, in-house teams, lawyers, and individuals in their area of expertise.
Firm director and specialist criminal defence lawyer, Emma Turnbull:
- 2023 Winner in the Australasian Elite Women Awards.
- 2022 Finalist in the Australasian Elite Women Awards.
ACQ5 Global Awards
The ACQ5 Global Awards recognise and celebrate achievements, innovations annual to set an industry benchmark through endorsing excellence.
Most notable the awards recognise industry leading professionals, eminent individuals, outstanding teams and distinguished business in specific industries.
As the top criminal lawyer in Melbourne, Emma Turnbull, has been prestigiously listed annual in the Criminal Defence Lawyer of the Year category. To read more about Emma’s ongoing success and achievements, click here.
