- 0474 708 070
- Fixed Fees
- Bella Vista Location
- Court representation across Sydney
- 0474 708 070
- Fixed Fees
- Bella Vista Location
- 0474 708 070
- Bella Vista Location
About Barsha Defence Lawyers
Barsha Defence Lawyers defends people charged with criminal and traffic offences. We work from a single office in Bella Vista and appear for clients across the Hills District and at courts throughout NSW.
- Available 24/7 for urgent matters
- Fixed fees available
- Based in Bella Vista
- Direct access to Principal Lawyer Michael Barsha
A Specialist Criminal Law Firm in the Hills District
One area of law. Barsha Defence Lawyers is a specialist criminal and traffic law firm based in Bella Vista. We do one thing and we do it well: defend people facing criminal charges and traffic offences in New South Wales. Every matter the firm takes on is a defence matter, and every court appearance is made on behalf of the person charged.
One lawyer from start to finish. Clients work directly with Principal Lawyer Michael Barsha from the first consultation through to the conclusion of the matter. Michael handles the preparation, the communication and the court appearances personally. You are not handed to a junior lawyer or a paralegal between court dates.
One office, every level of court. From Bella Vista, Michael appears at the Local Courts closest to the Hills District and the north-west, and at the District Court, Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeal and High Court of Australia. The full list is on our Courts We Attend page.
Bella Vista Office
Suite 210/20A Lexington Drive
Bella Vista NSW 2153
Contact Us
Availability
Available 24/7 for urgent criminal law matters.
Confidential consultations at the office or by phone.
Direct, Focused Criminal Defence Representation
Facing a criminal or traffic charge brings a lot of uncertainty. Our approach is built around clear advice, careful preparation and direct access to the lawyer handling your case.
Direct Lawyer Access
You deal with Michael Barsha at every stage of your matter, not a rotating cast of staff.
Focused Criminal Law Practice
Criminal and traffic defence is all we do, so nothing else competes for attention on your file.
Clear Advice & Communication
You will know what the prosecution has to prove, what penalties are on the table and what happens at your next court date.
Available When It Matters
Urgent help for arrests, bail applications and time-sensitive listings, around the clock.
Principal Lawyer Michael Barsha
Criminal and traffic law only. Michael Barsha is the Principal Lawyer of Barsha Defence Lawyers and practises exclusively in criminal and traffic defence. He has appeared in hundreds of matters, from summary offences in the Local Court to serious indictable charges before the District Court and Supreme Court.
Solicitor advocate and instructing solicitor. Michael represents clients directly in the Local Court. For matters that proceed to a District Court or Supreme Court trial, he briefs and instructs experienced criminal barristers and appears as instructing solicitor, including in cases involving murder, terrorism, serious sexual assault and large-scale drug supply.
Giving back. Michael volunteers as a lecturer at the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program, delivering sessions on traffic law and the court process to participants referred by NSW courts. He is listed in Doyle's Guide as a recognised criminal defence lawyer.
How We Handle Your Case
It starts with the evidence. When you contact us, we review the police facts, the charge sheet and whatever evidence is available, including CCTV and body-worn camera footage once the brief is served. You get a frank assessment of where the prosecution case is strong, where it is weak and what penalties are on the table. That assessment is the foundation of your defence.
Then we settle on a path. Depending on the facts, that may mean negotiating with police or prosecutors to have charges withdrawn or reduced, entering a not guilty plea and defending the matter at a hearing, or entering a guilty plea backed by the strongest possible sentencing material. Where you accept the charge but dispute the police version of events, we run a disputed facts hearing.
Some matters need a different route. Where a mental health condition or cognitive impairment is connected to the alleged offending, we prepare a Section 14 mental health application to have the matter dealt with outside the ordinary sentencing process. For clients in custody, we run bail applications at the earliest opportunity.
You stay informed. You will know what is happening with your matter, what to expect at the next court date and what you need to do before you get there. That preparation makes a real difference when you walk into court.
Results Across Hundreds of Matters
Results matter. Barsha Defence Lawyers has acted in hundreds of criminal and traffic matters in NSW courts. The figures below come from past matters. Every case turns on its own facts.
Recognition. The firm has been recognised with awards for Best Criminal Law Firm, and Michael Barsha has received individual awards for Best Criminal Lawyer and Best Traffic Lawyer. Read what clients say on Google Reviews.
Criminal & Traffic Law Services
From summary offences in the Local Court to serious indictable charges before the District Court and Supreme Court, we defend the full range of criminal and traffic matters heard in NSW.
The same lawyer at every level. Michael acts as solicitor advocate in the Local Court and, for jury trials in the higher courts, works alongside the barristers he briefs. Whatever the level of court, one lawyer carries your matter from the first conference to the final hearing.
Sentencing Options in NSW Courts
When a matter ends in a finding of guilt, the court decides the penalty. NSW courts draw on a range of options under the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. The penalty depends on the seriousness of the offence, your personal circumstances and the material put before the court on your behalf.
Preparation decides the outcome. Character references, medical and psychological reports, evidence of rehabilitation and completion certificates from programs like the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program all give the court reasons to impose the most lenient penalty available. That work happens before the sentencing date, not on it.
Criminal Defence across the Hills District
Based in Bella Vista. Barsha Defence Lawyers acts for people charged with criminal and traffic offences throughout the Hills District, including the suburbs below, and for clients anywhere in NSW who want a defence lawyer who handles the matter personally.
Local Courts near the Hills District. Michael appears regularly at the Local Courts closest to Bella Vista, and at the District Court, Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeal and High Court. The full list of courts we attend, with driving distances from the Bella Vista office, is on the Courts We Attend page.
Part of the local business community. Barsha Defence Lawyers is listed in the Hills Shire Council Local Business Directory.
Transparent, Fixed-Fee Pricing
No hourly billing. We quote a fixed fee so you know the cost before you commit. After the free initial consultation, we assess the complexity of your matter and provide a quote that reflects the work involved. There are no hidden charges.
Free initial consultation. The first conversation costs nothing. Call 0474 708 070 any time or send an enquiry through our contact page, and we will discuss your matter and give you a quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Barsha Defence Lawyers located?
Barsha Defence Lawyers has one office, at Suite 210/20A Lexington Drive, Bella Vista NSW 2153, in the Hills District. From Bella Vista, Michael Barsha travels to courts across NSW.
Will I work directly with Michael Barsha?
Yes. Michael handles the preparation, the communication and the court appearances personally, from the first consultation to the conclusion of your matter. You are not handed to a junior lawyer or paralegal between court dates.
Do you offer a free consultation?
Yes. The initial consultation is free for all criminal and traffic matters. Michael will explain the charge, outline your options and give you a fixed-fee quote. Call 0474 708 070 any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Which courts do you appear in?
Michael appears at the Local Courts closest to the Hills District, including Hornsby, Windsor, Blacktown, Penrith and Mount Druitt, and at courts throughout NSW from the Local Court to the District Court, Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeal and High Court of Australia.
How much does a criminal defence lawyer cost?
We quote fixed fees. After the free initial consultation, Michael assesses the complexity of your matter and provides a quote that reflects the work involved. There is no hourly billing and there are no hidden charges. Contact us for a quote.
What is the difference between pleading guilty and not guilty?
A not guilty plea sends the matter to a defended hearing, where the prosecution must prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. A guilty plea means you accept the charge and the court moves to sentencing, where the material presented on your behalf shapes the penalty. Michael advises which option suits your case during the consultation.
Need Advice about a Criminal or Traffic Matter?
Speak directly with Barsha Defence Lawyers about your situation, your options and the next steps.