When the police came to arrest Australian radio heavyweight Alan Jones it was Chris Murphy who was beside the famed broadcaster, just as he has stood beside so many others facing criminal prosecution.
Jones, the veteran Australian broadcaster and former rugby coach faces multiple indecent assault and related charges for historic sex offences.
And Chris Murphy was the lawyer with him when the police made their highly publicized arrest at his harbourside apartment.
Murphy was highly critical of the Police Assistant Commissioner’s comments about the alleged victims’ of Alan Jones, adopting his trademark aggressive approach to the views, saying that Fitzgerald’s praise of alleged victims during a press conference was “contemptible”.
“I think it’s totally contemptible of the assistant commissioner of police to be praising the witnesses who he might like to call victims.”
“This is a matter for a courtroom and I believe he is in terrible breach of that.”
Defense Lawyer Supremo
Chris Murphy is one of Sydney’s most prominent criminal defense attorneys, with a career spanning over five decades.
His reputation for aggressive advocacy and high-profile cases has made him a go-to lawyer for those like Jones facing serious criminal charges.
Murphy established Murphy’s Lawyers in the early 1970s and since then the firm has been involved in numerous major criminal cases across various jurisdictions, including inquiries, hearings, trials, appeals, and commissions.
Known for his no-nonsense approach, Murphy has represented a wide array of clients, from celebrities to everyday citizens. His firm’s motto, “We will defend your matter aggressively” could be left unsaid given his tenancious reputation for fearless advocacy.
The Alan Jones case is certain to be one of his more famous cases given the fame and power of his client.
Murphy’s approach to high-profile cases often involves engaging with the media. He firmly stated that Jones would “assert his innocence” and that the case would be defended, reminding the public of the presumption of innocence.
The Murphy Reputation
Throughout his career, Murphy has built a reputation for taking on challenging and controversial cases. His firm’s website boasts of their “unparalleled” record and results that “speak for themselves”.
Among recent cases handled by his firm are those involving charges of abuse against former NRL star Sam Burgess, which were discharged, model Revelle Balmain, TV presenter John Mangos activist Danny Lim and others.
Murphy also has a unique strength in his strategic approach to cases, often leveraging media attention and public opinion to benefit his clients. His ability to use both legal and public relations aspects of high-profile cases has contributed to his success and reputation.
Chris Murphy’s career is marked by his unwavering dedication to his clients, his aggressive defense strategies, and his willingness to take on complex and high-stakes cases. His contributions to criminal law in Sydney have left an indelible mark on the profession, making him a respected and sometimes controversial figure in the legal community.
Three years ago he also scored a victory and a $110,000 payout from a gossip article in the Australian Daily Telegraph about the breakdown of his marriage. The newspaper’s gossip columnist wrote that the 72-year-old “continues to battle with the ravages of age and with it the associated deafness that has kept him from representing his clients in court during the past year”.
Justice Michael Lee said the article implied that Murphy’s role as a criminal lawyer – representing his clients in court like the lawyers in TV shows such as Law and Order, Rumpole of the Bailey and Perry Mason – was made impossible by his age and hearing loss.
“To convey that a leading criminal solicitor was incapable of representing his client’s interests in court by reason of the ravages of age and associated deafness is an imputation of some seriousness,” the Judge said, saying it was both inaccurate and misleading.
