Elissa Taylor

Elissa is a highly experienced advocate who practices principally in criminal and quasi-criminal law, with a particular emphasis on criminal defence.

Criminal Matters

Since coming to the bar, Elissa has appeared in a wide range of criminal matters, including drug offences, violence, driving, and property crimes, as well as high-profile and sensitive white-collar crime cases involving individuals and businesses facing investigation and prosecution by various agencies. Elissa regularly represents clients in the Magistrates’, Children’s, and County Court, as well as in specialist courts such as ARC, Drug Court, and Koori Court, and has significant experience liaising with court support services within those programs.

Quasi-Criminal and Regulatory Matters

Elissa is well-versed in managing quasi-criminal and regulatory matters. She focuses on litigation concerning the proceeds of crime, including account freezing orders, cash (and other property) seizure and forfeiture proceedings, and asset recovery. She also advises and represents clients in regulatory matters such as AHPRA and ASIC proceedings.

Background

Before joining the bar, Elissa worked at NSW Legal Aid, frequently appearing as a solicitor advocate, where she gained considerable advocacy experience in summary and indictable matters in the Local, Children’s, and District Court jurisdictions. She also spent many years working internationally, where she advised on regulatory matters across various jurisdictions and dealt with serious and complex cases, with a particular focus on white-collar crime, human rights, and international law.

Elissa holds a Master of Laws (with distinction) from the University of NSW. She is committed to ongoing legal education and professional development and recently presented a CPD for the Victorian Bar on “Amendments to the Bail Act 1977.”

Elissa read with Anthony Lewis; her senior mentor was Justin Hannebery KC.