Evan O’Hanlon-Rose
Evan is an experienced solicitor advocate and former prosecutor. After beginning his legal training as a law clerk at Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors in 2012, Evan joined the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in 2013 and spent the next 10 years developing his skills as a prosecutor and advocate in the adversarial environment of serious criminal prosecutions.
As a Senior Crown Prosecutor, Evan was responsible for independently preparing, instituting, conducting, and discontinuing criminal proceedings for the Crown, and regularly prosecuted serious criminal offences involving rape, drug trafficking, fraud, murder, manslaughter, domestic violence, sexual offences against children, and complications with parole. Evan regularly appeared as lead counsel in trials, sentences, legal arguments, bail applications, and appeals in the superior courts of Queensland.
Evan also spent time working as a Principal Prosecutor at the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor (OWHSP), where he expanded his practice to include the litigation of a wide range of work health and safety investigations and regulatory prosecutions, with a particular focus on cases involving death and serious injury in the mining and resources sector.
In 2024, Evan returned to Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors to pursue his commitment to social justice, human rights, and the robust defence of those facing the prospect of government investigation or charge. In addition to criminal defence and workplace investigations, Evan has a strong interest in assisting professionals facing disciplinary proceedings. He understands that the process of investigations, enquiries and prosecutions can be daunting and stressful, and focuses on providing high-level practical advice and representation to clients to achieve the best outcomes.
As a former prosecutor, Evan has worked closely with many investigative and prosecutorial agencies to build cases against individuals and companies. Learning how to build prosecution cases has given Evan unique insight into how best to defend them.
As a solicitor advocate at Robertson O’Gorman, Evan provides complete defence services at all court levels and focuses on finding solutions to help clients move forward.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Business
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice
Awards
Rising Star Criminal Defence Lawyer (Qld) 2024 – Doyle’s Awards
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Emma Higgins
The practice of criminal law is not about quick fixes. Defence work is not about band-aids or short term outcomes. The practice of criminal law is a vocation and requires skill, knowledge, strategy and empathy to practice.
Emma is a compassionate, creative and decisive lawyer who is passionate about achieving excellent results for her clients. She has expertise in all areas of criminal law, domestic violence law and traffic law. Emma has created a reputation for herself as a caring and considerate solicitor who listens to her clients stories and helps them to find a path that is in line with their future goals. She supports her clients through matters offering a safe space for views to be expressed.
Emma is an accredited specialist in criminal law (Qld). Throughout university, she worked full time for a number of law firms, developing a passion for advocacy and defence work. In 2011 Emma joined Robertson O’Gorman as a law clerk during her final year of law school. She achieved a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Business majoring in Economics from the Queensland University of Technology and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law.
When meeting clients for the first time, Emma asks what they want to achieve from the proceedings and strategises with them about what she wants to be able to achieve for them. With this vision firmly in her head, she can then help clients to focus on the big picture, to understand what they are trying to do and set out what steps need to be taken by them and by her to achieve that result.
Emma is committed to the legal profession understanding the role she plays as a lawyer in the community not just in the courtroom. She is a QLS occupational discipline committee member, has been nominated for the WLAQ Emergent Young Woman Lawyer award, taught at the University of Queensland in Criminal law and been a mooting judge at a number of university competitions.
In 2017, she literally ‘wrote the book’ on criminal law when she co-authored Criminal Process in Queensland (2nd Ed) a book about criminal responsibility, defences and process. All funds from the sale of that book have been donated to the Caxton Legal Centre.
Emma has represented clients from all walks of life in respect of a wide range of offending behaviour and has achieved great outcomes for her clients. Because of her nature, she often finds herself advising clients on more than just the immediate issue at hand and has developed many long standing and trusted advisory roles with many of her clients. Her clients know that even after the dust settles and they are able to move forward, if a question arises she will take their call and assist them willingly.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Bachelor of Business (Economics)
Grad Diploma of Legal Practice
QLS Specialist Accreditation (Criminal Law)
Awards
Recommended Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer (Aust) 2024 – Doyle’s Awards
Rising Star Criminal Defence Lawyer (Qld) 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 – Doyle’s Awards
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Dan Rogers
Dan is our Principal and Legal Director. He has obtained a Specialist Accreditation in Criminal Law. He is consistently named as one of only 6 preeminent criminal lawyers in Queensland by Doyle’s Leading Lawyers List. He is also recognised as a leading criminal lawyer across Australia. Dan is highly experienced and widely regarded.
Dan holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (with majors in psychology and criminology). He also holds a Masters of Law from University of Melbourne (with Honours). Dan regularly presents to other solicitors at Queensland Law Society conferences and seminars. He conducts guest lectures on criminal law at various universities. He has been published in law journals and has contributed to legal texts on criminal law and human rights.
In addition to his core criminal defence work, Dan also represents legal and health professionals facing disciplinary allegations. He has also developed a strong practice in inquiries and workplace investigations including coronial inquests and workplace health and safety prosecutions. He is a trusted advisor to company directors and/or employees.
Dan has practised across Australia but has also worked at the International Criminal Court (The Hague, Netherlands) in the Office of Public Counsel for Defence. He continues to advise local and foreign clients on international law, extradition, human rights and the administration of justice.
Dan has a passion and commitment for social justice and human rights. He occupies a number of important roles in that space including:
- Attorney-General‘s Appointed Member, Queensland Law Society Council;
- Member (former President), Caxton Legal Centre; Queensland’s largest community legal centre;
- Member (former Chair), Queensland Law Society Human Rights and Public Law Committee;
- Member, Queensland Law Society Ethics Committee; and
- Member, Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council; advising the Attorney-General on sentencing matters.
As a solicitor advocate, Dan regularly argues his own cases in the higher courts instead of briefing counsel. He is ambitious and confident in his representation of clients at all court levels. Dan is empathetic to the plights faced by criminal defendants. He enjoys helping people through complex legal problems so that they can get their lives back.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws
Master of Laws
QLS Specialist Accreditation (Criminal Law)
GAICD (Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors)
Bachelor of Arts (majoring in psychology and criminology)
Accelerated Leadership Program (Harvard Law School Executive Education)
Awards
Pre-eminent Criminal Defence Lawyer (Qld) 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 – Doyle’s Awards
Recommended Traffic & DUI Lawyer (Qld) 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024 – Doyle’s Awards
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer (Aust) 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 – Doyle’s Awards
Recommended Leading White Collar Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyer (Aust) 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 – Doyle’s Awards
Leading Traffic & DUI Lawyer (Qld) 2018 – Doyle’s Awards
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer (Qld) 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 – Doyle’s Awards
Recommended Criminal Defence Lawyer (Aust) 2017, 2018 – Doyle’s Awards
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Terry O'Gorman
Terry O’Gorman, an expert in the area of criminal law and criminal defence, is one of our founding partners at Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors.
For 40 years, Terry O’Gorman has worked fiercely to defend his clients and tirelessly to protect the civil liberties of Queenslanders.
As an Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law and QLS Senior Counsellor, Terry O’Gorman is recognised by the Queensland Law Society and the legal profession as an expert in criminal law, professional responsibility and police conduct.
Terry sat on the Queensland Law Society Criminal Law Committee since 1979 and was an Executive Member of the National Association for Criminal Lawyers since its inception in 1986.
In 1991, Terry was awarded the Order of Australia in a General Division for services to the legal profession.
From 2015 to 2020, Terry has been recognised as a preeminent Criminal Lawyers in Queensland in the Doyles Guide – Leading Criminal Lawyers list.
Terry believes that in addition to a commitment to the profession, lawyers have an obligation to ensure that civil liberties for all Queenslanders are protected. He is the Vice-President of the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties and the President of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties.
Terry O’Gorman’s presence in areas of public debate, in particular around police conduct and civil rights, is formidable. He is a frequent speaker at national and international criminal law conferences.
Terry’s skills with the media are vital in a climate in which prosecutorial and investigatory agencies are prepared to “go public” in high profile cases to gain an advantage.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Arts (Majoring in Politics)
QLS Specialist Accreditation (Criminal Law)
QLS Outstanding Specialist Accreditation (Criminal Law)
Awards
Law Council of Australia Medal 2021
Leading – Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer (Qld) 2022, 2023, 2024 – Doyle’s Awards
Recommended Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer (Aust) 2021, 2022 – Doyle’s Awards
Pre-eminent Criminal Defence Lawyer (Qld) 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 – Doyle’s Awards
Leading Criminal Defence Lawyer (Aust) 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 – Doyle’s Awards
Recommended White Collar Crime, Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations Lawyer 2018, 2019 – Doyle’s Awards
Leading Traffic & DUI Lawyer 2019 – Doyle’s Awards
QLS Outstanding Accredited Specialist – Criminal Law 2020
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