Holly’s practice spans the Magistrates’, County, and Supreme Courts of Victoria, extending to appellate work before the Court of Appeal. Her courtroom work in complex Supreme Court trials has been a defining feature of her career, particularly in matters where the integrity of expert evidence is at stake. Holly brings close scrutiny to prosecution evidence — interrogating its accuracy, reliability, and admissibility with the rigour that high-stakes criminal proceedings demand. In cases where the evidence underpinning a charge does not withstand that scrutiny, she pursues every available avenue to expose its deficiencies.
Holly’s academic formation gave her a strong foundation in one of criminal law’s most contested areas. Her Honours thesis at Victoria University, completed as part of her Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 2018, examined the operation of the Sex Offender Registration Act 2004 (Vic), with a particular focus on its reach over low-risk and youthful offenders. That research crystallised a view she continues to hold that registration regimes which impose sustained, onerous obligations on individuals who present no genuine community risk warrant rigorous scrutiny and meaningful reform. This conviction has directly shaped her advocacy, particularly in applications to suspend reporting obligations for registered offenders whose circumstances no longer justify ongoing restrictions on their civil liberties.
Sexual offences constitute a core pillar of Holly’s practice. She represents clients charged with or appealing convictions for sexual offences with equal depth and attentiveness. She approaches each matter with the gravity it deserves, the compassion her clients require, and the tactical sharpness their defence demands. That same care extends across the full range of matters she handles, which spans homicide, drug offences, dishonesty charges, and offences against the person. For Holly, the charge does not determine the quality of the defence; every client receives the same level of diligence, professionalism, and commitment.
Holly’s peer recognition within the profession has grown steadily alongside her practice. Named a Victorian Criminal Law Rising Star in the Doyle’s Guide rankings for 2021, 2022, and 2023, she was subsequently elevated to Recommended Criminal Defence Lawyer in Victoria in 2024 and 2025, and again in 2026. Doogue + George, where Holly is a Partner, is listed as a First Tier Criminal Law Defence Firm in the Doyle’s Guide 2026.
Her investment in the profession extends well beyond her own caseload. Holly served on the Executive Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Criminal Law Division, contributing to the ongoing development of criminal law practice across the State from 2021 – 2025. She remains a member of the General Committee of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Criminal Law Division. She also volunteers as a Tribunal Member for Football Victoria, demonstrating a commitment to fair process and community engagement that runs through everything she does.
Phone: (03) 9670 5111
Location: 5/221 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
Contact Email: holly@doogue.com.au
Country: Australia
State: Victoria
City: Melbourne