We are proud to share that our very own Senior Associate, Francis Caesar Devine, has won the Criminal Law category of the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards for the second year in a row. This incredible achievement makes Francis the first lawyer in Australia to secure back-to-back wins in this category since its introduction in 2019.
The Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards celebrate Australia’s top young legal professionals under the age of 30 who have demonstrated exceptional skill, leadership and dedication to their field. Being named a finalist is a remarkable achievement in itself, and we are thrilled that both Francis and fellow Conditsis criminal lawyer Kayla Nielsen were recognised among the top ten finalists nationally. Like Francis, Kayla was named a finalist for the second consecutive year, highlighting the strength of our team on the national stage.
Reflecting on his achievement, Francis said, “Winning this award recognises my dedication to advocating for the rule of law and, hopefully, inspires others to strive for similar recognition, driving aspiration within the profession.” He also shared that he would have been just as delighted to see Kayla’s name engraved on the 2025 trophy.
Since winning the award in 2024, Francis has continued to develop his practice, building greater confidence in court and when providing legal advice. His outstanding achievements over the past year include securing highly favourable client outcomes across defended hearings and sentencing matters.
Francis’ achievements that contributed to his win included:-
- Worked on 28 defended hearing matters, achieving a range of significant outcomes, including charge withdrawals mid-hearing and multiple acquittals.
- Represented clients in 17 sentence hearings, securing favourable results in 14 cases.
- Been promoted to Senior Associate in June 2024 in recognition of his leadership and exceptional performance
Francis credits much of his professional growth to the mentorship of our Directors, Manny Conditsis and Michal Mantaj. “Their guidance has been invaluable in shaping my approach to advocacy and case strategy,” he said.
With back-to-back Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 wins now secured, Francis is focused on further refining his advocacy in District Court matters, continuing to deliver exceptional results for his clients and mentoring young criminal lawyers. He also intends to pursue further studies to become an accredited specialist in criminal law.
Manny Conditsis expressed his pride in Francis and Kayla, saying, “Francis’s back-to-back win is an extraordinary achievement and a testament to his unwavering commitment to excellence in criminal law. Both he and Kayla have proven themselves to be outstanding lawyers and advocates, and I am immensely delighted for them and of their dedication to their clients and the profession.”
