EXcellence Awards 2024

Criminal Defence Barristers of the Year – Australia
Jehane commenced her university studies in 1988, graduating in 1991 with a
Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Psychology. In 1992 she completed a Post-
Graduate Honours Degree in Psychology, graduating with Class 1 Honours.
With a keen interest in the rights of individuals and the human psyche, Jehane
commenced a law degree in 1993, graduating in 1995. She graduated with a
Bachelor of Law with Class 1 Honours. Her thesis was on the place of psychopathy
in criminal law.
After graduating, Jehane commenced her career as a solicitor in 1995 at Sparke
Helmore (in Local Government law and property law). Later that year, she
completed the College of Law Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, with Distinction.
In 1996, Jehane was admitted as a solicitor and continued her work at Sparke
Helmore, before moving to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for NSW
in 1998.
In 2002 Jehane became a Professional Assistant to the Director of Public
Prosecutions for NSW at that time, Mr Nicholas Cowdery AM QC. In this role she
gave legal and policy advice on a number of serious and complex areas of criminal
law, practice and procedure. She was also instrumental in achieving legislative
changes to the Traffic Licensing laws and the law on Dangerous Navigation.
When the opportunity arose in 2003 to become counsel assisting to Mr Peter Bodor
QC in an inquiry for the then Commissioner of Police, she took up the role with
enthusiasm. After being admitted to the roll of Barristers in 2004, she continued in
that role until the inquiry report was tabled in Parliament.
Jehane has since practised as a barrister since 2004 in all areas of criminal
defence (in relation to State, National and International crime). In that time, Jehane
has also worked on matters for and with the British Ministry of Defence and the
Australian Securities and Investment Commission (eg, in the One-Tel Investigation)
and prosecuted matters on behalf of the Executive Director of the NSW Food
Authority, the NSW Department of Primary Industries