Luana Torres

Luana Torres is a Solicitor and Notary Public with over 20 years of legal experience, and the Principal of Torres Lawyers, which she established in 2008. Born and raised in Brazil, Luana moved to Australia in the early 1990s and is fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. She holds degrees in Law and Commerce from Macquarie University, Sydney, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2002. She is also listed on the Register of Practitioners of the High Court of Australia. Luana was the first Brazilian woman admitted to legal practice in Australia and the first Brazilian-Australian appointed as a Notary Public. Her early career included serving as In-House Counsel at a prominent not-for-profit organisation in Sydney, Wesley Mission, before gaining diverse experience in private practice. Her legal practice encompasses a broad range of areas including criminal and traffic law, civil litigation, commercial law, property, family law, and wills and estates. Currently, Luana focuses predominantly on criminal law and regularly appears in the Local, District, and Supreme Courts across New South Wales and other jurisdictions. She is recognised for her strong advocacy skills and dedication to ensuring access to justice, particularly for migrant communities. Luana actively contributes to several Legal Aid Panels and undertakes pro bono work to support those in need. In addition to her legal practice, Luana has more than 15 years of experience providing notarial services. She serves as a Councillor for the Society of Notaries of New South Wales and is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Notaries. Luana also shares her expertise as an Adjunct Lecturer with the College of Law in Sydney, where she has mentored and assessed numerous students through their Practical Legal Training Program. She is passionate about supporting the next generation of legal professionals. Committed to community engagement, Luana has played significant roles within the Brazilian community in Sydney. She has volunteered as Public Officer for the Brazilian Community Council of Australia (BRACCA) and served as President and Spokesperson of the Brazilian Citizen Council of Sydney. In these capacities, she has represented the community at international conferences on multiple occasions.