Richard Whitla

Director & Principal Lawyer Whitla Criminal Lawyers

Cairns City, QLD

About Richard

Richard Whitla serves as the Director and Principal Lawyer at Whitla Criminal Lawyers, with a focus on Criminal Law. With a career spanning over a decade, Richard has gained recognition as a proficient advocate, appearing frequently in the Magistrates, District, and Supreme Courts across Queensland. His extensive experience extends beyond local borders, having worked in various national and international legal environments. Richard's expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of criminal matters, including drug offences such as possession, supply, trafficking, and importation; sexual offences including assaults, rape, and crimes against minors; property and dishonesty offences like stealing, fraud, and arson; as well as serious violent crimes such as murder, manslaughter, and grievous bodily harm. He is well-versed in handling dangerous driving offences, including those involving serious injury or death, and routinely deals with traffic matters, including drink or drug driving and work licence applications. Additionally, Richard manages bail applications, matters with the Crime and Corruption Commission, appeals, and confiscation proceedings. Richard's legal career began at Groves and Clarke Solicitors in Ayr, Queensland, where he progressed from Trainee Solicitor to Solicitor. He then honed his skills further at the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service in Townsville and Cairns. Internationally, he served as a Project Lawyer for the London Borough of Lambeth. Prior to founding Whitla Criminal Lawyers, he was an Associate Lawyer at O'Reilly Stevens Lawyers. Richard holds a Bachelor of Laws from James Cook University and is admitted to practice in both the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia. His commitment to the legal community is evidenced by his roles as a Panel Member on the AFL Cairns Tribunal and a Committee Member of the North Queensland Law Association, alongside his membership in the Queensland Law Society.