Darren Renton SC

Darren is one of Perth’s leading criminal law barristers with over 25 years of trial and appellate experience, operating a national practice. He has been recognised in Doyle’s Guide every year since 2015 (pre-eminent in 2019 & 2020) as identified by his peers for his expertise and abilities in the area. He is a recognised expert in Commonwealth crime but deals with all areas of crime (both State and Federal) with a particular interest in complex drug offences, terrorism and fraud. He was a former In House Counsel for the Commonwealth DPP and represented many foreign governments on extradition matters at both first instance and in the Federal Court. Since joining the Bar in 2010, he has conducted many high profile trials and appeals around the country involving terrorism offences, wilful murder, drug offences (importation, manufacturing and trafficking), stealing and fraud as well as numerous appearances before the Corruption and Crime Commission as both Counsel Assisting and on behalf of those appearing. He has presented several papers at international conferences and represented the Australian Government on an international inter-governmental panel dealing with Cybercrime.

In 2013 he was appointed Counsel Assisting the Inquiry into the City of Canning by the WA Government.  Darren accepts both defence and prosecution briefs for opinion work, trials and appeals. He accepts briefs in Western Australia and interstate.  Darren is presently Vice President of the Criminal Lawyers Association of WA, Chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the Anglican Diocese of Perth, a member of the Australian Bar Association’s criminal law committee and a former member of the WA Bar Association’s Bar Council. He is also an author of several chapters of Lexis Nexis’ Criminal Law (WA) and the General Advisor, Practical Guidance Criminal for that publication.

In November 2018 Darren was appointed a part-time member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.