Hugh Kopsen

Hugh has a broad criminal and quasi-criminal/public law practice, with a particular emphasis on Commonwealth criminal matters.

He has appeared as counsel throughout the criminal courts in Western Australia (Magistrates Court, Children’s Court, District Court, and Supreme Court) either for accused persons or as a prosecutor, for offences committed against both Commonwealth and Western Australian criminal law – regularly appearing for bail applications, sentencings, directions hearings, and trials.

His earlier practice as a solicitor also included the carriage of numerous appeals, with appearances in review order/judicial review and extradition proceedings.

After completing his law degree in 2015 and graduating with five subject prizes, he was admitted to legal practice in 2016.

He worked as a Solicitor in the Criminal Law Division of Legal Aid WA from 2016 to 2018; as a Federal Prosecutor and then a Senior Federal Prosecutor at the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) from 2018 to 2022; and as a State Prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Western Australia from 2022 to 2024.

Hugh joined the Bar in 2024.

He previously tutored in the law of evidence, is a reporter of the Western Australian Reports, and maintains a keen interest in legal history.