Kestin Mildenhall 

Professional background

Kestin accepts briefs to appear and advise in criminal and quasi-criminal matters. She is an experienced advocate, with particular knowledge of indictable crime.  At the bar, Kestin has appeared in a number of complex criminal matters including matters involving sexual offences, terrorism, drug offences, violence, property offences and white collar crime, in both state and commonwealth proceedings. Kestin has appeared in a number committal hearings, contested hearings, plea hearings, appeals and bail applications as well as appearing as junior counsel in a number of County Court Trials.

Immediately before coming to the Bar, Kestin practised as a solicitor in the Indictable Crime Team at Victoria Legal Aid. Kestin has experience in a broad range of indictable criminal matters, including sexual offences, drug matters and violent offences. She also has a particular interest in post-sentence applications and reviews under the Serious Offenders Act 2018. As a solicitor advocate Kestin regularly appeared in the in summary, indictable and appellate matters in the Magistrates', Children's and County Court jurisdictions.

Prior to her position at Victoria Legal aid, Kestin worked as a Senior Solicitor at the Office of Public Prosecutions. In this role she gained extensive experience and expertise in offences involving sexual offending. This included carriage of matters involving sex offence committals, pleas and trials, particularly historical sex offences and matters involving child complainants, and in the procedural and evidentiary matters unique to sex-offence proceedings.

Kestin commenced her career in private practice at Andrew George Solicitors (now Doogue + George Defence Lawyers), a criminal defence firm.

Kestin is on the VLA Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List.  

Kestin read with Simon Moglia and her senior mentor was Sally Flynn QC.