Thomas Woods - Sir Anthony Mason Chambers

Biography

Thomas Woods (LL.M. (Syd)) is an experienced practitioner in the field of criminal law. He has a substantial trial and appeals practice. He also advises and appears in other areas including public and administrative law, commissions of inquiry and disciplinary matters.

Thomas has been listed in the Doyle’s Guide as a recommended Criminal Law Junior Counsel - New South Wales, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. He has been a member of the Criminal Law Committee of the NSW Bar Association since 2024.

Select Cases

Farrugia v The King [2026] HCA 28. Led by Bret Walker SC for the appellant. The High Court (dismissing the appeal by 5-2 majority) considered the issue of counsel conflict and held that a materiality threshold applies to appeals against sentence.
Maurice Hawell v R; Andrew David v R; Marius Hawell v R [2025] NSWCCA 210. Led by Murugan Thangaraj SC for Marius Hawell in appeal against conviction on charges laid after buck’s weekend in Newcastle. Jury verdicts held to be unreasonable and acquittals entered on appeal.
More than 75 other appeals in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal and equivalent interstate courts including the following recent matters: Sayyaketh v R [2026] NSWCCA 48; Wonj v R [2026] NSWCCA 4; Snounou v R [2025] NSWCCA 231 (led by Bret Walker SC); Waters v R [2025] NSWCCA 226 (led by David Dalton SC); Hudson v R[2025] NSWCCA 194; Bredal v R [2025] NSWCCA 181; Neil v R [2025] NSWCCA 160 (led by Bret Walker SC); Chung v R [2025] NSWCCA 87; and McLaughlin v R [2025] NSWCCA 13 (led by Bret Walker SC).
Trial of Titus Day in the Sydney District Court in May-July 2025 on charges of embezzlement as the manager of musician Guy Sebastian. Verdicts of acquittal on four counts and jury hung on remainder. Prosecution of remaining counts later discontinued and accused discharged.
Johnson v Commissioner of NSW Police [2025] NSWSC 21. Judicial review of decision to issue search warrant authorizing the seizure of a solicitor’s mobile phone. Warrant declared invalid and order made that phone be returned.
Croatian Six Inquiry in 2024-2025. Allegations of historical police misconduct. Acted for 25 former police officers.
Fraud trial in September 2022 concerning a TAB ticket abandoned on the floor of the pokies room of the Doncaster Hotel on Anzac Pde. Jury verdict of acquittal. Prosecution for larceny arising out of same facts permanently stayed as an abuse of process.
Trial of Wollongong G.P. in the Sydney District Court in 2021-2022. Allegations of sexual offending against patients. Three trials back-to-back. Jury verdicts of acquittal on all counts in each trial.
Safarjalani v R [2020] NSWCCA 337. Appeal concerning murder in Petersham in March 2014. Jury verdict held to be unreasonable and acquittal entered on appeal.
Wiggins v R [2020] NSWCCA 256. Appeal against conviction for murder on the ground that the judge’s summing up to the jury was unfair and unbalanced. Conviction quashed and new trial ordered. Subsequent jury acquittal.