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CODA Criminal Law

CODA Criminal Law

5.0(87 reviews)See reviews ↓·Canberra

About the company

CODA Criminal Law is a criminal law firm based in Canberra. The firm provides representation in traffic and driving matters, serious criminal charges including sexual assault and murder, domestic and family violence cases, and complex financial offences. The team includes partners Satomi Hamon, Charlene Chalker-Harris, Peter Woodhouse, and Carley Hitchins, and lawyer Ella Spaleta.

Satomi Hamon holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Canberra and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law, and is a member of the ACT Criminal Law Committee and a mentor in the ANU Women in Law Mentorship Program. Charlene Chalker-Harris holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Science from the Australian National University, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University; she is a member of the ACT Criminal Law Committee and the National Criminal Law Committee and has worked exclusively in criminal law for more than a decade.

What customers say

Based on genuine customer reviews

In Canberra, people navigating criminal matters consistently describe a legal team that pairs deep knowledge of the law with genuine personal care. Several reviewers single out Satomi Hamon as a sharp and seasoned advocate who sets out what to expect, keeps clients updated through each stage, and delivers the positive outcomes she forecasts.

Carley Hitchins, also written as Carly, is named just as frequently, with her attention to detail, readiness to listen and record of strong sentencing results recurring across accounts, including help with parole breaches. Peter Woodhouse is mentioned for assisting with an FVO matter, described as approachable, well prepared and quick to respond during a frightening period. Charlene draws steady praise for fielding questions plainly, giving sensible guidance and walking clients through every step, at one point ensuring necessary information reached a client despite being in hospital.

Ella is thanked for making a client feel heard and supported from start to finish. Communication throughout proceedings, careful preparation and commitment to the client's interests come up repeatedly, with many noting they felt safe, informed and properly advocated for. The firm covers criminal law work, and the theme that runs through the feedback is how problems were handled when stakes were high.

Reviews

Reviews are taken from publicly available sources.

AU
Al UD17 July 2026

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! 🔥 Endless thanks to the best lawyer in Australia, Satomi Hamon, for standing by my side every step of the way. Throughout this journey have meant more than words can express, Her guidance, Her knowledge, and her unwavering support, always strive to achieve best possible outcomes and your professionalism dedication and commitment to your work are second to none. The Amazing pure energy you bring along with your BEAUTIFUL smile made a real difference during sucha stressful time. If every country have a lawyer like Satomi, the world will know peace i swear. The only laywer forever to have ⚖️ so thankful for you, God bless you mad respect indeed.🙏

TR
Tash R16 July 2026

I cannot thank Ella at Coda Law enough for all of her help and support throughout my case. She was absolutely fantastic, incredibly helpful and made me feel heard and supported throughout the entire process. I was able to achieve the a great outcome for my case thanks to Ella. I am incredibly grateful for everything she has done for me and would highly recommend her to anyone needing legal assistance!

AC
Alyssa Collins2 July 2026

Carley was amazing throughout my case. She was so kind, supportive, and always made me feel heard. Thanks to her hard work, I got the best possible result. I’m so grateful for everything she did and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a caring and dedicated lawyer.

LH
Luke Hazell16 June 2026

I am extremely happy with Satomi from CODA Criminal Law and the work and effort she put into my case. We achieved a great result. I highly recommend Satomi and would not hesitate to use Coda Criminal Law again should the need arise. Excellent work, thankyou.

YK
Yerin Kim5 June 2026

Satomi was fantastic throughout my matter. She was always quick to respond, explained everything clearly and made a very stressful situation much easier to manage. What I appreciated most was that she genuinely took the time to listen and carefully review all of the information before advising me. Thank you again for all of your hard work and support. I highly recommend Satomi to anyone looking for professional and reliable legal representation!

SP
Sonam Penjor21 May 2026

I highly recommend Satomi Hamon for anyone needing legal assistance. She handled my case very professionally and supported me throughout the entire process. During one of the most stressful times in my life, she was very understanding, responsive, and always guided me clearly. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, my matter was finalised successfully. I truly appreciate her kindness, patience, and professionalism. I am very grateful for all her help and support. Thank you again, Satomi.

DG
Denis Goodwin13 May 2026

Satomi Hamon at CODA is a phenomenal advocate. She is sharp, experienced, and deeply knowledgeable about the law. She told us what to expect, kept us informed at every stage, and secured the positive result we were promised. Five stars is not enough

Criminal lawyers in Canberra compared

Ordered by rating, weighted by the number of reviews — businesses with only a handful of reviews do not jump to the top automatically. 4 businesses in this category in Canberra are compared.

RankProviderRatingReviewsOpen Sat.
1CODA Criminal Law (this page)★ 5,087No
2Andrew Byrnes Law Group★ 4,9188No
3Canberra Criminal Lawyers★ 4,85No
4Armstrong Legal - Canberra★ 4,726Yes
Contact
+61262794288www.codalaw.com.auLevel 7/1 Hobart Pl, Canberra ACT 2601
Working hours
Monday08:30–17:00
Tuesday08:30–17:00
Wednesday08:30–17:00
Thursday08:30–17:00
Friday08:30–17:00
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed