For criminal barrister Peter Faris QC, Docklands is now home.

A lawyer for 50 years and a city-dweller for 15, Mr Faris moved to the area early last year.

Well-known for his strong opinions, tenacity and work on high-profile criminal cases, Docklands is something Mr Faris is very enthusiastic about.

“I love it. I think it’s a fantastic place to live,” Mr Faris said.

After deciding to move out of his Exhibition St apartment following the sudden death of his wife, Mr Faris looked far and wide for an apartment that would tick all the boxes.

He was looking for an apartment that was light-filled, west-facing so he could see the sunset and sunrise, could see the south-west for the weather and couldn’t be built out.

After searching for around five months across the CBD and Southbank, Mr Faris found an apartment in Docklands he knew he wanted as soon as he walked in.

Having lived at the opposite end of the city, Mr Faris said he didn’t know anything about Docklands and the decision to move here was based on finding the perfect apartment rather than the suburb itself.

“But I’ve really grown to love it and I love living here,” he said.

Since moving to Docklands, Mr Faris has sold his car, finding there was no need for it when living in an area with so much public transport.

“I do as much walking as I can, you see a lot of the area and it’s fabulous,” Mr Faris said.

But most of the time, he says he feels as though he’s not in Melbourne, with water views something he’s never associated with his hometown.

“Certainly in the city, it’s quite remarkable, the expansive water views here that you can’t get that any where else in Melbourne.”

While he’s had a prolific career, becoming a lawyer wasn’t initially driven by a strong desire to work in the field.

“I didn’t want to go out and work so that’s why I went to university and the only course I could get into was law,” Mr Faris said.

“I’d never met a lawyer until year five when I had to go and organise my articles.”

With a law degree in hand by the time he was 21, Mr Faris said he made the most of it.

He helped to start the Fitzroy free legal service and the Alice Springs Aboriginal legal service in the 1970s, before “taking silk” in 1986 and working as criminal lawyer.

With a list of previous clients that includes Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel, Mr Faris says he isn’t one to classify his cases as the most interesting or memorable.

“They’re all interesting in their own way,” he said,

And he doesn’t see himself slowing down anytime soon.

“I enjoy working. I pace myself and work basically when I want to,” he said.

One thing for certain is that he has no plans to leave Docklands.

“I made the right decision buying this apartment. I’m very enthusiastic about Docklands.”