Kate practises in common law, public law and family law. She also undertakes directorial work in corporate governance.
Kate has a significant practice in institutional abuse compensation, particularly matters involving child sexual abuse in State-run, religious and non-government institutions, including private schools and sporting organisations. She accepts briefs to appear in abuse matters in all state and territory jurisdictions, with particular expertise in Victoria and Tasmania.
In 2023, Kate was appointed by the Premier of Victoria as Junior Counsel Assisting the Board of Inquiry into historical child sexual abuse in Beaumaris Primary School and certain other government schools. In 2015, Kate represented survivors who gave evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Kate's public law practice focuses on disability and child protection. She regularly advises on review proceedings regarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in the Administrative Review Tribunal and child protection matters in the Children's Court of Victoria.
Kate is an experienced Non-Executive Director and has served in a number of Board and committee roles, including with the Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre, the Victorian Bar's Indigenous Justice Committee and Children's Court Bar Association committee. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors' Company Directors Course.
Examples of cases:
Kate holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Sydney and a Master of Laws degree (LLM) from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
Kate is a member of Walsh Chambers Geelong.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation. The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Victorian Bar Inc nor the barrister’s clerk have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.
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