• Victoria
• Federal Jurisdictions

• Building and Construction Law (Incl Engineering)
• Commercial Law
• Defamation
• Equity and Trusts
• Mediation: Accredited Mediator
• Property
• Probate/Wills/Family Provision
• Sports Law
• Torts
• Trade Practices

Karen has a breadth of experience as a civil and commercial barrister.

She helps clients involved in disputes to navigate the complexities of the legal system to achieve desired outcomes.  She fights for her client’s interests with focus and determination.   She has high standards.  She has attention to detail whilst focussing on the big picture. In approaching a problem, she values pragmatism and good judgment.

As a mediator, with empathy and a desire to have a personal connection, she is determined to facilitate the parties to exercise self determination to resolve their disputes as efficiently as possible.

She has worked on cases in a diverse range of practice areas including commercial and contracts, building and construction, defamation, equity and trusts, property, torts, trade practices and deceased estates.

Some cases of significance in which Karen has appeared, include:

• Federal Court of Australia:  Franchise dispute – Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd v Automotive Retail Group Pty Ltd and Ors (settled during trial 2019).  Led by David Gilbertson QC.
• Supreme Court: Construction – acted for a construction subcontractor in a dispute concerning the construction of the Eastern Treatment Plant (settled 2015).  Led by Toby Shnookal QC and Peter Jopling QC.
• Supreme Court trial: Property – partition of land and equitable estoppel (settled during trial 2014).  Led by Carolyn Sparke QC.
• County Court trial: Equity – setting aside a gift – undue influence and special disadvantage (settled during trial 2013).  Led by Mark Robins QC.
• Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Limited v Grenadier Manufacturing Pty Ltd (in liq) & Ors [2012] VSC 358: 23 day Supreme Court trial – Negligence: causation as to the failure of bridge coating.  Damages: calculation of economic loss and proportionate liability.  Led by Paul Hayes of Counsel.
• Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Limited v (No 2) Grenadier Manufacturing Pty Ltd (in liq) & Ors [2012] VSC 569: Application for interest and costs: calderbank offer, bullock/sanderson orders, issue by issue costs and apportionment of costs between defendants where concurrent wrongdoers.  Appeared unled.

Before coming to the Bar, Karen was a solicitor at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons) and prior to that, Russell Kennedy.

At Mallesons, Karen worked on general commercial litigation matters including large and complex construction and contract disputes. Karen also advised companies in the mining, banking, gas supply, telecommunications and financial services industries on emissions trading and greenhouse gas and energy reporting.

At Russell Kennedy, Karen worked on a variety of matters, including banking and finance (including conversion and enforcement of securities), contract disputes, coronial, defamation, sports disputes (alleged doping infringements), torts and trade practices (misleading and deceptive conduct).  As a solicitor, Karen drafted pleadings and ran trials in the Supreme Court and arbitrations in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (including an appeal) and instructed in interlocutory applications in the Federal, Supreme and County Courts.

Karen is available to appear, to advise and draw pleadings.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.