Biography

    Kate is a partner in the Disputes + Investigations group.

    She advises clients on corporate and commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation, commercial licensing and commercialisation across technology industries, media and communications, the music industry, advertising and consumer goods. She has in-depth experience in contentious IP matters, having represented parties in copyright and trade mark disputes in the Federal Court and the Copyright Tribunal.

    Kate also has deep experience advising and acting for Government and in administrative law matters. After becoming a partner at the firm in 1998, in 2008 Kate took leave from the firm and spent a period as a Ministerial Adviser, first as Chief of Staff to Minister Faulkner (Cabinet Secretary/SMOS and Defence Minister), and subsequently as a Senior Adviser to Prime Minister Julia Gillard. In that role Kate advised the Prime Minister on legal and parliamentary matters. She returned to the firm in late 2011.

    Kate is listed as a leading lawyer in major legal directories.

    Kate’s experience includes:

    • Acting for Bernard Collaery, the former Attorney-General of the ACT and lawyer for Timor Leste, in relation to his criminal charges under the Intelligence Services Act 2001, along with partner Christopher Flynn. The case in the ACT Supreme Court involves important issues as to the application of Australia’s national security laws.
    • Acting for the Commonwealth (and its departments and agencies) on its response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. This involves acting for all Commonwealth agencies involved, particularly the Attorney General’s Department and the Department of Health, and includes assisting with scope and strategy, managing multiple witnesses, evidence and hearings, and assisting in the preparation of material for Reports.
    • Advising Westpac in relation to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
    • Acting for the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department and the Office of the Royal Commission in assisting to conduct the public inquiry into the alleged mistreatment of children at youth detention centres in the Northern Territory.
    • Lead partner representing the Catholic Church in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. In this capacity she has managed a team including at times up to five partners/special counsel, and ten lawyers. She has overseen all aspects of managing hearings in the Commission for individual Dioceses and Religious Orders, including extensive document production, evidence preparation, and participation in hearings.
    • Kate has acted in a NSW Police Integrity Commission inquiry, representing an individual appearing before the Commission.
    • Acting for music industry collecting societies (ARIA and PPCA) in Copyright Tribunal hearings seeking determination of rates for the use of commercial music in nightclubs, gyms and most recently, in pay TV broadcasts.

    Kate was awarded Lawyer of the Year - Government Practice, 2022.

    Best Lawyers Australia 2022

    Kate is recognised as a Best Lawyer in Alternative Dispute Resolution, Defamation and Media Law, Entertainment Law, Government Practice, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation and Public Law.

    Best Lawyers Australia 2013 – 2022

    Kate has been noted as ‘dynamic, practical, strategic and detail-oriented’ and her ‘brilliant intellect and capacity for undertaking massive workloads’ is highlighted.

    The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2019

    Kate is ranked as a leading individual in IP, Trademark & Copyright law.

    Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019

    Kate is ranked as a leading individual in IP, Trademark & Copyright law.

    Chambers Global 2019

    Kate is listed as a leading lawyer. 

    Asia IP Experts 2015