Recognised by peer-reviewed publications ‘Best Lawyers’ and ‘Doyle’s Guide’ for many years as among Australia’s leading employment and occupational health and safety lawyers, Kathy brings 30 years of strategic advice and representation for public and private sector employers.

Kathy’s practice areas span all aspects of employment law from contract preparation and advice, performance management, disciplinary action and termination of employment. 

Kathy’s clients are in the government, health, education, professional services, mining and energy sectors. Kathy works closely with organisations to develop workplace relations strategies that protect and strengthen their operations. She identifies and targets key issues relating to commercial success for her clients across employment law contexts, including providing advice on transfer of business transactions, outsourcing, restructuring, independent contracting, redundancy, and management of psycho-social health and safety risks.

She is an experienced litigator, representing employers in unfair dismissal and adverse action claims, equal opportunity, anti-discrimination and sexual harassment matters under the Fair Work Act 2009, relevant anti-discrimination and health and safety laws.

Kathy has extensive experience and recognition assisting employers manage complex and sensitive performance and disciplinary processes, including advising on and undertaking workplace investigations under public interest disclosure regimes, corporate whistleblower laws, workplace behaviour policies and health and safety laws.

Responsive, insightful, and with a commercial approach, Kathy’s ability to think strategically and manage multiple stakeholders helps achieve early resolution and avoid protracted disputes. 

Credentials

• Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne
• Admitted as a Legal Practitioner in the state of Victoria and the High Court of Australia

Recognised specialist

• Workplace investigations and reviews, public interest disclosures, corporate whistle-blower complaints. 
• Managing workplace performance, misconduct and psychosocial hazards.
• Employment-related litigation, including claims of unfair dismissal, adverse action, breach of contract, breach of restraint, breach of industrial instrument.