Kate is an experienced barrister specialising in family law, with a focus on matrimonial and de facto property disputes, parenting matters and coronial matters. Her practice is dedicated to providing clients with comprehensive legal advice and representation in these sensitive and often complex areas of law.
Kate graduated from the University of Tasmania with a Bachelor of Arts (1991), a Bachelor of Laws with Honours (1994) and a Diploma of Legal Practice (1995). She was admitted to practice on 6 September 1996 and signed the Bar Roll on 4 January 2010. Kate took Silk in June 2019. Prior to going to the Bar, Kate worked as a judge’s associate, at various Hobart private law firms and at Tasmania Legal Aid.
She is a current committee member of the Tasmanian Bar Council.
She was the Tasmanian Representative of the Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia for 6 years from 2013 to 2018. Kate has prepared papers and spoken at the Family Law Section's Family Law Intensive programs around Australia. She regularly presents at continuing professional development events in Hobart.
In 2022 and 2023 Kate appeared as Counsel for the State of Tasmania before the Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings.
Kate was an Independent Children’s Lawyer for many years and continues to accept briefs to act for Independent Children’s Lawyers.
Kate is an accredited AIFLAM mediator and regularly chairs mediations.
