Kate Lyle

Kate has a broad commercial and administrative law practice. She specialises in planning, environment, land acquisition and compensation proceedings and administrative law matters on behalf of both private and public sector clients.

In addition, Kate acts in enforcement and criminal prosecutions in relation to planning and local law contraventions and advises on potential liabilities under the Water Act 1989.

Kate regularly appears before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Planning Panels Victoria, Inquiries and Advisory Committees, the Magistrates Court of Victoria and the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Kate’s CV, including a list of significant cases, is available here.

Significant recent matters include:

• Suburban Rail Loop East Precincts Standing Advisory Committee – Appearing for the Suburban Rail Loop Authority in relation to the SRL East Precinct Structure Plans (led by Christopher Townshend KC, Emily Porter SC and Barnaby Chessell SC)
• Victorian Planning Authority SAC Referral 7: Preston Market Precinct Structure Plan – Appearing for Darebin City Council (led by Stuart Morris KC)

• Administrative law – Wallis Watson v Minister for Planning (SCV, S ECI 2025 04120); application for reasons under the Administrative Law Act (led by Peter O’Farrell KC with Nicholas Petrie)
• Appeals from VCAT – Appeals under section 148 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act including Smith v Moyne Shire Council & Ors (SCV, S ECI 2024 00012); Ritchies Stores Pty Ltd v Kingston City Council (SCV, S ECI 2021 02019) (led by Barnaby Chessell SC)
• Land acquisition – Advising an acquiring authority through a complex acquisition of multiple parcels of land
• Environment Protection Act – SBI Landfill Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (P1583/2023); acting for the applicant in securing a stay on the Notice of Assessment of Waste Levy Liability (led by Juliet Forsyth SC)

• Water Act – advising landowners on potential liability arising from unreasonable flows of water under section 16 of the Water Act (led by Adrian Finanzio SC)

Kate was recognised as a recommended junior counsel in the Doyle’s Guide Leading Planning & Environment Law in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Prior to joining the Bar, Kate was a solicitor at Maddocks Lawyers in the Planning and Environment team and a Senior Advisor to the Minister for Planning (Hon. Richard Wynne).

Kate read with Barnaby Chessell SC and her senior mentor is Adrian Finanzio SC (now, the Honourable Justice Finanzio).