Thomsons

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

Partner

Katie acts for individuals, families, executors, administrators, beneficiaries, major regulators and institutions across succession law, elder law and regulatory and administrative law. Her clients include individuals engaged in estate planning or disputes, as well as regulators and major institutions in complaints prosecution and administrative review matters.

In the succession law space, Katie specialises in estate planning, administration and litigation. She works with clients and their trusted advisers to develop clear and comprehensive estate plans including Wills, testamentary trusts, special disability trusts, Powers of Attorney and death benefit nominations. She advises executors, administrators and beneficiaries on estate administration, and acts in all types of estate disputes, including family provision claims, challenges to the validity of Wills, and equitable claims. She also advises clients on regulatory and compliance matters affecting the administration of estates and trusts.

Katie's elder law practice covers applications for guardianship and financial management orders and suspected elder abuse matters. In regulatory and administrative law, she advises on the management, investigation and prosecution of complaints, advocates in tribunal and court review proceedings, and has acted for a major regulator in a misappropriation prosecution including an application for Special Leave to the High Court of Australia. She has also defended a top-10 Australian university against discrimination claims.

Katie's practice spans estate planning, estate litigation, elder law and regulatory proceedings — a combination that is rare in the Canberra market and gives her a complete view of legal issues affecting individuals and their families across all stages of life. She regularly presents at the ACT Law Society on estate legislation and case law.

• Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (Australian National University)