Katie acts for individuals, executors, administrators and beneficiaries on estate planning, estate disputes and elder law matters. She also acts for regulatory bodies in regulatory and administrative law proceedings in state and federal jurisdictions.

Biography

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.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

Katie's experience

Major regulator — Misappropriation prosecution including High Court Special Leave application

Acted for a major regulator in the investigation and prosecution of a complaint concerning misappropriation of money from a trust account, including acting on an application for Special Leave to the High Court of Australia.

Top-10 Australian university — Discrimination defence

Represented a top-10 Australian university to defend claims of discrimination arising from decisions made by the university.

Estate disputes — Family provision and equitable claims

Acts for beneficiaries and estates in all types of estate disputes in the ACT Supreme Court and NSW Supreme Court, including family provision claims, challenges to the validity of Wills and equitable claims.

Elder law — Guardianship and financial management

Advises clients on applications for guardianship and financial management orders and matters involving suspected elder abuse, including representation in tribunal proceedings.

Estate planning — Wills, testamentary trusts and special disability trusts

Develops comprehensive estate plans for individuals and families, including Wills, testamentary trusts, special disability trusts, Powers of Attorney and death benefit nominations, working in conjunction with clients' financial and other advisers.