Catharine Thorpe

Catharine’s particular expertise includes constitutional law, administrative law, statutory interpretation, human rights, and privacy and information sharing. She also advises on and appears in commercial and common law matters. These include contract disputes, tort, taxation, superannuation, and bankruptcy and insolvency.

Prior to joining the Bar, Catharine was the Managing Principal Solicitor in the Constitutional and Advice team at the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office where she advised in all areas of public law, and she practised in Supreme Court judicial review proceedings and proceedings raising constitutional issues.

Catharine also practised in public and commercial law at Maddocks, and she was Associate to the Honourable Justice Stephen McLeish at the Victorian Court of Appeal. Prior to this, as the Research and Publications Officer at the Judicial College of Victoria, Catharine developed and co-authored the Charter of Human Rights Bench Book and chaired the inaugural editorial committee. She commenced her legal career practising in commercial law, as an attorney in the New York firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

Catharine graduated magna cum laude at the top of her LLB class at the University of Cape Town, ranked in the top 50 law schools worldwide. She was awarded the Judge Schock and Juta Law Prizes for the best final year law student, and other prizes for her results in public and commercial law.

Catharine is reading with Alexander Solomon-Bridge, and her senior mentor is Premala Thiagarajan SC.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under the Professional Standards Legislation