Catharine Thorpe

Catharine’s expertise is in public law, including 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, such as taxation, superannuation, contractual disputes, bankruptcy and insolvency, confidentiality and torts.

Prior to joining the Bar, Catharine was the Managing Principal Solicitor in the Constitution and Advice team at the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office and practised in public and commercial law at Maddocks. She was also Associate to the Honourable Justice Stephen McLeish at the Victorian Court of Appeal. Catharine developed and co-authored the Charter of Human Rights Bench Book and chaired the inaugural editorial committee.

Catharine commenced her legal career practising in corporate transactions as an Attorney in New York firm, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

Catharine has commerce and law degrees from the University of Cape Town (UCT). She graduated magna cum laude at the top of her law cohort, with UCT law school ranked in the top 50 law schools worldwide at the time. 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