Kate Bowshell

Kate practises principally in commercial and adminstrative law and wills and estates. She appears regularly in the Victorian Supreme and County Courts, as well as VCAT and the Federal Court, and has an interest in class action litigation, as well as a strong judicial review and appeals practice. 

Kate also has a substantial interest and practice in alternative dispute resolution, appearing regularly as an advocate and occasionally as a mediator at mediations in various jurisdictions.  She is passionate about the benefits to clients of an early and reasonable resolution of litigation, while recognising that some matters will always need to proceed to trial. 

From 2013 to 2016 Kate was briefed in a Federal Court class action concerning discriminatory wage-fixing for intellectually disabled workers, which achieved the largest employment underpayment settlement in Australian history.  In 2011 and 2012 Kate was briefed in a Supreme Court class action proceeding arising from the Black Saturday Bushfires in 2009, which resolved prior to trial.  

Prior to coming to the Bar, Kate completed her articles and practiced as a litigation solicitor at Galbally & O’Bryan, mainly in testators' family maintenance, commercial and employment matters. Her practice included regular appearance work in the Supreme, Magistrates’ and Federal Magistrates’ Courts, VCAT, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, and at mediations. Previously, Kate worked as an Industrial Officer for an industrial organisation, and as an associate to Senior Deputy President Williams of the Industrial Relations Commission.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation