Kate Burke

She is an experienced class action lawyer and has appeared in representative proceedings involving shareholders' rights, employment law, major torts, product liability, financial services, and the liability of governments and statutory authorities. She has also appeared in large-scale proceedings involving financial services, employment rights, regulatory actions, and in commercial disputes, including acting for the plaintiff in Cargill v Viterra, the longest commercial trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria.

In employment and industrial relations, she has appeared in matters involving statutory and contractual rights, employee/contractor disputes, disciplinary matters, and termination of employment. She appeared before the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission in modern award reviews including the successful defence of penalty rates for hospitality workers, and the creation of new minimum entitlements for family and domestic violence leave, family-friendly work arrangements, and part-time work in the fire fighting sector. She is currently the Secretary of the Industrial Bar Association.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Kate was Associate to Justice Hargrave in the Supreme Court of Victoria (2005-2006) and was a solicitor in the commercial and project litigation group at Slater & Gordon (2007-2010).

Kate graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2006 (BA/LLB (Hons)), and from New York University in 2013 (LLM), where she specialised in class actions and complex litigation.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation