Catherine Kirkpatrick

Catherine in an experienced manager and solicitor who thrives in a fast-paced and complex legal environment. She specialises in prosecutions and investigative matters including the sufficiency of evidence, prospects of success and conduct of statutory prosecutions, including Mental Health Review Tribunal proceedings.

Catherine joined Crown Law in 2024 and leads our Prosecutions Team. With advanced problem-solving abilities and sound judgement, she capably advises on significant and legally challenging matters.

Prior to joining Crown Law, Catherine worked in the New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for more than a decade, prosecuting some of the most complex criminal matters in New South Wales.

Catherine’s experience includes:

• advising clients on prosecutions and investigative issues including the sufficiency of evidence, prospects of success and conduct of statutory prosecutions, including Mental Health Review Tribunal proceedings
• acting as the instructing solicitor in the first prosecution of female genital mutilation in Australia.
• briefing and supervising solicitors in a variety of appearance work including trials, sentences, interlocutory applications and appeals
• conducting trials in relation to various summary prosecutions
• appearing at the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and conducting appeals to the Mental Health Court on behalf of the Attorney-General
• drafting legal advice, including statutory interpretation advices
• instructing Crown Prosecutors, Senior Counsel, the Crown Advocate of NSW and the now Director of Public Prosecutions in the Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeal, and High Court of Australia.