Kate Eastman SC

Admitted to the Bar 1998

Appointed Senior Counsel 2012

Experience

Kate has over 27 years’ experience in dispute resolution and advocacy in a wide range of employment disputes, all aspects of discrimination law (employment, services, education, transport and media), human rights (international and Australian), public law and health law. She regularly appears in the Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court, Fair Work Commission, Industrial Relations Commission and State/Territory tribunals for trials and appeals in matters arising under the Fair Work Act, Industrial Relations Act and all Federal/State/Territory discrimination laws. Kate also has extensive experience in Royal Commissions and inquiries.

She appears for individuals, Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and agencies, for multi-national and Australian ASX 200 corporations, partnerships and small business in a range of matters including internal compliance audits, internal grievance and disciplinary procedures, mediation, advisory work and litigation.

Kate regularly participates in mediation and conciliation of all complex and multi-party disputes. She acts as a mediator in such disputes from time to time.

Kate is also an experienced teacher. She is a Senior Fellow of the Faculty of Law, Monash University. She teaches a range of post-graduate international and Australian human rights laws course. She has also taught short courses in Myanmar and Uganda.

For 30 years, she has been committed to providing pro-bono assistance for individuals in human rights cases. Her work has included representing Yasidi women trafficked into Syria, David Hicks during his time in Guantanamo Bay, asylum seekers, women experiencing sexual violence, sexual harassment and discrimination, children with disabilities seeking access to education, war crimes investigations, Optional Protocol complaints to UN Human Rights bodies, Modern Slavery, preparing submissions and advice for human rights NGOs and community legal centres. She was awarded a NSW Law Foundation Award for her services to pro-bono work.