Kate Thomson

Kate is a specialist employment and industrial relations lawyer and a nationally accredited mediator. She excels at balancing the commercial and legal interests of her clients, which range from small local businesses to multinational corporations. Her expertise also extends to work health and safety matters, including investigations and prosecutions.

When workplace conflicts cannot be resolved internally, Kate has extensive experience representing employers in unfair dismissal and general protections claims, as well as dispute notifications before relevant tribunals. As a certified mediator, she helps businesses de-escalate workplace disputes and conflict, helping to repair relationships and avoid costly litigation.

Currently working alongside Principal Associate Dr. Rod Harrison, Kate supports major clients in implementing interest-based approaches to enterprise bargaining and dispute resolution. This forms a key part of her enterprise agreement bargaining practice, guiding clients through every stage - from drafting and bargaining to approval and representation before the Fair Work Commission.

Kate is also highly skilled in plain English drafting of employment agreements, having participated in the Fair Work Commission’s Plain English Re-drafting Proceedings during the Four-Yearly Review of Modern Awards on behalf of Australian Business Industrial and Business NSW.

Based in the Newcastle office, her clients include government agencies, councils, listed companies, and small to medium enterprises across industries such as mining, finance, early childhood education and care, utilities, manufacturing, and civil construction.

A frequent author and speaker on employment law and work health and safety, Kate is actively involved in the local legal community. She serves as the Senior Vice President of the Newcastle Law Society management committee, participates in the Industrial Relations Society of NSW (Newcastle Branch), and supports the University of Newcastle Legal Centre by supervising law students, fostering the next generation of legal talent.