Get to know Kirsty Easdale, Special Counsel in the Government team

We recently caught up with Kirsty Easdale, Special Counsel in Wotton Kearney’s growing Government practice, to learn more about her story and what drives her work. Kirsty recently joined our Canberra office from MinterEllison, bringing over ten years’ experience advising Commonwealth agencies on employment, industrial relations, discrimination, and workplace health and safety matters. Kirsty’s appointment […]

Get to know John McPherson, Special Counsel in the Government team

We recently caught up with John McPherson, Special Counsel in our Canberra office, to learn more about his story and what drives his work. John recently joined our Government team, bringing over 15 years’ experience advising a broad range of Commonwealth agencies and commercial clients, including holding senior roles at Clayton Utz and MinterEllison. His […]

What is actual knowledge? Essential risk management strategies for councils

By: Lesley Woodmore, Sam McNally and Tenielle Corcoran Willis v Orange City Council [2025] NSWDC 208 Note: Wotton Kearney has prepared this as part of our Statewide Mutual Risks Conference 2025 coverage – be sure to visit us in Sydney. For more insights like this, explore our Local Government hub. Overview On 9 July 2020, […]

Wotton Kearney expands Canberra team further with addition of senior government employment law expert

Wotton Kearney continues to build momentum in its government team with the appointment of Special Counsel, Kirsty Easdale, a seasoned employment and industrial relations expert with more than a decade of experience advising Commonwealth government agencies. Kirsty joins the firm from MinterEllison, bringing significant expertise in complex employment law, industrial relations strategy, discrimination, and work […]

Wotton Kearney strengthens government practice expertise with appointment of John McPherson

Wotton Kearney announces the appointment of experienced government litigator John McPherson as Special Counsel in its Canberra office, reinforcing the firm’s expanding national government practice. With over 15 years advising Commonwealth agencies and commercial clients, John joins the firm following extensive experience at Clayton Utz and MinterEllison, bringing deep expertise in public law, regulatory disputes, […]

NSW Court of Appeal confirms school’s duty of care extends beyond the bell

By: Greg Carruthers-Smith, Meisha Tjiong and Chad Farah State of New South Wales v T2 (by his tutor T1) [2025] NSWCA 165 At a glance In October 2017, a Year 9 student was violently assaulted by his peers shortly after the school bell, and outside school boundaries, sustaining significant injuries. The New South Wales Court of […]

Federal court rules no duty of care to Torres Strait Islanders in landmark climate case

By: Amanda Beattie, James Clohesy and Clare McNamara Justice Wigney delivered his judgment in Pabai Pabai v Commonwealth of Australia (Pabai) yesterday, an important decision in the context of climate change litigation in Australia and for government agencies across the country. Pabai was brought as a class action on behalf of all Torres Strait Islanders alleging […]

Is the new tort for serious invasion of privacy relevant to Government?

By: Clare McNamara and John McPherson From 10 June 2025, serious invasions of privacy are actionable as a new statutory tort in Australia. The new tort was introduced by addition of a new Schedule 2 to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Note that Schedule 2 was inserted into the Privacy Act 1988 by the Privacy and Other […]

Get to know Clare McNamara, partner in the Government team

We recently caught up with Clare McNamara, partner in Wotton Kearney’s growing Government practice, to learn more about her journey and what drives her work.  Clare joins us from Clayton Utz with more than 25 years’ experience advising Commonwealth agencies, with her appointment marking a key step in the continued expansion of our Government practice.  […]

Defendant bears a heavy burden in proving unfair trial for successful stay applications

By: Greg Carruthers-Smith, Gemma Burke and Maria Canon RC v The Salvation Army (Western Australia) Property Trust [2024] HCA 43 At a glance The High Court of Australia has allowed an appeal to set aside a judgment staying civil proceedings relating to alleged sexual abuse occurring in 1959/60. The death of the perpetrator and the […]