Cathy
Dowsett

Cathy is a specialist in employment and administrative law.  She represents clients at all levels of Court and Tribunal. Cathy has extensive experience acting for government departments and agencies, and in conducting litigation against self-represented litigants. 

Cathy is briefed to advise and appear in a range of statutory and contractual employment law matters including enforcement of statutory entitlements, employer responses to general protections Court applications, unfair dismissal applications, human rights/anti-discrimination matters arising under state and federal legislation, and matters involving breach of contract, performance and discipline issues.  

Cathy’s administrative law practice is based largely in the Federal jurisdiction. She advises government departments, agencies and licensees on responses to requests for reconsideration of, or reasons for, administrative decisions. Cathy is also briefed to advise on the availability and scope of applications for merits review and judicial review, and to appear in administrative law matters.  

Cathy was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in August 1997. After 13 years with the Australian Government Solicitor in Canberra, she was called to the Bar.  She signed the Victorian Bar roll in May 2010, reading with Justin Bourke QC. 

Presentations and Publications 

 • Vicarious / Accessorial Liability of Organisations – March 2018

• Penalty Privilege – October 2015 • How to be a model litigant and still win the case (co-presented with Virginia Masters, AGS) – June 2015

• Workplace Law for lawyers: equal opportunity and occupational health and safety – March 2014

• Employees, contractors and sham arrangements (co-authored by Marc Felman) – November 2012

• The Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 and the “reasonable administrative action exclusion” – July 2011