Partner, Melbourne
Phone +61 3 9288 1240
Fax +61 3 9288 1567
kate.jenkins@freehills.com
Current practice
Kate is a partner in the Freehills Employee Relations group and the lead partner of its national Equal Opportunity and Diversity practice.
Her expertise lies in most areas of employee relations including, executive and employment contracts, policies and procedures, termination of employment, post employment restraints, managing injured workers, occupational health and safety and bullying, equal opportunity and diversity, workplace privacy and surveillance. She also regularly designs and delivers training programs on employment related topics.
Kate understands the need for flexible, strategic, timely and practical advice. She builds strong relationships with clients and knows the value of a good understanding of their businesses.
Kate has experience in all courts including the Supreme, County, Magistrates’ and Federal Courts, as well as the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and state and Federal Equal Opportunity Tribunals.
Kate is an accomplished public speaker and adult educator. She is a regular media commentator, providing comment on topical issues to the Australian Financial Review, the Australian, ABC Radio, industry journals and other media.
Industry experience
Kate works for a broad range of clients in a range of industries including banking, retailing, manufacturing, communications and the public sector. She is aware of the needs of clients to manage their legal budget and to get the most value from their spend.
Clients trust her with complex strategic HR matters as well as providing practical solutions to the day to day issues. She specialises in handling sensitive issues, including those involving senior personnel such as delicate and difficult terminations that might have widespread potential impact to the organisation. She aims to leave her clients with learning that can benefit the business wider than the immediate issue.
Professional background
Kate holds an Honours degree in both Bachelors of Laws and Arts from the University of Melbourne. She is admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court and the Supreme Courts of Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. Kate is a member of the Australian Human Resources Institute, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Industrial Relations Society of Victoria and the Victorian Women Lawyers. Kate is also on the Board of Berry Street Victoria—Victoria’s largest independent child and family welfare organisation.
Kate is renowned as a leader in her field. She was named as a ‘best lawyer’ in Best Lawyers International. Freehills’ Employee Relations team has the lead ranking in its area in Chambers Global Guide, Best Lawyers and PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook, and Freehills broadly holds a number of accreditations, including ALB Magazine Employer of Choice.
