Being a lawyer is something Katrina always aspired to be. She enjoyed complex problem solving from a very young age, and found that pursuing a career in law gave her endless opportunities to explore different issues and engage in endless learning, while simultaneously helping the community and the legal system.
Katrina’s interest in law first started in high school, where she completed Legal Studies for my HSC. Katrina had an inspiring teacher who always put me to the challenge of justifying my views and answers to legal problems or questions.
In 2012, Katrina commenced her undergraduate Bachelor of Law Degree with Honours at University of Technology Sydney, where she was further inspired by her lecturers and peers to contribute to the legal profession. Some of the lecturers who taught Katrina in university are Counsel she briefs today, and some have become Judges who she appears before.
Upon completing her law degree with Honours, Katrina commenced practical legal training in a boutique criminal defence law firm in the Sydney CBD. As a full time paralegal, Katrina was tasked with not only a support role for the lawyers and principal, but also appearing at Court mentions and assisting Counsel in trials and appeals. Katrina then transitioned into a support role for a renowned barrister at Forbes Chambers who taught her valuable skills to analyse briefs of evidence, draft submissions, prepare for cross-examination of witnesses, and negotiating with the Crown.
Following her role as a barrister’s assistant, Katrina was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of NSW on 27 May 2016 and commenced a full time role as a lawyer with a general practice law firm. While working at this firm, Katrina’s former principal entrusted her with several ticking time bombs of family law cases, which meant she was tasked with learning family law at a fast pace. Katrina remained with this firm for four years and primarily practised in family law, criminal defence law and care and protection law. Katrina was regularly appearing at various Courts and representing clients in mediations throughout this time.
In May 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Katrina decided to open her own law firm, KF Lawyers Australia. Given the uncertainty in the economy, she was worried her firm would not flourish and the business would fail, but luckily that was not the case. With the support of many colleagues, family, friends and clients, Katrina’s firm has continued to grow since it was opened.
Katrina is admitted to practise as an Australian Lawyer in the Supreme Court of NSW and in the High Court of Australia. As such, Katrina appears in both State and Commonwealth Courts throughout Australia to represent clients. Katrina is a member of the Law Society of NSW and also a Committee Member of the Defence Lawyers NSW association. She is a Nationally Accredited Mediator, and completed her studies to become an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner.
Katrina has assisted several clients charged with complex criminal offences, some of which had simultaneous or forthcoming Family Court proceedings for parenting and property disputes. She has represented clients in drug-related matters, domestic violence-related matters, taxation offences, proceeds of crime, traffic matters, fraud, robberies, sexual and indecent assaults, murders and manslaughter, and firearms offences, amongst other matters. Katrina also appears in the Court of Criminal Appeal in NSW for defence appeals and defending clients in Crown appeals.
Katrina equally spends time in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for family law disputes through various States and Territories in Australia. She has appeared for parties involved in litigation between States, blended families, and complex asset pools. Katrina is also involved in complex international family law parenting and financial disputes including Texas, Hawaii, New York, Dubai, the Philippines, China, Lebanon, Italy and Brazil.
Being an experienced advocate in litigation, Katrina appreciates the value of collaboration and mediation to try resolve disputes in a just and efficient manner. With a view to seeking to achieve the best possible outcome in as little time as possible, Katrina is quick to identify areas of dispute and develop a strategy that assists clients in achieving the best possible outcome.
Katrina has been a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards for 2021, 2022 and 2023 in both criminal and family law categories, the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards for 2021 and 2022 for both criminal and family law, the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards 2021 and 2022 .
Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Burton [2020] NSWCCA 54
Rivera & Rivera [2022] FedCFamC1F 328
Rivera & Rivera (No 3) [2022] FedCFamC1F 604 (19 August 2022)
My client was the Respondent Father in the parenting proceedings before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The matter concerned a parental dispute about two young boys of primary school age.
At the time the Mother commenced her urgent application for parenting orders, the Father was charged with supplying a commercial and large commercial quantity of drugs. He had simultaneous pending criminal proceedings before the District Court of NSW. He was also subject to strict bail conditions.
The Mother made an application for sole parental responsibility for the children, and for them to have very limited time with my client. On an interim basis, I secured the Father substantial and meaningful time with the children from the commencement of the proceedings, and this eventually graduated to increased time without supervision.
The Mother eventually filed an Amended Application for Final Orders that sought for her and the children to relocate overseas to where her family resided. This was resisted by my client as the children were clearly at risk of parental alienation from him.
The progress of my client’s case eventually led to a positive Chapter 7 Expert Report with recommendations in his favour, and the matter was set down for a final hearing.
In the lead up to the final hearing, I managed to resolve the matter without counsel and on terms favourable to my client, and in the best interests of both children.
OutcomeThe final orders that were made by consent between all parties, included equal shared parental responsibility for both parents, for the children to spend equal time with both parents, and a restriction for the Mother to be able to take the children outside of the Commonwealth of Australia
I recently represented a former soldier of the Australian Defence Force who was discharged with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and received a large compensation payment after separating from his former wife.
• My client was the Respondent to the Wife’s Application for property settlement orders, wherein she sought Orders for an equal split of the net asset pool, the majority of which was made up of a property that the husband purchased with the compensation payment that he received after separation.
• Consistent with the leading case authorities, I argued that the compensation payment received after separation was to be dealt with an a separate asset pool, but otherwise considered under section 75(2) of the Family Law Act 1975.
• At a Conciliation Conference before a Judicial Registrar of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Wife was represented by learned Counsel and I represented the Husband. Having agreed on salient facts and the nature of the asset pool, I managed to isolate my client’s home (purchased with the compensation payment) so that it was not affected by the Wife’s claim and exposed to possible orders forcing its sale.
Outcome• At the Conciliation Conference, the Wife received a small payment from the Husband from his Military Superannuation, and the property settlement claims resolved on a final basis. The Husband retained 93% of the asset pool without his house being sold to satisfy the Wife’s claim.
I was retained to represent a father and husband in family law property and parenting proceedings, which involved high conflict with the former wife and mother. There was one adolescent child involved and both parties were residing under the same roof creating a toxic environment not only for themselves but also for their teenage child.
• Each party was steadfast in their position that they had to live in the family home and there remained a stalemate as to who would move out. As my client could not tolerate the situation any longer, and the increased conflict initiated by the wife was causing unnecessary tension in the household, my client filed an urgent application seeking exclusive occupation of the house, together with property and parenting orders.
• The matter proceeded to an interim hearing before a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The wife was represented by learned Counsel and I represented the husband. Prior to the hearing commencing, the wife’s Counsel and I discussed the issues in dispute and eventually reached agreement on a set of terms for interim orders that achieved my client having exclusive occupation of the family home.
Outcome• My client achieved what he was seeking and was able to remain in the family home. He avoided the stress and expense of having to relocate himself into a new residence.
Other awarded family lawyers
Alex Bourne
Katrina Favre
David Meredith
Mark Kryakos
Christina Lam
Frances Edwards
Sarah Bevan
Nevine Youssef
Celia Pitcher
Jean Alim
Alfonso Layson
Andrew Banna
