Karen has over 30 years’ experience as a lawyer, principally in banking and commercial law, with expert knowledge of the Personal Property Securities Act (PPSA) particularly in regard to insolvency practice and securities enforcement.
Karen holds an exceptional depth of experience in commercial and financial arrangements, including for large and complex infrastructure projects, contractual arrangements in the commercial sector for the acquisition of goods and services, complex property and leasing transactions involving State and Federal governments and the establishment, governance and financing of commercial entities.
Karen has reviewed and advised on a wide range of financing transactions and commercial contracts, developing a strong ability to multitask and manage multiple pieces of work concurrently, becoming a trusted advisor to commercial clients and their stakeholders.
Her experience working in various large firms as well as for a “Big 4” Australian Bank, provided her with valuable insights in guiding and supporting internal stakeholders to change existing business practices and processes to comply with a large and complex change to Australian securities law.
Karen is known for being pro-active and approaching her work with energy, reacting to adversity with resilience.
She is a member of the Banking & Financial Services Law Association and the Women Lawyers Association of NSW.
Karen joined Keypoint Law in 2023 and is based in Sydney.
Expertise
- Personal Property Securities Act
- Banking
- Finance
- Commercial
- Corporate Governance
Experience
- Advising lenders and borrowers on financing transactions and capital market debt fundraisings in the Australia, USA and European debt capital markets;
- Acting for administrators, liquidators and receivers and mangers to deal with the claims of secured creditors and providing second opinions on complex claims involving PPSA security interests;
- Assisting corporates to prepare standard trading terms and to establish or consider the appropriateness of their PPSA strategy, advising on the protection and enforcement of their security interests (including designing PPSA registration manuals, template registrations and providing employee training), reviewing their PPSA registrations and related processes and procedures and designing and implementing remediation programs (designed having regard to the risk appetite of the client) where errors are identified;
- Challenging and having registrations of PPSA security interests corrected or ended through administrative or judicial processes and resolving disputes about the priority of PPSA security interests held or granted;
- Undertaking PPSA security reviews and providing strategic advice on the enforcement of PPSA security interests primarily to banks and other lenders;
- Undertaking PPSA due diligence for corporate mergers and acquisitions; and
- Acting on claims of professional negligence by lawyers and by providers of PPSA registration and search services on PPSA-related matters.
Recognition
- Bachelor of Economics (1st class honours), ANU
- Bachelor of Laws (University Medal), UNSW
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, UTS
- Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance – Governance Institute of Australia
- Admitted as a Solicitor and Barrister of the Federal Courts and the High Court of Australia
- Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW
- Member, Banking & Financial Services Law Association
- Member, Women Lawyers Association of NSW
Career
| 2023 | Keypoint Law | Consulting Principal |
| 2022 | Piper Alderman | Partner |
| 2021 | FCW Lawyers | Principal |
| 2012 – 2020 | HWL Ebsworth Lawyers | Partner (final role) |
| 2010 – 2012 | Westpac Banking Corporation | Legal Counsel, Personal Property Securities Reform Program |
| 2009 – 2010 | Middletons (now K&L Gates) | Special Counsel |
| 2008 – 2009 | Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills) | Senior Associate |
| 2004 – 2008 | Henry Davis York | Special Counsel |
| 2000 – 2003 | Antanaskovic Hartnell | Special Counsel |
| 1989 – 2000 | Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King Wood Mallesons) | Senior Associate (final role) |