Catherine Jones Williams

Catherine Jones Williams has an established criminal and public law practice. She appears in all courts – including the Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court, VCAT and the AAT.

Catherine provides exceptional service to her clients and brings a wealth of experience to her practice, including experience working closely with senior members of the Bar.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Catherine worked directly with Ruth Shann SC and Neil Clelland KC in providing Brief analysis and research in successfully defending two complex regulatory prosecutions – an ACCC matter and a Workcover fraud. She also worked as a solicitor-advocate with Chester Metcalfe lawyers. She has worked as a County Court Judge’s Associate and has over ten years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG’s Insolvency division.

Catherine regularly appears in contested hearings, bail applications, committal proceedings, County Court Appeals and complex pleas in higher courts (both unled and led). She is experienced in managing contested matters in VCAT and the AAT.

Catherine is highly experienced in managing complex briefs with evidentiary issues in a range of jurisdictions. She has expertise with medical and financial evidence.

She is building a trial practice and has a growing Supreme Court appellate practice.

She also provides advice in a range of areas, including commercial, public and criminal law.

Catherine provides pro-bono assistance to vulnerable prisoners convicted of serious offences who are seeking a second opinion on their appeal prospects.  She has obtained appeal funding for conviction appeals in a number of cases, including funding for Kings Counsel.

Catherine has been briefed in a number of notable cases:

1. Bangoura v DPP (Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal) – Charges of Rape (x2), Aggravated Burglary and Threats to kill – Convictions quashed by the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal. Led by Dermot Dann KC in the appeal proceedings, after providing initial pro-bono (second opinion) advice unled on appeal prospects to obtain VLA funding. Instructed by Sandra Gaunt, SLKQ Lawyers.
2. Pallant v DPP (Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal) – Charge of murder. Catherine provided second opinion pro-bono advice on conviction appeal prospects resulting in VLA funding for the appeal. Now led by Dermot Dann KC. Instructed by Sandra Gaunt, SLKQ Lawyers. (Ongoing).
3. Anderson v DPP (Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal) – Charge of murder. Catherine provided advice on merits of a conviction appeal (unled) resulting in VLA funding for the appeal. Now led by Dermot Dann KC.  Instructed by Sandra Gaunt, SLKQ Lawyers. (Ongoing).
4. Essa v DPP (Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal) – Charges of Rape and Abduction. Catherine provided probono advice on merits of a conviction appeal (unled) resulting in VLA funding for the appeal.  Unled in the appeal proceedings.  Instructed by Sandra Gaunt, SLKQ Lawyers. (Ongoing).
5. DPP v Schiavone (County Court) – Charges of Pervert the course of justice and perjury against a former senior Victorian Government Policy Adviser.  Unled. Instructed by Sandra Gaunt, SLKQ Lawyers. (Ongoing).
6. DPP v Pallant (Supreme Court of Victoria) – led by Dermot Dann KC in representing the client in the plea hearing on the murder charge, following conviction at trial. Instructed by Sandra Gaunt, SLKQ Lawyers.
7. DPP v Anderson (Supreme Court of Victoria) – led by Tim Marsh, representing the client in the plea hearing on the charge of murder, following conviction at trial.  Instructed by Sandra Gaunt, SLKQ Lawyers.
8. Harper v DPP (Supreme Court of Victoria) – Advice on appeal prospects for conviction on charge of murder – unled. Instructed by SLKQ Lawyers. 
9. DPP v Williams (Supreme Court of Victoria) – led by Diana Price, representing the defence in a plea for murder. Instructed by Sally Wilson from Sally Wilson Legal (as it then was).
10. DPP v Hooper (Supreme Court of Victoria) (Provision of advice and research paper reviewing authorities to support complex Bugmy submissions for a Supreme Court plea being conducted by Julian McMahon SC and Diana Price.
11. Pianto v Trustees of the Christian Brothers (Supreme Court of Victoria) – led by John Noonan QC in defending a significant damages claim for historical sexual abuse. Instructed by Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers. (Settled).
12. DPP v Wandin-Acott (County Court) – Conducted committal proceedings and County Court Plea. Resolution post committal from aggravated carjacking to carjacking. Sentence obtained on the plea was in the bottom percentile for this offence. Instructed by VALS.
13. DPP v Williams (County Court) – conducted committal proceedings and County Court plea on burglary and firearm offences.  Instructed by VLA, Melbourne.
14. Forbes v NDIA (Administrative Appeals Tribunal) – pro bono – judicial review, applicant with end stage renal disease. Successful outcome – settlement in favour of applicant.
15. Fulton v NDIA (Administrative Appeals Tribunal) – pro bono – judicial review, applicant with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Successful outcome – settlement in favour of applicant.
16. Urquhart v NDIA (Administrative Appeals Tribunal) – pro bono judicial review, applicant with CRPS and hemochromatosis. Successful outcome – settlement in favour of applicant.
17. R v Harrouk  – Instructed by the OPP to appear and advise on complex ‘deal proceeds of crime’ case linked to fraud crimes.
18. Police v Gaiton (Magistrates Court) – contested hearing; client acquitted of breach of intervention order charges. Instructed by VWLAC.

Catherine read with Diana Price and her senior mentors are Ruth Shann SC and Timothy Walker KC.

The information referred to above has been supplied by the barrister concerned. Neither Victorian Bar Inc nor the barrister’s clerk have independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information and neither accepts any responsibility in that regard.