Kate Waterford
Partner
Kate Waterford leads our medical negligence practice, alongside a broader personal injury practice, which includes public liability, birth trauma, wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases.
Kate Waterford has spent her career standing up for people who have been hurt and whose rights have been infringed. As a partner of Maliganis Edwards Johnson, where she has worked since 2013, she leads the firm’s medical negligence team, and family provision and privacy claims practices. Kate draws on over two decades of experience working in law firms to fight for the best result for every client she represents.
Kate has been awarded the coveted status of ‘Pre-eminent Medical Negligence Lawyer’ in a ‘Leading firm’ by the Doyle’s Guide, one of the most respected benchmarks in Australian law. That recognition reflects extensive experience and technical excellence, as well as a genuine long-term commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for injured individuals and their families.
Beyond her legal practice, Kate has served on a range of boards, councils and committees of regional, national and/or international significance, focused principally on healthcare, human rights and social justice issues. She has been a regular guest lecturer at the ANU Medical School since 2021, and edits the ‘Medicine’ and ‘Civil & Political Rights’ sections of the legal encyclopedia, Halsbury’s Laws of Australia. Kate holds three master’s degrees.
Kate’s breadth of experience, with many years of building and winning complex compensation cases, governing institutions, navigating difficult decisions, and advocating for vulnerable people across many types of roles, shapes the way she approaches every matter she takes on.
Clients who work with Kate say they felt heard and supported from the very first conversation. She understands that behind every legal claim is a person going through one of the hardest periods of their life, and she takes that seriously.
If you have been injured in a medical negligence case, or you need advice about a family provision claim or serious invasion of privacy, Kate would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about your options. Kate and her team of experienced lawyers are here to help.