Katie Wood

Partner Sydney

Phone

Mobile

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Overview

Specialising in regulatory and internal investigations and commercial litigation, Katie helps clients manage threatened or actual litigation (either regulatory or private action) and risk and compliance issues. In what can be a fraught, complex, fast-moving (and usually highly regulated) environment, Katie draws on her experience in Australia and in the UK to navigate the various tensions clients face in Australia’s current regulatory and litigious landscape. Katie works with clients to develop pragmatic and commercial strategies and solutions.

Notable Work

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA): part of the core team advising on the APRA Inquiry and the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services industry - two seminal events in Australia's regulatory landscape. Katie continues to advise CBA in its response to regulatory enforcement and investigations as well as in relation to single plaintiff proceedings and class actions.
Visa Europe Services LLC and Visa UK Ltd: assisted in the defence of multiple proceedings commenced in the English High Court relating to multilateral interchange fees.
Lloyds Banking Group plc: assisted in its defence of multiple proceedings commenced in relation to LIBOR allegations.
Goldman Sachs: assisted in its defence of proceedings commenced by investors in relation to management of funds during the GFC.
Volkswagen Group: assisted the team defending five class actions and two regulatory actions in the Federal Court of Australia, brought by two plaintiff law firms on behalf of vehicle owners and the ACCC in respect of diesel emissions issues and regulatory issues.
Product liability class action: assisted the team in what is considered to be largest product liability class action in Australia, in the successful defence of a class action involving claimants who alleged cardiovascular injuries due to their consumption of VIOXX, a COX-2 inhibitor. Having succeeded on all but one cause of action at trial, we were able to overturn the adverse verdict on appeal and secure an historic win.
Product liability claims: advises on a number of single proceeding product liability claims. Those claims are often commenced in the District Court where commercial considerations are important.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA): acted on a number of ASIC regulatory investigations.
Complex disputes and investigations: acted for a number of international financial services entities on a range of complex disputes and investigations.
Retail & Consumer: regularly provides assistance to retail companies undertaking product safety recalls and more generally, provides advice in relation to product safety issues.

Katie Wood

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