Kate Bickford

Kate Bickford has a Bachelor of Laws from the Flinders University of South Australia and was admitted to legal practice in September 1998. Kate has since built a solid practice in the areas of native title, aboriginal heritage and general commercial law with a focus on resource clients.

Kate commenced practice as a solicitor working for various native title claim groups through the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Native Title Unit where she worked for three years before accepting a position as a resource lawyer at Finlaysons. Kate joined McDonald Steed McGrath in 2007 to expand her focus on the resource sector.

Kate's experience spans the successful negotiation of dozens of native title mining agreements for exploration and production, aboriginal heritage agreements, general commercial advice, general mining law and regulatory advice and documentation, ERD Court applications and appearances, due diligence exercises and the preparation of documentation involved in public floats. Although based in South Australia, Kate has experience working in all Australian states and territories and on offshore ventures. Kate has undertaken work for proponents including those in minerals, oil and gas, wind farms, electricity and geothermal. In relation to Kate’s native title related expertise, her established working relationship with Aboriginal groups and cross cultural skills assist negotiations by providing the benefit of practical insight into the application of complex legislative requirements.

Kate's main areas of practice include:

• General Resources Law
• General Commercial Law
• Native Title and Aboriginal Heritage Law

Email: kb@mcdonaldsteed.com.au