Catherine Power

Sarah acts for Commonwealth Government departments and agencies on procurement, contracting and governance matters. Her client base is primarily the Commonwealth and Commonwealth entities, with a particular focus on defence procurement and capital equipment acquisition. Sarah advises on procurement activities for aviation, land vehicle and maritime assets, governance matters for statutory corporations, contract negotiations, competitive tendering processes and privatisations. She leads contra...

John Wilson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labour and Employment Law. John, who practices law in Canberra, Australia, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah acts for Commonwealth Government agencies and private sector clients on defence and national security matters, export control and regulation, and government procurement. She is part of the firm’s defence and national security practice. Sarah advises on defence and national security legal frameworks, export control obligations under the Defence Trade Controls Act and associated legislation, and government procurement. Her practice spans the legal architecture governing Australia&rs...

Matthew has over 18 years experience in insurance litigation and specialises in defending state statutory class and common law claims arising in the challenging Australian Capital Territory jurisdiction. He regularly assists insurers and self-insurers to liaise with the ACT regulator on issues concerning the ACT scheme. Matthew is highly experienced in the defence of state statutory classes litigation and uses his knowledge to assist clients with strategic claims management in order to achiev...

Melanie acts for Commonwealth government agencies, statutory entities and corporate clients. Melanie's clients operate across the full spectrum of Commonwealth activity. Her clients include Comcover, ATO and Departments including Finance, Defence, Home Affairs, Industry, Attorney-General's and Agriculture. Melanie joined Thomsons in July 2025 as part of the transition of the one of Australia’s premier Commonwealth government practices. Melanie’s practice spans litigation, dispute ...

Andrew has extensive experience in representing and providing high level, strategic and complex workplace relations advice to a wide range of Commonwealth departments and agencies over the last 15 years. This includes significant experience in litigating on behalf of the Commonwealth (generally on the instructions of Comcover) in the Fair Work Commission, the Federal Court, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Administrative Review ...

As Legal Director of the Planning, Environment and Local Government team Alice provides skilled and professional advice and representation for local government and private clients on a wide range of NSW and ACT planning, environmental and administrative law matters. Alice is a pragmatic and practical problem solver who works in partnership with her clients to deliver ‘on ground’ results. She enjoys providing strategic advice on how best to achieve her client’s goals, and spe...

Angela acts for Commonwealth Government agencies and departments across technology, procurement and contracting matters. Her clients include Defence and other major Commonwealth entities. Angela advises on Australian Government procurement, information and communications technology contracts, software development and licensing, data protection and privacy, business process outsourcing, IP licensing, technology commercialisation and Defence infrastructure projects. She advises on all phases of...

Steve advises departments of the Commonwealth Government, most notably the Department of Defence, on procurement, contracting and construction matters. He acts for both government agencies and private sector clients participating in government procurement. Steve advises on all aspects of procurement and construction projects including: strategic advice, acquisition strategies, risk analysis, drafting and negotiating contract and tender documentation, contract administration, IT contracts, ris...

Paul acts for Commonwealth Government agencies, statutory authorities and private sector employers. Paul joined Thomsons in July 2025, bringing with him deep Commonwealth client relationships built over an extensive career. Paul’s practice spans all aspects of employment and industrial relations, WHS governance, administrative law and government procurement. He advises on enterprise bargaining, individual and collective workplace agreements, discrimination complaints, investigations of ...