Supreme Court of Western Australia

Current Registrars

Principal Registrar Kate McDonald graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Western Australia in 1995. She was admitted to practice in December 1996 and commenced practice at the then Crown Solicitor’s Office.

She worked as a Senior Assistant State Counsel at the State Solicitor’s Office representing the State in federal and state jurisdictions before commencing her role as an Acting Registrar in September 2018. She is an accredited mediator and commissioned as a Magistrate. She was appointed as a Registrar in May 2019 and Principal Registrar in March 2022.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5302
E-mail: associate.principal.registrar@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar Danielle Davies graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. She was admitted to practice in 1996.

She has worked at a community legal centre, in private practice and in law reform.

She commenced as a Supreme Court Registrar in September 2009. She is an accredited mediator and is commissioned as a Magistrate.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5123
E-mail: associate.registrar.davies@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar Janet Whitbread graduated from Manchester University with a Bachelor of Laws with honours and was admitted to practice in England and Wales. She was admitted to practice in the Northern Territory in 1991, in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales in 2003, and Western Australia in 2006.

She began her career in commercial litigation, working for an international law firm and as in-house counsel for an international petroleum company before expanding her practice into criminal law.

She became a senior Crown prosecutor in 2003 and then transferred to Western Australia, as a senior State prosecutor, in 2006. She commenced as a Supreme Court Registrar on 19 July 2010 and is also commissioned as a Magistrate.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5362
E-mail: associate.registrar.whitbread@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar Gilich obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1993 and a Master of Laws (Maritime Law) degree in 1997.

He was admitted to practice in Western Australia in 2002 and was appointed as a Registrar of the Court in 2014.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5464
E-mail: associate.registrar.gilich@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar June Eaton was admitted to practice in Western Australia in July 1997.

Registrar Eaton commenced in the role of Court of Appeal Registrar in January 2017

Court of Appeal Registrar Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5335
E-mail: associate.registrar.eaton@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar Mark Fatharly graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1994 with a Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted as a legal practitioner in WA on 2 February 1995 and the High Court of Australia on 30 January 1996.

Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court in September 2019 he had a career in litigation and dispute resolution with particular focus on trust and estate disputes. He is a former Chair of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) in WA and Australia.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5181
Email: associate.registrar.fatharly@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar Prue Griffin graduated from the University of Western Australian with a Bachelor of Laws in 1994, and a Bachelor of Arts in 1999. She was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1996.

Registrar Griffin commenced her career as Associate to the Hon Justice Graeme Scott in the Supreme Court. She worked predominantly in insurance and commercial litigation in private practice prior to taking up a position as in-house counsel in the litigation team in one of Australia’s largest listed companies, the role she held immediately before her appointment, in November 2020.  She is an accredited mediator and is commissioned as a Magistrate.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5350
Email: associate.registrar.griffin@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar Acacia Hosking graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Laws (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Arts. She was admitted to practice in Western Australia in 2013.

Registrar Hosking has worked at an international law firm in both Australia and Hong Kong. Her practice has primarily involved commercial litigation, and dispute resolution more broadly, across a number of sectors. She commenced as a Registrar of the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 16 November 2020.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5380
Email: associate.registrar.hosking@justice.wa.gov.au

Registrar Brendyn Nelson graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Laws (Distinction) and a Bachelor of Arts in 2008. He was admitted to practice in Western Australia in 2010. He obtained a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne in 2019.

Registrar Nelson began his career at the State Solicitor’s Office in 2009, progressing to the role of Senior Assistant State Counsel. He regularly appeared as counsel on behalf of the State in various jurisdictions, conducted a wide range of civil litigation and also supervised the Office’s single judge appeals, revenue recovery, coronial and liquor licensing practices. He commenced as a Registrar of the Supreme Court of Western Australia on 1 August 2022.

Associate - Telephone: (08) 9421 5125
Email: associate.registrar.nelson@justice.wa.gov.au


Last updated: 17-May-2023

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