Education

  • J.D., University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 2009
  • B.A., University of British Columbia, 2003

Year Of Call

  • Ontario, 2010
  • Northwest Territories, 2016
  • British Columbia, 2018

  • Brought a successful constitutional challenge to the mandatory minimum sentence for
    the offence of reckless discharge of a firearm, against the backdrop of the suicide crisis
    among Inuit, R. v. Cardinal, 2018 NWTSC 12;
  • Acted as counsel for interveners at the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Ahmad and
    Williams
    , 2020 SCC 11, and R. v. Nahanee, 2022 SCC 37;
  • In partnership with the federal government, led the development of the Inuvialuit
    Regional Corporation’s Indigenous Justice Strategy, identifying opportunities for
    transformation and more meaningful outcomes in justice for the Inuit of the Western
    Arctic;
  • Appointed by the Minister of Justice as a lawyer who may act as a special advocate in
    closed proceedings under s. 87.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and
    other closed hearings involving national security privilege.

In The Community

Kate is an experienced litigator with a diverse career that includes advocacy roles in private practice, legal aid organizations, civil liberties associations and Indigenous government. She has appeared at the Supreme Court of Canada as well as at all levels of court in both Ontario and the Northwest Territories.

Kate’s practice at Ratcliff is enhanced by her extensive background in criminal defence, through which she has developed exceptional litigation skills arguing complex strategic, evidentiary and constitutional issues.