Kate Chegwidden

Kate Chegwidden is a consultant at Hebblewhite Lawyers with extensive experience in family law. She began her legal career in 2003, working for both boutique family law firms and major corporate firms across Newcastle and the Hunter region. Kate developed her skills further while serving as the Associate to Judge Janet Terry at the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, where she worked closely with Angela Hebblewhite. Known for her empathy and understanding of the complexities involved in family law matters, Kate combines a compassionate approach with strong advocacy skills. She has particular expertise in complex parenting cases and was involved in the landmark High Court decision of Masson v Parsons in 2019, which clarified the definition of ‘who is a parent’ under the Family Law Act. Kate holds a Bachelor of Laws from Charles Darwin University, a Bachelor of Arts from Newcastle University, and a Diploma of Legal Practice from the Australian National University. She is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia. Her professional memberships include the Newcastle Law Society, the Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association, and the Women Lawyers Association of New South Wales.