Patrick McCarthy

Patrick McCarthy is a Senior Associate at Steedman Stagg Lawyers, having joined the firm in July 2021. Prior to his legal career, Patrick gained valuable commercial and financial transaction experience working within the financial services industry. Patrick’s legal background includes serving as a Law Clerk to distinguished Perth King’s Counsel Tom Percy KC and Brisbane King’s Counsel Rob Anderson KC. Since his admission in May 2022, he has appeared unled in various courts, including the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Western Australia, District Court of Western Australia, Magistrates Court of Western Australia, Children’s Court of Western Australia, and the Warden’s Court. Notably, he has acted as junior counsel in defamation proceedings before the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Patrick’s practice encompasses acting for media organisations on suppression applications and pre-publication legal advice across multiple platforms such as print, online, television, radio, and podcasts. He has represented clients on both sides of defamation actions as well as criminal defendants. His experience also extends to advising subcontractors and building companies, and handling a broad spectrum of commercial disputes and litigation. He frequently provides urgent legal advice in areas including defamation, contempt of court, copyright issues, freedom of information requests, confidential information, and reporting restrictions. Patrick is regularly called upon to appear on short notice for applications relating to court reporting, suppression, and non-publication orders, demonstrating his ability to respond promptly to complex and sensitive matters.