Katie Wood
Clayton Utz
Partner
Sydney
Overview
Specialising in regulatory and internal investigations and commercial litigation, Katie helps clients manage threatened or actual litigation (either regulatory or private action) and risk and compliance issues. In what can be a fraught, complex, fast-moving (and usually highly regulated) environment, Katie draws on her experience in Australia and in the UK to navigate the various tensions clients face in Australia’s current regulatory and litigious landscape. Katie works with clients to develop pragmatic and commercial strategies and solutions.
Notable Work
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA): part of the core team advising on the APRA Inquiry and the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services industry - two seminal events in Australia's regulatory landscape. Katie continues to advise CBA in its response to regulatory enforcement and investigations as well as in relation to single plaintiff proceedings and class actions.
- Visa Europe Services LLC and Visa UK Ltd: assisted in the defence of multiple proceedings commenced in the English High Court relating to multilateral interchange fees.
- Lloyds Banking Group plc: assisted in its defence of multiple proceedings commenced in relation to LIBOR allegations.
- Goldman Sachs: assisted in its defence of proceedings commenced by investors in relation to management of funds during the GFC.
- Volkswagen Group: assisted the team defending five class actions and two regulatory actions in the Federal Court of Australia, brought by two plaintiff law firms on behalf of vehicle owners and the ACCC in respect of diesel emissions issues and regulatory issues.
- Product liability class action: assisted the team in what is considered to be largest product liability class action in Australia, in the successful defence of a class action involving claimants who alleged cardiovascular injuries due to their consumption of VIOXX, a COX-2 inhibitor. Having succeeded on all but one cause of action at trial, we were able to overturn the adverse verdict on appeal and secure an historic win.
- Product liability claims: advises on a number of single proceeding product liability claims. Those claims are often commenced in the District Court where commercial considerations are important.
- Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA): acted on a number of ASIC regulatory investigations.
- Complex disputes and investigations: acted for a number of international financial services entities on a range of complex disputes and investigations.
- Retail & Consumer: regularly provides assistance to retail companies undertaking product safety recalls and more generally, provides advice in relation to product safety issues.
Insights
ASIC’s enforcement priorities for 2025 – some new and some renewed
27 Nov 2024 | Article
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ASIC digs deeper on scam management practices in non-major banks
29 Aug 2024 | Article
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Financial Accountability Regime: Final rules and guidance before FAR commencement
14 Mar 2024 | Article
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"Strong, targeted enforcement action" on the Superannuation sector
18 Dec 2023 | Article
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Media release: Clayton Utz launches accessible e-learning hub for organisations to navigate new financial services regulations
16 Nov 2023 | Article
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The ACCC's product safety focus for 2023-24: consumers online, sustainability and infant safety
19 Jul 2023 | Article
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Buy Now, Pay Later to be regulated in Australia – plan now for the upcoming changes
23 May 2023 | Article
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ASIC's 2023 regulatory timetable, updated enforcement priorities and latest enforcement and regulatory report
21 Feb 2023 | Article
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Financial Accountability Regime delayed as the Government reconsiders civil penalties for individuals
25 Nov 2022 | Article
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High Court ruling on foreign residents as group members in Australian class actions raises practical issues for respondents
12 Oct 2022 | Article
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ASIC releases enforcement and regulatory update for second quarter of 2022
18 Aug 2022 | Article
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State of Play: Regulation of Australian financial services in the digital economy
9 Aug 2022 | Article
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ACCC provides renewed guidance on mandatory injury reporting of product safety issues
3 Mar 2022 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz promotes 7 to the partnership on 1 January 2022
9 Dec 2021 | Media Release
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One step closer to FAR: more details known of the Financial Accountability Regime Bill
11 Nov 2021 | Article
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Not FAR off – the Financial Accountability Regime proposed implementation starting July 2022
5 Aug 2021 | Article
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Practical Law Country - Product liability and safety in Australia
2 Nov 2020 | Document
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ASIC continues with its enforcement agenda but is conscious of COVID-19's impact on the Australian financial system
1 Oct 2020 | Article
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ASIC releases Enforcement Update for July to December 2019: What has the corporate regulator been up to?
14 May 2020 | Article
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ASIC and APRA provide update on post-Financial Services Royal Commission regulation
5 Mar 2020 | Article
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Financial Services Royal Commission - Exposure draft legislation briefing note
6 Feb 2020 | Document
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Federal Government and regulators all moving on Financial Services Royal Commission recommendations, but more to come
5 Sep 2019 | Article
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Governance, culture, accountability – APRA voices its expectations and intentions
30 May 2019 | Article
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New Zealand eyes findings of Financial Services Royal Commission as it amends regulation of financial advice providers
4 Apr 2019 | Article
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