Katherine Hawes

Katherine Hawes is the founder and principal solicitor of Aquarius Lawyers, renowned as 'The Fish Lawyer' due to her deep expertise in marine law. With over two decades of legal and business acumen, she adeptly guides organisations and enterprises through complex issues related to the marine environment. Her practice encompasses aquaculture, marine and fisheries law, maritime security, and marine resources management. Katherine's commitment to staying at the forefront of marine legal issues is evident through her newsletter, 'The Fish Report', which keeps clients informed on national and international developments. Armed with a Masters in Maritime Law, Katherine lectures on Corporations and Business Law to undergraduate and postgraduate students at various institutions, including the University of Technology Sydney. She further shares her insight into international fishery law at the University of Wollongong. Katherine's passion for education extends to founding Aquarius Education, offering programmes that demystify Maritime and Contract Law for non-lawyers. Her distinguished career includes delivering key presentations at prominent international events, such as the International Fisheries Observer and Monitoring Conference in Chile and the American Fisheries Society. Katherine's influence extends to board governance roles, where she offers compliance and strategic planning insights at the Western Sydney Business Centre and Cancer Wellness Support. Her prior experience includes serving as a legal officer at Legal Aid NSW and practising as a barrister. Katherine's academic foundation is solid, with a Bachelor of Laws from UNSW and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, providing her with a well-rounded legal perspective.