Dispute Resolution and Litigation . Private Wealth

Catherine Ballantyne

Principal

Firmly entrenched within her clients' operations, Catherine understands the commercial realities of litigation and provides strategic guidance that protects both immediate interests and long-term business relationships.

Catherine is a Principal, Lawyer, in Madgwicks’ Litigation and Insolvency team, trusted by businesses and individuals to deliver successful outcomes in their most challenging disputes. As a versatile disputes expert, Catherine works across multiple industries handling complex business disputes, defamation matters, contractual disputes, and trusts disputes.

Her expertise extends to personal and corporate insolvency, including sophisticated restructuring matters where commercial outcomes are paramount. Catherine’s approach combines technical legal expertise with practical business insight, making her an in-demand advisor for businesses navigating complex legal challenges.

Focus Areas

Borrowers, Lenders, Guarantors & Directors actions
Complex disputes regarding family businesses, estates and trusts
Debt recovery and creditor rights
Disputes as to whether property and assets are held on trust for another person or entity
Disputes between developers and builders
Disputes between directors and shareholders including oppression proceedings
Disputes between suppliers and businesses
Employee theft cases
Insolvency and reconstruction
Misleading and deceptive conduct claims
Not for Profit

Notable Matters

Providing submissions to ASIC regarding an ASX listed company on behalf of a group of shareholders.
Successfully winning a case in the Victorian Supreme Court regarding ownership of funds transferred from China.
Successfully winning a case in the Victorian Supreme Court, the Victorian Court of Appeal and an application for leave to the High Court regarding a dispute as to property.
Successfully winning a case in the Victorian Supreme Court regarding employee fraud.
Successfully obtaining freezing orders in the Victorian Supreme Court to secure assets where there was a significant risk of them being dissipated before trial.
Successfully obtaining an injunction in the County Court to prevent a company’s intellectual property and customer lists being used by a former business partner.
Successfully winning in a large misleading and deceptive conduct case involving the sale of business in both the Victorian Court of Appeal.
Providing advice regarding submissions to Banking Royal Commission.
Successfully negotiating a settlement for an executive against a large multinational company.
Acting for a family defamed by a newspaper (in print and online) to obtain a successful settlement offer and public apology from the newspaper.
Acting for well-known companies in disputes with their franchisees and negotiating successful outcomes for the franchisors.
Successfully acting in a commercial arbitration regarding grain trade.
Acting in a number of significant partnership disputes and negotiating a successful outcome for the client in each case.

Recognition and Thought Leadership

Catherine is a regular author and presenter, sharing her expertise through publications including Smart Company, Industry Insider Magazine, Association of Corporate Counsel, and Australia Property Journal.

She has been interviewed multiple times as a legal expert on ABC Radio National and was recognised by Mondaq with their global Arbitration & Dispute Resolution Autumn 2023 Thought Leadership Award.

In the Media

Catherine Ballantyne provides some insights on defamation as it applies to business owners with Alice Ruhe, insolvency and corporate recovery accounting specialist.

Catherine Ballantyne provides insights on how she best utilises alternative dispute resolution in arriving at an agreement in business and commercial disputes.

Catherine Ballantyne speaks with the ABC’s Damien Carrick about the legal and financial challenges ahead for business with restrictions easing and some borders opening up.

Catherine Ballantyne speaks with the ABC’s Damien Carrick. As business reels from the impact of the coronavirus, lawyers are poring over contracts, looking for ways to help their clients either enforce, or escape from their contractual obligations.

Catherine Ballantyne speaks with the ABC’s Damien Carrick about the case of the landlord who was owed $7000 in unpaid rent on a small factory who, in retaliation, kept his tenant’s property and equipment.

Have I been defamed? Six things you need to know about defamation.

From a lawyer: The four things every business should review and update now.

Shareholder disputes: What forms do they take and what are your options?

Area of Expertise

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Private Wealth

Key Focus Areas

Testimonials

“Madgwicks Lawyers, not too big, not to small, they’re just right. Catherine Ballantyne has been our solicitor for over five years and has achieved very good commercial outcomes for our business on many matters. Highly recommended.”

Leon D

Funds Recovery Business Owner

“Catherine helped me in a difficult dispute. This problem took me into some areas and issues that I haven’t dealt with in my business before, and the first thing I appreciated about her was that she listened to me and could provide some reassurance that I was on the right track. Catherine was able to put things in the perspective of what my business needed and was clear about the risks. The fees and processes were made transparently clear which removed a lot of the uncertainty for me – I knew beforehand what it was going to cost even with the expected back and forward required between parties. Catherine stayed professional throughout what was at times a hostile negotiation which ultimately helped keep the process going to a successful resolution. I want other business owners to be able to benefit from having her on their side. I recommend Catherine to any other business that wants transparent, professional advice with realistic costs – we greatly benefited from having her on our side and it’s my belief that other businesses will benefit too.”

Andrew P

Educational Services Business Owner

“I have worked closely with Catherine Ballantyne since 2011 when we started a large insolvency job involving many complex issues. During the ensuing years I have gone back to Catherine on a number of insolvency and related matters and she has always provided sensible, commercial advice – plus she has an excellent team of support and expertise across many facets of the business landscape. Plus, Catherine is a genuinely nice person who I can enjoy a smile and laugh with!”Plus, Catherine is a genuinely nice person who I can enjoy a smile and laugh with!”

Michael R

Business Owner

Madgwicks Lawyers pride themselves in their skill set

October 28, 2025

Successful appeal overturns winding up order

This article outlines a recent case where there was a successful appeal against a winding up order. In these types of cases, unlike most appeals, it is a hearing de novo – meaning that the Court considered all evidence, including new evidence, even if it was not presented before the Judicial Registrar who made the original decision.

October 20, 2025

Estate Planning: an essential component of financial management

For those who hold considerable assets, have business ventures, or support dependents, having a well-organised estate plan is fundamental to ensuring long-term stability, control and reassurance.

October 7, 2025

Sibling infighting – disputes amongst family members

We are seeing a growing number of disputes between siblings, and sometimes even parents, over companies, trusts, family businesses and inheritances. These conflicts are rarely just about money. They are deeply personal, emotionally charged and often tied to long standing family dynamics and unspoken expectations.

September 29, 2025

How do I remove a caveat?

For many business and property owners, dealing with a caveat can be confusing and stressful. A common misconception is that if someone owes you money, you automatically have the right to lodge a caveat over their property

September 22, 2025

Family farm disputes: parents and adult children

We are frequently engaged to assist in disputes between parents and adult children concerning the family farm. These matters are rarely just about the farm, money or property. They are deeply personal, often emotional and usually tied to long-standing family dynamics and expectations.

September 18, 2025

Madgwicks secures successful outcome in family property dispute in the Victorian Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal of Victoria and in special leave application to the High Court.

Madgwicks has successfully represented its client in a long-running family dispute concerning the control of a company holding significant property assets.

Dispute Resolution and Litigation . Private Wealth

Catherine Ballantyne

Principal

Firmly entrenched within her clients' operations, Catherine understands the commercial realities of litigation and provides strategic guidance that protects both immediate interests and long-term business relationships.

Focus Areas

Notable Matters

Recognition and Thought Leadership

In the Media

Area of Expertise

Dispute Resolution and Litigation

Private Wealth

Key Focus Areas

Testimonials

Madgwicks Lawyers pride themselves in their skill set

Related Articles

Successful appeal overturns winding up order

Estate Planning: an essential component of financial management

Sibling infighting – disputes amongst family members

How do I remove a caveat?

Family farm disputes: parents and adult children

Madgwicks secures successful outcome in family property dispute in the Victorian Supreme Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal of Victoria and in special leave application to the High Court.

Dispute Resolution and Litigation