08 8161 5088 mail@msmlegal.com.au
Our Team

Catherine Follett

Director/Lawyer

cf@msmlegal.com.au
08 8161 5088

Languages: English, French, Portugese

Links: LinkedIn

Practice Areas

  • Migration law primary visa applications
  • Domestic / family violence aspects of visa applications including partner visa applications and non-partner visa applications
  • Protection visa applications
  • Migration law merits review to the Administrative Review Tribunal
  • Visa cancellations pursuant to s116 of the Migration Act
  • Character visa cancellations pursuant to s501 of the Migration Act
  • Judicial review appeals of Migration Act visa refusals or character cancellations
  • Complex citizenship applications and Administrative Review Tribunal Appeals

Catherine began her career as a Supreme Court Judge’s Associate in 1996 following which she worked for the Attorney General’s Department for 4 years.

In 2001, Catherine moved to private practice focusing on criminal defence. Catherine moved to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 2005, spending two years as the Immigration Manager for the Australian Embassy in Vientiane.

From 2009, Catherine was Country Manager of the Lao office of McDonald Steed McGrath Lawyers, where she remained working in the Mining & Energy sector before returning to Australia in 2013. Catherine continued to work for McDonald Steed McGrath (then becoming MSM Legal) out of its Adelaide office covering commercial, resources and immigration law.

In 2017, Catherine became owner and Director of MSM Legal.

Catherine now focusses on the full range of immigration law issues for both corporate and individual clients at primary application stage and at appeal. Catherine was named a leading immigration lawyer in Doyle’s Guide 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Catherine has been recognised by Best Lawyers as the 2027 ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Immigration Law in Adelaide and is featured in The Best Lawyers in Australia™ for her high calibre work in migration law. Widely regarded as one of the most credible measures of legal excellence, Best Lawyers recognition is based on a rigorous peer-review process and reflects excellence within the legal profession.

 

Memberships

  • Law Society of South Australia
  • Migration Institute of Australia
  • Women Lawyers Association
  • Former President, YMCA Walkerville
  • Former Board Member, YMCA Australia

Education

  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Adelaide
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Adelaide
  • Graduate Certificate of Legal Practice, University of South Australia
  • Masters of Public and International Law, University of Melbourne
  • Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
  • Graduate Diploma in Applied Law (Wills & Estates), College of Law
  • Admitted to practise in the Supreme Court of South Australia
  • Admitted to the Register of Practitioners of the High Court of Australia