Catherine Sedgley
Catherine is a Special Counsel in MV Law’s Property & Commercial team. Having worked in Sydney and Brisbane, and across both in-house and private practice environments, she brings a practical understanding of the challenges businesses face when establishing, operating and growing their enterprises.
Drawing on this diverse experience, Catherine provides commercially focused advice that helps clients manage risk, protect valuable assets and achieve their strategic objectives. She is known for delivering clear, pragmatic guidance and for developing strong client relationships through a genuine understanding of each client’s business and commercial priorities.
As part of the Property & Commercial team, Catherine advises on a broad range of commercial matters, including business structures, commercial transactions, contractual risk management and business growth strategies. Her intellectual property and franchising background provides a strong foundation for helping clients identify opportunities, navigate complexity and make informed business decisions.
Catherine advises clients on a broad range of intellectual property, branding and franchising matters, helping businesses protect, commercialise and maximise the value of their brands.
She has extensive experience in trade mark strategy, registration, portfolio management, enforcement and dispute resolution, including acting in proceedings before the Australian Registrar of Trade Marks and the New Zealand Commissioner of Trade Marks. Her practice includes advising on trade mark infringement, misleading or deceptive conduct, domain name and business name disputes, intellectual property licensing arrangements and brand protection strategies.
Having previously managed a substantial trade mark portfolio for a major Australian business, Catherine understands the practical and operational considerations involved in protecting brands across multiple markets and business functions. This experience enables her to align legal strategies with commercial objectives and provide advice that is both practical and outcomes-focused.
Catherine also has significant experience in franchising, advising emerging and established franchise systems across a range of industries on the establishment, expansion and operation of franchise networks throughout Australia. She assists franchisors and franchisees with franchise structuring, compliance with the Franchising Code of Conduct, disclosure obligations, franchise agreements, operational issues and dispute resolution.
In addition, Catherine advises on commercial agreements and business transactions where intellectual property, brand protection and franchising considerations intersect with broader commercial and strategic objectives.
- Bachelor of Communications, University of Canberra (2004)
- Bachelor of Laws, University of Canberra (2006).
- Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – College of Law
- Admissions – New South Wales
- Member – Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (2008-present)
- Member – Canberra Women in Business (2025 – present)
- ACT Law Society
Catherine helps businesses protect what makes them distinctive, while providing practical advice to support growth, opportunity and long-term success
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