Crown Perth lawyer, Katherine Whitehead, crowned In-House Counsel of the Year after leading casino turnaround

Katherine Whitehead has been recognised as the Law Society In-House Counsel of the Year for her role in steering Crown Perth through one of the most challenging periods in its history.

Stepping into the general counsel role amid intense regulatory scrutiny, Ms Whitehead inherited a business still reeling from past failings.

Years of controversies — including criticism over anti-money laundering systems and governance — had put the casino’s licence at risk.

Through 2024–25, Ms Whitehead led a comprehensive overhaul of Crown Perth’s legal and board governance systems, ensuring the casino retained its licence without conditions.

Her efforts have been credited as pivotal in the casino’s transformation, restoring trust and laying the groundwork for a new era.

“I am so grateful for this award, it represents recognition not just for myself but for the team of people I work with at Crown Perth,” Ms Whitehead told The West.

Ms Whitehead stressed the win reflects the collective effort of multiple teams.

“I am incredibly proud to work with the team at Crown,” she said.

“This win isn’t just for me – it’s recognition of years of efforts by multiple teams to transform our business.”

The award itself recognises outstanding legal professionals working within corporate or in-house legal teams, celebrating leadership, innovation, and the tangible impact they have on their organisations.

Going up against Ms Whitehead for In-House Counsel of the Year was the general counsel of Law Mutual, Sharan Gill, and Yara Australia’s, Angelyn Seen.

It was revealed that Ms Whitehead was the winner of her category on Friday night at the Law Society gala event at which Rob Guthrie was announced as WA Lawyer of the Year.

Mr Guthrie was recognised for his authorship of over 100 academic papers, founding the LexisNexis Workers Compensation WA text, and producing major policy reports that shaped workers’ compensation reform in Western Australia.