Karen Shepherd

Karen Shepherd is a barrister with specialised experience in fraud and financial regulation, and a particular expertise in criminal property confiscation law. She also has a broad criminal law practice acting for those charged with serious criminal offences including homicide, drug importations, complex frauds, manufacture and dealing in prohibited drugs, armed robbery, arson and other offences under the State and Federal Law. Ms Shepherd was admitted to practice in WA in 1994 before undertaking her Master of Laws specialising in Crime and Criminal Justice (with distinction, top graduate) at King’s College in London. She then spent six years specialising in white-collar crime across the UK. Since returning to Western Australia, Ms Shepherd has worked at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and Legal Aid, including advisory work for National Legal Aid in Papua New Guinea. She joined the Bar in 2016 and was appointed a judge in the District Court of WA in August 2020.