Crown Perth's Legal Chief Honoured for Casino Transformation
Katherine Whitehead, the general counsel for Crown Perth, has been awarded the prestigious In-House Counsel of the Year title by the Law Society of Western Australia. This recognition comes after she successfully guided the casino through one of its most turbulent periods, securing its operational future.
Steering Through Crisis and Regulatory Overhaul
Ms Whitehead stepped into her leadership role at a time when Crown Perth was facing intense scrutiny from regulators. The business was still recovering from past controversies, including significant criticism over its anti-money laundering systems and corporate governance failures. These issues had placed the casino's valuable licence in serious jeopardy.
Throughout the 2024–25 period, she spearheaded a comprehensive and rigorous overhaul of the casino's legal frameworks and board governance structures. Her strategic leadership was instrumental in ensuring that Crown Perth retained its licence without any conditions, a critical victory for the establishment.
A Victory for Collective Effort
Upon accepting the award at a gala event on Friday night, Ms Whitehead was quick to highlight the team effort behind the achievement. "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," she told The West Australian.
She further emphasised that the win symbolises years of dedicated work by multiple teams committed to transforming the business. "I am incredibly proud to work with the team at Crown," Ms Whitehead said. "This win isn’t just for me – it’s recognition of years of efforts by multiple teams to transform our business."
Celebrating Legal Excellence in WA
The In-House Counsel of the Year award celebrates legal professionals within corporate teams who demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and a tangible impact on their organisations. Ms Whitehead triumphed over other finalists, including Sharan Gill, the general counsel of Law Mutual, and Angelyn Seen from Yara Australia.
The same gala event also saw Rob Guthrie named the WA Lawyer of the Year. Mr Guthrie was honoured 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 the state.
