MsKaren (KE) Powell

Karen (KE) Powell (she/they) is a Senior Lecturer of Tax and Clinical in Deakin Law School.

Karen researches and writes in regulatory legal practice and policy. Karen’s research focus relates to legal doctrine and regulatory frameworks that interact to shape an economic environment that either expands or constricts certain highly regulated markets. Karen’s research looks to public accountability measures for commercial enterprises that use regulatory systems for their financial benefit.  Karen’s publications relate to licensing systems that restrict markets, corporate tax measures, and tax fairness. Karen is currently exploring mega-sporting organisations and public accountability relating to contractual requirements for host countries, sport organisations, and government funding.

Before entry into academia, Karen was a practising attorney and litigator for over 15 years, including serving as an appointed tax judge, civil litigator, and executive manager for large regulatory institutions. She managed state tax trials for over eight years, overseeing hundreds of trials, and thousands of matters, as well as serving as a substitute Justice of the Peace and pro bono mediator. Karen earned her Juris Doctorate from Stanford Law School, MSc in Tax Policy from Oxford University, and B.A. from Wesleyan University. She has been licensed to practice law in Montana and the US federal courts since 2001, and holds a practicing certificate in Victoria.

Karen also volunteers for a variety of sporting organisations at the state, national, and international level, specifically providing expertise in organisational and board governance.