New blog!

Thanks for visiting this page. I've moved to a new address: www.kategibbs.com
Over there I write The Kitchen Inc, which covers food, bars and restaurants, Sydney, good recipes, kitchen-based inspiration and touches on home and good design. I'll be much more hospitable over there..

Books, actually shelved

Much done since I last wrote. A book, The Thrifty Kitchen, was published and has been on the shelves for two weeks. Exciting and wonderful, and strange to see in the actual shops. I was in the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, today and saw it there, stacked up and surrounded by the likes of David Thompson and Stephanie, and M Fulton. Great fun. So now, to do another?

New job...

Taken a role full time at Reed Business as the Managing Editor of The New Lawyer, a website and e-magazine I am launching in April. Check out www.thenewlawyer.com.au or follow it on Twitter at www.twitter.com/thenewlawyer. 

ABC Radio: media interview

Following 'Trash to some, treasure to others' in The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC radio (702) asked me to come in to their studios to speak with presenter Andrew Daddo on the issue of recycling online. The interview was live and we spoke for 30 mins or so. 

The Sydney Morning Herald: Environment

Feature article published in The Sydney Morning Herald today, 'Trash to some, treasure to others': Kate Gibbs reports on the recycling network where everything is free.

"It's like a scene from an old western. A lone, dusty shape stands by the side of the road, ignored by passers-by. Its fate is decided as a carriage pulls up beside it. In this modern, urban version of the story, an old filing cabinet is no hero and it's picked up in a garbage truck and consigned to landfill, to be buried and forgotten. But it didn't have to be an unhappy ending. An increasing number of Australians are catching on to a global phenomenon in which used goods are happily picked up by resourceful pioneers."

Gourmet Traveller: February

Two articles published in Gourmet Traveller in the February 09 issue. Worked as a freelance sub editor and writer for several weeks in the Gourmet offices. 

SMH Essential: Money is no object

Article published in The Sydney Morning Herald today: "More people are inventing ways to get what they want without spending a cent." Words Kate Gibbs.

Last-minute luxury: Gourmet Traveller

Article published in the December issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller: "Feel like getting away but have nothing booked? We've found some great Australian and New Zealand deals for an impromptu break." Reporting by Kate Gibbs

SMH commissions

Two commissions from The Sydney Morning Herald. One for Essential magazine (Thursdays), and the other for Eco, in the main newspaper (Wednesdays). 

Gourmet Traveller writing and subbing

Working as a sub and writer at Australian Gourmet Traveller for the mag's December issue. 

Article published: Last-minute travel in Asia

Frankie commission

Frankie magazine, which covers art, fashion, music, craft and life for twenty-somethings, has kindly commissioned me to do an article for an upcoming issue.

Architecture & Design

Contributing Editor on newly launched Architecture & Design e-magazine, distributed to 20,000 architects and designers each week. 

The Week: contributor

The dummy issue of THE WEEK magazine went to press this week, and the first issue will hit newsstands on 31 October. Working as a contributing writer on the magazine - which covers the latest news in Australian politics, business and gossip. (www.theweekmagazine.com.au).

Risk mounts on e-discovery

Article published in national business magazine: "Lawyers are up against the wall on e-discovery, and avoiding risk while uncovering the smoking gun takes some skill. Kate Gibbs reports." See the full article here.

Next in line: successful succession

"Some recent high profile examples of bad succession planning provide excellent lessons in what not to do. The best came from Citigroup, where a lack of a succession plan for the top job in New York led to public sniping between its former chairman and chief executive, and his successor, via the Financial Times. The top man admitted he would not give himself 'very good grades' on the matter of succession planning. The mistake led to some very discontented top managers and the eventual resignation of the person picked to do the job." Kate Gibbs reports on successful succession planning. See the full story here.

China Games hurdles

Article published in national business magazine (Lawyers Weekly) : "The 2008 Games have attracted their share of negative feedback. And Beijing businesses and locals are facing inconveniences. But these needn't be blown out to Olympic proportions, writes Kate Gibbs."

The green agenda: business

Should lawyers and their firms be landed with environmental responsibilities? Kate Gibbs investigates. 

"We've all heard the adage that companies exist to look after their shareholders, and that any top-brass social responsibility offensive is bound to be self-interested (saves money, wins clients). But even as some commentators on corporate social responsibility claim that more should be done to pressure all organisations into implementing more sustainable core businesses, others say we should trust them to do what's best for the environment." See the full article here. 

Credit crunch: one year old today

Article on the anniversary of the credit crunch published in a national business magazine. "As we face the one-year anniversary of the credit crunch, we look back at how your banking clients fared. Kate Gibbs reports" 

"It may be its birthday, but no one was cracking open the Champagne as the credit crunch made it to one year of age last week. Experts say the full impact of the global credit crunch is yet to be fully felt in Australia."  See the full article here

Good afternoon, Vietnam

Article published today in a national magazine. "Several decades after the war, North Vietnam is making a booming trade from tourism. Despite it being 'so 2007', according to some more fashionable magazines, we join the rush." Kate Gibbs reports

New MF cookbook

After months dotting "i"s and checking tablespoons and teaspoons, the subbing of Margaret Fulton's new Christmas cookbook is done! Hours and hours of reading about Christmas pudding and roast turkey is not a particularly awful job, however.

Easy being green

Article published in Justinian, gossip and breaking news for the legal profession. "Wayne Swan launched Deacons' gleaming crystal office space in Sydney. Kate Gibbs was also there, mingling with the clients and scoffing scallops and champers. Blackout in the bathrooms leads the way in reducing the size of the firm's carbon footprint."

Practically lawyers

Article published in Lawyers Weekly magazine on how well our law schools are preparing our future lawyers for what lies ahead - the things they need to know outside black-letter law. "Kate Gibbs questions the effectiveness of legal education."

B2B mags

An article published in Lawyers Weekly magazine on the legal market in Hong Kong (12 June). "What was said about New York in Sinatra's famous song can also be said of Hong Kong: 'If you can make it here, you'll make it anywhere.' The few Australian law firms to open up in Hong Kong have found gold. But at what cost? Kate Gibbs investigates"

And a feature commission today from Human Resources magazine, to be published in several weeks. 

Good Weekend commission

The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Weekend today commissioned me to do a feature article for an upcoming issue. 

Champagne powder

Ski travel story published in Lawyers Weekly magazine (30 May). "It sparkles in the dry air and falls like fine sugar from your skis, Kate Gibbs goes in search of the world's best powder snow."

Post-it pedantics

Article published on Richard Ackland's site Justinian today (29 May). "Should document retention policies extend to the Post-it note and other forms of smoke signals? The forensic experts are being called in to advise on how tiny disposable documents can be factored into data management systems. Kate Gibbs has drum"

Russh magazine commission

'Australia's best fashion magazine'  Russh has kindly commissioned me to do a feature article for an upcoming issue. See www.russhaustralia.com

Career maker or waste of paper?

Feature article published on Friday in Lawyers Weekly magazine (23 May). Is the MBA an embellishment for those who want to legitimise their thirst for power, or is it an essential means of teaching partners what they really need to know? Views on the value of the MBA vary. Kate Gibbs reports

Breaking (legal) news

Article 'Professional ethics or protecting the patch' published in Justinian (23 May). Just as things are warming up for insolvency practitioners they conjure a code of practice designed to stay the hand of the Fast Eddie’s of liquidation. Justice Bob Austin complains about “some uncomfortably long liquidations”. Kate Gibbs reports

Travel and such

A sample of travel stories from the past few months published in Lawyers Weekly magazine. From Dubai's luxurious resorts to how to find an apartment in Paris.

Parisian chic

Don't even think about waiting to find an apartment when you get there. Kate Gibbs explains how to do it like the French do - in style.

"... The real pulse is found by the long term stayer who experiences Paris the way its inhabitants do. Picking over roast chicken in an apartment with friends as the summer breeze flows in through the Juliet balcony; visiting the markets to stock up on fresh strawberries and goats cheese, mescalin salad and semi-dried figs; sipping Martell cognac or Ricard pastis in a local bar (a dog sitting in the chair next to you at the table). That is, the real Paris."

Oh, brave new world

Nothing shows up Dubai's luxury like its destination hotels. Five star? Pah! Kate Gibbs explores Dubai's palatial resorts

Old lady of London

The best part about rail travel is the grand railway station. In the ambit of Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot - long white gloves and crocodile suitcases, Armani-scented gentlemen with manners - the idea of rail travel is altogether glamorous. But the whole travel part - compartmentalised food trays, sharing bathrooms, travelling backwards - is far less enchanting. Which is why London's Landmark Hotel has hit the spot. It's railway travel without the trains.

Movement at the station

In an appointments story for Richard Ackland's Justinian (13 May), Kate Gibbs reveals why Byron Koster leaves Blake Dawson for Corrs, and why Simon Crawford joins him from ANZ Bank.

Evening Standard

Access a couple of examples of my work from The Evening Standard in London, where I worked as a journalist for a couple of years (2002-03). See 'Do masks do the job?', 'My nightmare teaching job', and the 'London Marathon Special' as examples. 

Oz lawyers reject BlackBerry ban

Richard Ackland's Justinian published 'Oz lawyers reject BlackBerry ban' today (2 May). "Australian lawyers share their thoughts about the BlackBerry. One US firm has banned them from meetings because they were more distracting than helpful. Kate Gibbs found a Sydney law firm partner who thinks they're ruining people's (sex) lives."

Emotional Rescue (SMH)

Published article in The Sydney Morning Herald's Essential section last week (April 17). `Emotional Rescue', by Kate Gibbs and Meg Mason: "Thoughtful gifts of food at times of loss or upheaval can be the best form of support for a grieving relative or new mother."

"It doesn't often matter that we Australians have so few traditions surrounding big life events such as births, marriages and deaths. That is, until someone we know experiences a bereavement and we have absolutely no idea what to do..."