Andrew Chalk

Andrew established the firm Andrew Chalk Associates in 1996, which has since undergone transformations to become Chalk & Behrendt. Prior to that, Andrew worked in the administrative law and environmental teams of a leading national firm as well as for the NSW Aboriginal Legal Service.

After more than three decades practising as a lawyer, Andrew retired from that role and as a legal director of the firm in June 2023. Chalk & Behrendt and its clients are, however, fortunate that Andrew continues to make his experience available to us as a strategic consultant. He also remains on the Chalk & Behrendt board as an honorary director.

Andrew has written and presented numerous papers on environmental and planning law, administrative law, cultural heritage protection, land rights and native title. He represented Indigenous bodies in relation to the enactment of the Native Title Bill 1993, and the Act's amendment in 1997-1998, acted on numerous successful Aboriginal land claim appeals in NSW, brought successful native title claims in the lower Gulf of Carpentaria region of Queensland and advised Aboriginal Land Councils and representative bodies throughout Australia over many years.

Andrew was the founding Chair of Gawad Kalinga Australia Limited, the regional arm of the international community development organisation. He is also a former Chair of the Environmental Defender's Office Ltd, a director of the Mark Tonga Relief Fund, former Secretary of the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law and the Chair of the NSW Law Society’s Public Law Committee.

Email: achalk@chalkbehrendt.com.au