Native Title, Land Rights & Heritage

We are recognised as leading practitioners on behalf of claimants and land councils in native title and land claim matters. Our lawyers are among the most respected advisers in relation to native title and land claim disputes.

We were involved in the negotiation and drafting of the Native Title Bill, the establishment of a number of native title service providers, representation in many of the High Court's decisions on native title, and the negotiation of some of the most significant agreements to be achieved under native title processes.

We have conducted most of the land claim appeals under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW). The success we achieved in these appeals has laid the foundation for much of the land base now held by land councils in NSW. We have also conducted claims under the Aboriginal Land Act 1991 (Qld) and advised extensively in relation to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth).

Our lawyers have acted in a number of significant cultural heritage matters, including at Lake Victoria, Boobera Lagoon, James Price Point, the Burrup Peninsula, Gregory River Bridge and the rock engravings at Calga, New South Wales. We have particular expertise in the cultural heritage laws of the Commonwealth, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland, and advise both private and government clients in relation to cultural heritage matters. The firm authors the Aboriginal Land Rights chapter in the LexisNexis Local Government, Planning and Environment service and consults to LexisNexis as experts on the upcoming property module of its Regulatory Compliance service.