Native Title: Proponents
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Australia
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9225 5000Chambers Review
Herbert Smith Freehills' well-respected, Queensland-headquartered group draws on expertise across a range of disciplines to assist clients in the delivery of high-profile resources and infrastructure projects. It provides comprehensive advisory services covering native title, cultural heritage, land access and approvals issues. The team is also noted for its strong litigation expertise and represents clients in Federal Court and National Native Title Tribunal proceedings. Herbert Smith Freehills has close interactions with many leading industry bodies in the mining, oil and gas, energy and water sectors.
Work Highlights
- Herbert Smith Freehillsadvised Woodside Energy on the implementation of its solar, gas and transmission line project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Herbert Smith Freehills are commercially astute, timely and efficient."
"The team includes a strong depth of experience across a number of fields. The lawyers are responsive, knowledgeable and have been involved in some very complex cases."
"Herbert Smith Freehills are commercially astute, timely and efficient."
"The team includes a strong depth of experience across a number of fields. The lawyers are responsive, knowledgeable and have been involved in some very complex cases."
Notable Practitioners
Melanie Debenham is a Perth-based partner whose specialist native title, cultural heritage and land access expertise is helpfully complemented by a thorough familiarity with environmental issues and extensive experience of advising on the development of major projects in the mining, oil and gas and energy sectors.
"Melanie Debenham is very knowledgeable, particularly in heritage and native title. She's really good and strategic in her thinking."
"Melanie Debenham is great in environment matters and is highly rated."