Praised by clients for its ‘strength across key jurisdictions’, Ashurst‘s team is adept at handling complex native title and cultural heritage mandates across a broad range of sectors. The practice group is co-led by Brisbane’s Tony Denholder who specialises in energy, infrastructure, and resources projects; Melbourne’s Clare Lawrence who brings expertise in Indigenous land law and land access matters; and Perth’s Andrew Gay who focuses on native title and cultural heritage agreements. Also in Perth, Cheyne Jansen provides specialised experience with complex native title agreements, while in Melbourne Joel Moss handles indigenous land rights, tenure and land acquisition issues relating to major resource and infrastructure projects.

Clayton Utz‘s team’s workload covers a wide range of both public and private sectors. Its comprehensive native title offering advises on cultural heritage protection and the development of commercial native title strategies. The team is jointly steered by Mark Geritz who brings expertise in native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage matters, and Damien Gardiner who specialises in environmental, planning, native title and land acquisition work. Energy and resources specialist Stuart MacGregor is experienced handling related native title matters, whilst Georgia Davis advises on the impacts of native title, Aboriginal land rights and cultural heritage. The team’s expertise has been augmented by the February 2025 arrival of native title and cultural heritage specialist Amy Carseldine. Wendy Evans departed in May 2025.

King & Wood Mallesons‘ experienced native title team assists a wide range of clients, including government bodies, blue-chip companies, native title parties, and private and public entities, on issues relating to Aboriginal land and cultural heritage agreements. Scott Singleton heads up the practice and harnesses considerable expertise handling complex native title negotiations, with particular experience assisting blue-chip companies and government departments in particular. Sally Audeyev has expertise advising on Aboriginal heritage and native title agreements, procedures, and corporate governance processes, while Emily Heffernan also advises on native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage issues. Laura Jackson and Emily Wilson are noteworthy for their respective capabilities native title management, heritage, tenure, regulatory and environmental aspects of project development and corporate transactions. Amy Carseldine departed in February 2025.

Covering the entire scope of native title matters, Allens‘ team regularly handles litigation, mediation and policy issues, and advises on the formulation of Indigenous engagement strategies for multinational mining companies, and the implementation of native title trust issues. The group is led by Ben Zillmann who brings extensive experience in all aspects of native title and cultural heritage cases and advises leading resource companies and government bodies on native title matters. Darcy Doyle exhibits proficiency across native title, Aboriginal cultural heritage and environmental matters. Eve Lynch and Naomi Bergman are also noteworthy; Lynch's workload ranges from advising on due diligence to handling litigation, while Bergman advises on native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage issues.

The team at Corrs Chambers Westgarth is noted for its ‘capacity to handle complex native title matters’, and its workload includes drafting, negotiating, and securing the registration of Indigenous land use agreements; mapping and implementing future act procedural requirements; and representing clients in Federal Court native title determination proceedings. The group is led by Louise Camenzuli who advises clients on native title matters relating to infrastructure, property development and energy and resources projects, in particular. Environment and planning specialist Anna White is reputed for her expertise in native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage matters. Milaan Latten and Rosie Syme are also noteworthy for their expertise in native title litigation and cultural heritage matters.

Gilbert + Tobin‘s team is noted for its ‘wealth of experience’ in native title practice, wherein it deals with a variety of matters including advising on Aboriginal heritage agreements, governance obligations and land disputes. Further, the team is experienced reviewing Indigenous land use agreements, benefit sharing agreements and cultural heritage protections for Aboriginal groups. At the helm of the practice, Marshall McKenna handles matters involving land access, Aboriginal heritage, environmental approvals and compensation frameworks. Lauren Shave brings a depth of experience at the intersection of native title and major project developments in the energy and resources sectors. Other names to note include Patrick Tydde, Arabella Tolé and Jim Power.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP's practice is experienced advising on issues relating to native title; environment, planning and community; and stakeholder engagement. The team’s workload includes advising on native title and Aboriginal cultural heritage protection compliance, indigenous land use agreements, and cultural heritage management plans. At the helm is Melanie Debenham who provides an in-depth knowledge of land access, native title and cultural heritage issues as they relate to broader environmental, community and regulatory contexts. Naomi Hutchings is well-versed in advising clients in the mining sector on native title and cultural heritage matters, whilst Peter Briggs‘ expertise spans from specialist litigation to major project approvals and related native title and cultural heritage issues.

McCullough Robertson's practice is equipped to handle matters spanning the array of industry sectors, including energy and resources, carbon sequestration and government. Its workload includes advising on past act and future act matters, native title compensation issues and other cultural heritage disputes. The team is jointly steered by Liam Davis who specialises in Indigenous community and stakeholder issues relating to native title, and senior government and private practice specialist Dominic McGann who advises on the range of cultural heritage matters. Peter Stokes deals with a variety of native title claims, Kate Swain brings significant experience in the property, energy and resources industries, and Emily Collins is an expert in energy and resources cases.

Norton Rose Fulbright's team advises on the full range of native title and cultural heritage engagement matters, in particular those relating to the energy transition and traditional resources projects. Gavin Scott leads the team on matters concerning legacy issues, ESG risk management and global best practice engagement, particularly in the resources, infrastructure, and renewable sectors. Ellen Whittred regularly assists clients in developing strategic policies and advises on the full range of Indigenous issues, as well as undertaking negotiations with Indigenous groups. Jessica Rusten advises clients on the native title aspects of energy deals and complex issues that arise in negotiations with traditional owner groups.

Arnold Bloch Leibler‘s team advises a variety of native title holders, as well as Indigenous holders of land and cultural heritage rights, on issues relating to native title, land rights, legacy, policy formulation and tax reform. Peter Seidel leads the team and is experienced advising on legislation and policy, development negotiations, and Indigenous land use agreements, as well as mediating intra and inter-community disputes. Bridgid Cowling advises not-for-profit organisations, Aboriginal Land Councils and Native Title Representative Bodies on the commercial and tax aspects of native title issues.

Aboriginal organisations and native title benefit management structures turn to Jackson McDonald's team advice on native title arrangements, the establishment of Aboriginal corporate governance structures, and for support in pursuing economic development opportunities. Team lead Emma Chinnery brings experience working with Traditional Owner groups, Aboriginal NGOs and state government bodies across the full remit of native title matters. David Murphy is experienced advising organisations on elements of trust law and corporate governance, as well as charity and not-for-profit issues, while Chantal Kong is experienced assisting Aboriginal corporations and trusts.

Maddocks' team is under the leadership of Michael Winram, who regularly advises government agencies and local councils, energy companies, developers and other private entities on native title matters and appears in the Federal Court in native title applications. Susanne Rakoczy is well-versed in mining, land access, native title, cultural heritage and stakeholder engagement matters, whilst Joshua Same advises clients on environmental legislation, native title and statutory processes.

Thomson Geer is home to a well-experienced native title team based in Perth, which specialises in matters concerning energy and resources. The team is co-led by Sarah O’Brien-Smith who specialises in negotiation of a future act matters, expedited procedure and related native title matters for both project developers and traditional owner clients; and Paul Harley, who focuses on native title matters for infrastructure and service providers in the resources and energy sectors.