Our mining specialists support clients across all aspects of the mining project lifecycle – from initial acquisition and project development, through to operations and ultimately, mine closure, rehabilitation and post-mining land use.
With a market-leading mining M&A practice, we regularly act on transactions from small acquisitions, farm-ins and joint ventures all the way through to complex, large-scale multi-billion dollar M&A transactions. Our mining experience extends to traditional resources, including coal, iron ore, copper and gold, as well as the critical minerals essential to supporting the transition to net zero.
We provide the full spectrum of legal services required by our mining sector clients. This includes environmental and planning approvals, land access and compensation, native title and cultural heritage, acquisition finance, project finance, corporate finance and bonding facilities, farm-ins and joint ventures, M&A, foreign investment (FIRB) and competition (ACCC) approvals, infrastructure development and services (for road, rail, port, conveyor, water, power and processing), procurement contracts, marketing and offtake contracts, construction and mining services, dispute resolution, emissions reporting and reduction and carbon offsets.
Work highlights
Peabody
Numerous acquisitions and disposals in Queensland and NSW, including sales of Millennium coal mine to MetRes, Broadmeadow East coal project to Bowen Coking Coal, Burton coal mine to New Hope and Formosa, Red Mountain JV interest to BHP and Olive Downs coal project to Pembroke Resources.
Glencore
State and Commonwealth planning and environmental approvals for the Mount Owen Continued Operations Project in NSW, including advice on water licensing, native title, Aboriginal cultural heritage and biodiversity offsetting matters and on environment, planning, native title and tenements due diligence for its purchase of Hunter Valley Operations.
Rio Tinto Ltd
Supreme Court of Western Australia proceedings against the Gorgon joint venture concerning the validity of a price review notice under a long-term GSA; and against a Clough/Acciona joint venture regarding the construction of a major rail formation for iron ore project in the Pilbara.
Various mining companies
Several different bidders on every major (multi-billion dollar) Australian coal sector sale process in recent years, including acting for bidders for: BHP's Mt Arthur, Poitrel, South Walker Creek and Cerrejon coal mines; BMA’s Blackwater and Daunia coal mines; South32’s Appin and Dendrobium coal mines and Eagle Downs coal project; and Anglo’s metallurgical coal business.
Coeclerici Far East
Strategic investment in Vecco Group (which is developing the Debella vanadium project and Australia's first commercial-scale vanadium battery electrolyte manufacturing plant).
Arafura Rare Earths
Development of the Nolans Bore Rare Earths Project, including offtake agreements.
