The 2026 listing of leading Australian Native Title Lawyers (Traditional Owner Representation) details solicitors practising within the areas of native title and cultural heritage matters matters in Australian legal market who have been identified by their peers for their expertise and abilities representing traditional owners and traditional owner bodies. Some firms may act for both project proponents and traditional owners.
Preeminent
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt – Sydney
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth – Brisbane
Leading
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law – Cairns
David Knobel, P&E Law – Sunshine Coast
Cassie Lang, Parrallax Legal – Brisbane
Michael Pasanjan, MPS Law – Adelaide
Georgina Reid, MPS Law – Adelaide
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt – Sydney
Recommended
Sean Bowden, Bowden McCormack – Darwin
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt – Sydney
Oliver Gilkerson, Marrawah Law – Brisbane
Chelsea Griffin-Breen, HWL Ebsworth – Brisbane
John Heaney, P&E Law – Brisbane
Leonora Herjweijer, Camatta Lempens – Adelaide
Rob Houston, Houston Legal – Perth
Nick Llewellyn-Jones, Norman Waterhouse – Adelaide
Elizabeth McDonald, Chalk & Behrendt – Sydney
David Meale, Chalk & Behrendt – Sydney
Matt Patterson, P&E Law – Sunshine Coast
David Saylor, Saylor Legal – Townsville
Paul Sheiner, Roe Legal – Perth
Previous editions
2025 edition published January 2025
Preeminent
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Leading
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
David Knobel, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
Michael Pasanjan, MPS Law - Adelaide
Matt Patterson, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
Georgina Reid, MPS Law - Adelaide
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Recommended
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Chelsea Griffin-Breen, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Cassie Lang, Parrallax Legal - Brisbane
Nick Llewellyn-Jones, Norman Waterhouse - Adelaide
Elizabeth McDonald, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
David Meale, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
David Saylor, Saylor Legal - Townsville
2024 edition published February 2024
Preeminent
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Leading
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Sophie Kilpatrick, Cross Country Native Title Services - Perth
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
Michael Pasanjan, MPS Law - Adelaide
Recommended
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Oliver Gilkerson, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Chelsea Griffin-Breen, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Stephen Kenny, Camatta Lempens - Adelaide
David Knobel, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
Cassie Lang, Parrallax Legal - Brisbane
Nick Llewellyn-Jones, Norman Waterhouse - Adelaide
Ross Mackay, Ross Mackay Lawyer - Bega
Matt Patterson, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
Georgina Reid, MPS Law - Adelaide
David Saylor, Saylor Legal - Townsville
2023 edition published February 2023
Market Leader
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Preeminent
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Leading
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law - Cairns
ndrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Sophie Kilpatrick, Cross Country Native Title Services - Perth
Michael Pasanjan, MPS Law - Adelaide
Recommended
Sean Bowden, Bowden McCormack - Darwin
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Oliver Gilkerson, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Chelsea Griffin-Breen, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Stephen Kenny, Camatta Lempens - Adelaide
Cassie Lang, Parrallax Legal - Brisbane
Elizabeth McDonald, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Matt Patterson, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
David Saylor, Saylor Legal - Townsville
Peter Seidel, Arnold Bloch Leibler - Melbourne
Tim Woolley, TJ Woolley & Co - Adelaide
2022 edition published February 2022
Market Leader
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Preeminent
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
Leading
Ted Besley, Just Us Lawyers - Brisbane
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Michael Pasanjan, MPS Law - Adelaide
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Recommended
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Ambrose Cummins, Cross Country Native Title Services - Perth
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Oliver Gilkerson, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Chelsea Griffin-Breen, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Colin Hardie, Just Us Law - Brisbane
Hema Hariharan, Arma Legal - Broome
Stephen Kenny, Camatta Lempens - Adelaide
Sophie Kilpatrick, Cross Country Native Title Services - Perth
David Meale, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Matt Patterson, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
David Saylor, Saylor Legal - Townsville
Paul Sheiner, Roe Legal - Perth
2021 edition published February 2021
Market Leader
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Preeminent
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Leading
Ted Besley, Just Us Lawyers - Brisbane
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Recommended
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Colin Hardie, Just Us Law - Brisbane
Hema Hariharan, Arma Legal - Broome
Stephen Kenny, Camatta Lempens - Adelaide
Cassie Lang, Marrawah Law - Brisbane
Michael Owens, Michael Owens & Associates - Townsville
Michael Pasanjan, MPS Law - Adelaide
Matt Patterson, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
David Saylor, Saylor Legal - Townsville
2020 edition published January 2020
Preeminent
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Leading
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Oliver Gilkerson, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
Recommended
Ted Besley, Just Us Lawyers - Brisbane
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Colin Hardie, Just Us Law - Brisbane
Stephen Kenny, Camatta Lempens - Adelaide
Nick Llewellyn-Jones, Norman Waterhouse - Adelaide
David Meale, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Michael Owens, Michael Owens & Associates - Townsville
Matt Patterson, P&E Law - Sunshine Coast
Peter Seidel, Arnold Bloch Leibler - Melbourne
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
2019 edition published February 2019
Preeminent
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Leading
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt - Sydney
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
Recommended
Ted Besley, Just Us Lawyers - Brisbane
Sean Bowden, Bowden McCormack - Darwin
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Leah Cameron, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Ambrose Cummins, Cross Country Native Title Services - Perth
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Oliver Gilkerson, Marrawah Law - Cairns
Colin Hardie, Just Us Law - Brisbane
Stephen Kenny, Camatta Lempens - Adelaide
Sophie Kilpatrick, Cross Country Native Title Services - Perth
Nick Llewellyn-Jones, Norman Waterhouse - Adelaide
Michael Owens, Michael Owens & Associates - Townsville
Peter Seidel, Arnold Bloch Leibler - Melbourne
James Walkley, Chalk & Behrendt
2018 edition published January 2018
Preeminent
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Behrendt
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth
Leading
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Behrendt
Oliver Gilkerson, Gilkerson Legal
Michael Neal, P&E Law
Recommended
Ted Besley, Just Us Law
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers
Colin Hardie, Just Us Law
Michael Owens, Michael Owens & Associates
Peter Seidel, Arnold Bloch Leibler
Paul Sheiner, Roe Legal
2017 edition published January 2017
Preeminent
Andrew Chalk, Chalk & Fitzgerald - Sydney
Philip Hunter, HWL Ebsworth - Brisbane
Leading
Jason Behrendt, Chalk & Fitzgerald - Sydney
Oliver Gilkerson, Gilkerson Legal - Brisbane
Michael Neal, P&E Law - Cairns
Peter Seidel, Arnold Bloch Leibler - Melbourne
Recommended
Ted Besley, Just Us Lawyers - Brisbane
Richard Bradshaw, Johnston Withers - Adelaide
Jeff Dillon, Dillon Bowers - Townsville
Mark Gregory, Castledine Gregory - Perth
Michael Owens, Michael Owens Lawyer - Townsville
Paul Sheiner, Roe Legal - Perth
James Walkley, Chalk & Fitzgerald - Sydney