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Services

Solutions

Expertise /

Resources and energy

Service Experience People

Strategic, sophisticated legal advice to private and publicly listed resources companies and government bodies as well as smaller explorers and producers

Our knowledge of the Australian mining, energy and natural resources industries is extensive, having advised on some of the country’s most significant resources and public infrastructure projects. We have also participated in the development of legislation and policy from both an industry and government perspective.

Experience

  • Mining, resources and energy developments, both exploration and production stage
  • Oil and conventional and unconventional gas exploration and developments, including coal seam gas and tight or shale gas 
  • Petroleum, gas and water pipelines 
  • Rail, road, power and water projects 
  • Resources mergers and acquisitions, sale and purchase of tenements and projects, takeovers and schemes of arrangement
  • Partnership, joint venture, split commodity, farmin/out, tribute and royalty, metals streaming, offtake and sales agreements 
  • Native title and cultural heritage 
  • EPC, construction, operation and management contracts 
  • Mining services (underground and open cut), drilling and supply contracts
  • Environmental issues, including EPA, approvals, licensing, enforcement and biodiversity offsets 
  • Resources and energy disputes including an extensive practice in both the Western Australian Wardens' Court and Queensland Land Court
  • Land tenure and property issues, third party tenure access disputes and arrangements, including interaction with pastoral and farming interests

Industry participation

HopgoodGanim participates in and contributes to key resources industry associations, including the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA), the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) and the Resources and Energy Law Association (ERL).

Recognition

HopgoodGanim is proud to have been ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific as a Leading Firm in Australia for Energy and Natural Resources (Band 5) 2016–2021.

HopgoodGanim is also proud to have been ranked by Doyle's Guide as a Leading Energy and Resources Law Firm in Queensland, 2016-2018, 2021-2023 and Western Australia, 2017–2022. 

Exceptional outcomes

AIC Mines Limited / Advised AIC Mines on its acquisition of the Eloise Mine and continue to advise AIC Mines on the development of the Eloise Mine and Jericho Project, including advising on land access, native title and cultural heritage, project approvals, supply contracts, offtake agreements, mining services agreements and environmental approvals. 
Arruwurra Aboriginal Corporation / Acted for Arruwurra Aboriginal Corporation which owns freehold on various matters, including land access rights, compensation, cultural heritage and corporate governance, including in relation to development opportunities from mining and the provision of a gas pipeline across the company’s landholdings.
Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation / Advised the Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation on a range of native title, cultural heritage and tenement matters including negotiating and preparing an agreement with Pilbara Gold Exploration.
QEM / Our client QEM are developing a Vanadium/Oil Shale project to the east of Julia Creek in Central North Queensland. QEM are proposing to power the project by developing a renewable power project in conjunction with a partner operating in the renewables energy industry and potentially selling excess electricity into the NEM via Copperstring. We are advising QEM on land access, project approvals, land acquisition and project structuring for the Julia Creek Project.
Magnetic South Pty Ltd / HopgoodGanim continues to advise Magnetic South Pty Ltd, a coal exploration and development company, on various projects such as drafting and submission of the Gemini Project mining lease application, all land access work, including CCAs for exploration access, mining lease compensation negotiations with all landowners, drafting and negotiating all rail and port agreements with relevant stakeholders, applying for any mine water approvals, dealing with any potential objections from stakeholders, and cultural heritage negotiations and documentation.
New Hope Corporation / Advised on all aspects of the Colton Project, including advising on the ECI tender process, negotiation and drafting of the EPCM Contract for delivery of CHPP, TLO and related infrastructure, and negotiation and drafting of various other supply and construction agreements. The Colton Project was planned as an open cut, metallurgical coal mine near Maryborough Queensland. We also advised in relation to the Land Court proceedings to obtain the grant of the mining leases and associated environmental authority for the Colton Project.
Gransolar / Advised Gransolar, a significant and specialist construction company focused on renewable energy projects on the proposed EPC and O&M contracts for the Lilyvale solar project. The Lilyvale Solar Farm will have a capacity of 100MWac, and the project will be carried out as a turnkey or EPC contract for global solar developer Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV). 
Merredin Solar Farm / Advised on and negotiated a commercial lease for the construction of a 132MWac solar power plant on a farm in Merredin, the largest solar farm in WA. This included negotiating exclusivity and an option for lease agreements, and subsequently included ancillary agreements such as a financier tripartite deed. 

Key contacts

Meet our Resources and Energy team

Resources and Energy M&A deal highlights

Deal

Breaker Resources
Deal

AIC Mines
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Aeris Resources

Latest news and content

Court Decision

Federal Court extends injunction stopping construction of Barossa Project export pipeline
Court Decision

Supreme Court clarifies application process under Queensland petroleum legislation
Media release

HopgoodGanim Lawyers included in 2023 Doyle's Guide Energy and Resources Law Rankings
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