Cairns 07 4041 7622
Maroochydore 07 5479 0155
Brisbane 07 3067 8827

Our People

Home People Michael Neal
Download Vcard

Michael Neal

Consultant
Contact Michael

Level 1 Bolands Centre
14 Spence Street
Cairns Qld 4870

T: 07 4041 7622

  • Bachelor of Laws, University of New South Wales
  • Bachelor of Science, University of New South Wales
  • Legal Practitioner of Supreme Courts of New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory
  • Legal Practitioner of High Court of Australia

  • Queensland Law Society
  • Urban Development Institute of Australia
  • Queeensland Environmental Law Association

Michael Neal

Consultant

Michael Neal practices in native title and cultural heritage law and is based in our Cairns office. Michael is the author of the Lexis Nexis Native Title Service’s chapter on Indigenous Land Use Agreements.

Michael has been recognised by Chambers Global as a leading lawyer in native title law, the only Queensland lawyer outside Brisbane with that recognition. Chambers states: “sources describe him as ‘a solid and very experienced practitioner’ who is notably proactive and ‘good to deal with’.”

Michael has also been recognised by Doyle’s Guide as a pre-eminent leading native title lawyer in the country representing traditional owners and project proponents.  Michael is the only regional-based lawyer in this category and has been recognised year after year.

He has provided legal advice to indigenous and commercial parties in relation to the many mining and commercial developments in Cape York and northern Australia generally, since the mid 1980s.

Michael’s legal career has encompassed a broad spectrum of predominantly native title related law but has also included general litigation, property and commercial law.

     

  • Acting for native title applicants, representative bodies, corporations, local governments and the Commonwealth of Australia (Dept of Defence).
  • Litigating and negotiating native title determinations and associated agreements, including settling long term land tenure and trust arrangements.
  • Negotiating and drafting Commonwealth’s first two complex Indigenous Land Use Agreements, and several other ILUAs including the nationally well-respected 2004 Argyle Diamond Mine ILUA.
  • Negotiations on behalf of the native title party for an Indigenous Land Use Agreement and Cultural Heritage Management Agreement for the State’s first major coal related railway, including considerations of acquisition of land and native title.
  • Advice and representation of Aboriginal Shire Councils in Cape York Peninsula generally, and particularly in relation to mining, leasing, native title and property matters.
  • Negotiated numerous mining agreements in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
  • Acting for the applicants in Australia’s first determination of native title over pastoral lands.
  • Acted for Jawoyn People in 1993 in Australia’s first post Mabo mining agreement for the Mt Todd gold mine, including joint venture for contract mining.
  • Acted for Jawoyn People in joint venture mining and tourism ventures, including purchase of boat tours business at Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge), and review of Plans of Management for both Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks.

Radio Interviews:

Adam Stephen from ABC Radio – Cairns recently interviewed Michael Neal in relation to the following topics:

Back to team