More than a legal and strategic advisory firm

With over 20 years of corporate law experience across top-tier, mid-size and boutique firms, Vivian is a strategic advisor to the executive team. She heads internal policy, governance and ESG strategy, and leads the social impact arm of Hetherington.

Qualifications & admissions

• Over 20 years in corporate law across top-tier, mid-size and boutique law firms

Experience

An influential adviser, negotiator and communicator, Vivian has key expertise in litigation at Federal and State level, with extensive experience in the Federal Court, Supreme Court, District Court and Administrative Appeals Tribunal. She has advised and represented major corporations, Commonwealth departments, insurers, self-insured licensees and government agencies.

Focus areas

• Governance and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy, ensuring the firm adheres to the highest standards of compliance and ethical practice
• Corporate social responsibility program and national charity initiatives
• Litigation, negotiation and dispute resolution

David joined Hetherington in 2010 and has led the firm as Company Principal of Hetherington Sydney since 2016 and Hetherington Perth since 2019. Over 17 years he has built a reputation for excellence in resources, mining and environmental law, growing Hetherington into the full-service firm it is today.

Qualifications & admissions

• Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) and Bachelor of Laws, University of Wollongong (2008), with studies in Environmental Law and Native Title Law
• Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice (2009)
• Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, December 2009

Experience

Before joining Hetherington, David worked in NSW Parliament in the Shadow Attorney General's Office and in a general practice law firm as a Legal Clerk and Graduate Solicitor. He specialises in legal compliance, regulation and management of exploration and mining tenure, partnering with ASX-listed and privately owned companies in every Australian jurisdiction and internationally, including the Pacific region, New Zealand and North and South America. He is a specialist practitioner in VALMIN Code 2015, ASIC and ASX compliant Independent Solicitor Reports, and has assisted companies to submit reports to the Australian, Canadian and Singaporean stock exchanges.

Focus areas

• Land access arrangements and landholder arbitration, Native Title and the Right to Negotiate process, Aboriginal Land Council land and Aboriginal sites, places and objects
• Property reviews, land use conflict, rehabilitation protocols, State significant development approvals and agricultural land objections
• Advice on and administration of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Industry & associations

Deputy Chair of the AMEC NSW Advisory Committee; NSW Minerals Council Exploration & Tenure Committee; AusIMM NSW Women in Mining Committee member and mentor; NSW Deputy Premier Minerals Industry Advisory Committee; Institute of Quarrying Australia NSW Committee; member of ER Law, AusIMM, Austmine, the NSW Law Society and the WA Law Society. A regular speaker and sponsor at AMEC, NSW Minerals Council, Sydney Mining Club, SMEDG, SAEMC and Women in Mining NSW events.

Awards

Honorary Gratitude Award, Australian Government, presented by the Prime Minister for volunteer work in Nepal. Finalist, Gender Diversity Advocate, NSW Minerals Council (2020). Finalist, Young Achiever, NSW Minerals Council (2019).