Specialist legal advice for exploration and mining

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).

Julia leads Hetherington's Perth office, providing strategic and practical advice on tenement management, mining law, native title and environmental law, primarily in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Qualifications & admissions

• Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce, Curtin University
• Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia

Experience

Julia's experience allows her to deliver a practical, solution-focused approach that helps clients navigate the complexities of the resources sector. She prepares Independent Tenement Reports for initial public offerings, manages title disputes in the Wardens Court, and drafts and negotiates land access, farm-in, joint venture and royalty agreements.

Focus areas

• Tenement management under the Mining Act 1978 (WA), Mining Act 1971 (SA) and Mineral Titles Act 2010 (NT), including government liaison and strategic portfolio management
• Mining law, title disputes, commercial agreements and Independent Tenement Reports
• Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) processes, heritage protection agreements and compliance
• Environmental due diligence under the EPBC Act 1999 (Cth) and State and Territory frameworks

Jemima is a Managing Consultant and Solicitor in Hetherington's Sydney office. Jemima combines legal expertise with a practical understanding of the mining and extractive industries, delivering commercially focused advice on approvals, land access, compliance and tenement management.

Qualifications & admissions

• Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce, University of Notre Dame Australia
• Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales

Experience

Jemima's previous experience spans commercial law, family law and arbitration, enabling her to provide practical, commercially focused advice. She is committed to building long-term industry relationships and to delivering effective, commercially viable solutions that keep complex legislative and regulatory obligations in check while supporting operational and long-term project success.

Focus areas

• Mining and extractive industries law, approvals and regulatory advice
• Land access disputes and advisory, site audits, environmental and rehabilitation compliance
• Tenement management, including applications, approvals and legislative compliance

Karinne is admitted in both New Zealand and New South Wales and brings the adaptability of a litigation background to tenement and mining law matters of every scale.

Qualifications & admissions

• Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Marketing), University of Auckland
• Admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand (September 2023)
• Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Scheme (June 2024)

Experience

Before joining Hetherington, Karinne worked as a junior barrister in a generalist civil litigation practice in Auckland, assisting senior counsel across a wide array of legal disputes. That breadth gives her a high degree of adaptability to challenges of varying scale. Karinne is a participant in the 2026 NSW Women in Mining Network mentoring program, sponsored by Hetherington.

Focus areas

• Tenement management and compliance
• Mining and exploration law
• Dispute resolution and litigation support

Olivia is a Senior Consultant in Hetherington's Sydney office. She joined the firm in January 2025 with a background in property law and psychology, and a passion for building strong client relationships and understanding individual needs.

Qualifications & admissions

• Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Victoria University of Wellington
• Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand (June 2026)
• Admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Scheme (July 2026)

Experience

Olivia previously worked at a boutique New Zealand law firm specialising in property law. As a Senior Consultant she is committed to delivering practical, tailored legal solutions and exceptional results for clients.

Focus areas

• Tenement management and compliance
• Property and land matters
• Practical, tailored legal solutions

Radoslav brings negotiation, dispute resolution and litigation experience from criminal defence and land law, and is known for a straightforward approach and attention to detail.

Qualifications & admissions

• Double Bachelor's degree (Business Law and Criminology) and Juris Doctor, University of Western Australia

Experience

Radoslav's prior experience in criminal defence and land law gave him strong negotiation, dispute resolution and litigation skills. He is known for his direct approach, attention to detail and commitment to clients.

Focus areas

• Tenement management and compliance
• Land law and dispute resolution
• Mining law

Lorenzo brings a breadth of commercial and corporate experience from top-tier domestic and global law firms, and an approachable, responsive manner.

Qualifications & admissions

• Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Monash University
• Admitted to practise as a lawyer (August 2026)

Experience

Lorenzo has worked in legal roles at top-tier domestic and global law firms, gaining broad commercial and corporate experience. He provides commercially focused legal advice and practical solutions tailored to each client's objectives.

Focus areas

• Commercial and corporate agreements
• Mining law and compliance
• Tenement management

Katherine brings experience in planning and environment law, property and construction law, and land law, litigation and advisory work gained at specialist and top-tier Sydney firms.

Qualifications & admissions

• Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (History), University of Notre Dame
• Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (June 2026)

Experience

Katherine worked as a law graduate at a specialist planning and environment law firm and at a specialist property and construction law firm. During her studies she clerked and interned at several top-tier Sydney firms across corporate and property law. She is committed to delivering comprehensive advice and results for all clients.

Focus areas

• Planning and environment law
• Land law, litigation and advisory
• Tenement management and compliance

Grace brings expertise in dispute resolution and litigation and a proactive, holistic approach to the legal and regulatory complexity of the mining industry.

Qualifications & admissions

• Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts (Political Science & International Relations, and Law), University of Western Australia
• Graduate Diploma in Practical Legal Training, College of Law
• Admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia

Experience

Grace developed her expertise in insurance dispute resolution and litigation and is well versed in the legal and regulatory complexity that arises in the mining industry. She takes a proactive, holistic approach to matters, providing long-term solutions and the best achievable resolution for clients.

Focus areas

• Dispute resolution and litigation
• Mining law and regulatory compliance
• Tenement management

Rani is a Solicitor and Consultant located in our Sydney Hetherington office.

Rani completed a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce at Macquarie University, and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2025. She also studied at the University of Roehampton in London as part of her degrees.

Before joining Hetherington, Rani practised at an international law firm, where she advised domestic and multinational clients across corporate, finance and IP/technology matters. Her experience includes legal due diligence on infrastructure and construction acquisitions, reviewing and negotiating commercial agreements, and supporting regulatory and court-related workstreams. Rani is also a published commentator on cross-jurisdictional regulatory developments, with articles published through her former firm and the Human Rights Law Centre.

Rani was a 2024 Young Australians in International Affairs Cyber, Technology and Space Fellow, where she researched and published on cybersecurity, emerging technology and digital governance. She was also named on the 2026 Young Women to Watch List.

With strong drafting, research and analytical skills, and a background in stakeholder and community management, Rani is equipped to assist clients in navigating the regulatory regimes that govern mining tenements, land access and approvals, and is committed to delivering clear, practical and commercially focused advice.

Outside of her legal practice, Rani mentors law students through the Australian Law Students Association and is a co-founder of WTVR World, a Sydney-based charity collective. She also speaks Tamil.