Planning and environmental approvals

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).

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