Practice Expertise

  • Environment and planning
  • Education
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Areas of Practice

  • Education
  • Environment and planning
  • Environmental Social and Governance ESG
  • Mergers and Acquisitions

Profile

Career highlights

  • Lead partner for NT Government in a class action defending claims of Human Rights breaches concerning housing in 73 remote communities.
  • Lead partner for NT Government in relation to claims brought by public housing tenants in the remote indigenous community of Santa Teresa.
  • Lead partner for Traditional Owners in a commercial arbitration to determine the traditional ownership of land leased to Rio Tinto on the Gove Peninsula.
  • Lead partner for traditional owners in a ground breaking Native Title proceeding where the question of whether compensation flows from acts amounting to an acquisition of property where there is a failure to pay on just terms. This matter is the subject to an appeal to the High Court to be heard mid-2024.
  • Lead partner in Native Title proceeding where compensation is claimed over the Gove bauxite mine and Nhulunbuy lease areas. Compensation will likely exceed $700 million.
  • Lead partner in a Department of Health matter concerning the defence of a fatal injuries/medical negligence claim in the NT Supreme Court.
  • Sophie advises most local councils in the NT on a regular basis in relation to employment, disputes and regulatory issues including ICAC. This often involves presenting reports to indigenous members and conversing with indigenous employees.
  • FOI and Privacy: Supervising all work and advising government agencies, local councils and private businesses on freedom of information applications and disputes, including in the context of ongoing litigation.
  • NT Airports: Sophie is the lead partner in relation to a number of leasing and construction disputes.
  • Sophie advises and represents a big 4 bank in relation to alleged breaches of human rights flowing from the provision of a finance facility to Santos to develop the Barossa Gas Project.

I am an active sub-committee member of the Law Council of Australia (ADR Subcommittee member 2023- current) and an Executive Director of Outback Stores, a Commonwealth Government owned corporation that manages 53 remote stores to ensure a nutritious, affordable and quality food supply in remote areas of Australia.

Education
LLB (NORTHERN TERRITORY UNIVERSITY, 1995)

Areas of Practice

  • Education
  • Environment and planning
  • Environmental Social and Governance ESG
  • Mergers and Acquisitions

Professional Career

Professional Associations
  • Menzies School of Health Research, Risk and Audit Committee Member
  • Noonamah Horse and Pony Club - President
  • Northern Territory Show Horse Association - Committee Member


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