• Boutique Law Firm

    Specialising in Commercial and Property matters, Native Title Law, Civil and Criminal Litigation

ESG Legal is a boutique law firm, representing clients in commercial and property matters, native title law, civil and criminal litigation. Its name is inspired by three key factors considered by investors when measuring the sustainability and ethical impact of a business or company: Environment, Social and Governance.

ESG Legal offers legal expertise and counsel in the following areas:

Approvals and Land Use

Native Title

Governance

Regulatory

Approvals and land use

  • Environmental law and policy, licencing
    • Mapping pathways to approvals
    • Advising on renewable energy frameworks
    • Climate change disclosure, management of climate risk by boards
  • Planning advice and decision-making processes
    • Judicial review of planning decisions, State Administrative Tribunal representation
    • advocacy, representations to government and key stakeholders
  • Liquor licensing and development of hospitality venues in WA
    • interrelationship of planning and liquor laws; developing strategies to achieve approvals in contentious matters, particularly where political and community factors are in play.

Native title

  • Advising claimant groups and PBCs on trusts and membership issues
  • State Compensation agreements
  • Trustee selection processes and due diligence
  • Advising PBCs on all aspects of organisational function and structure:
    • provide training to teams and key supporting risk roles on the risk management framework and assessment of projects
    • identification of risks in management and Board levels, policy statements, processes, tools and templates, ensuring alignment with best practice and organisational strategy
  • Litigation – extensive experience in Federal Court proceedings, particular success in mediation; heritage protection and compensation
  • Catastrophic litigation resolution – we have experience in securing second opinions and developing and executing solutions

Governance

  • Unique experience in governance – across universities, corporate and not-for-profit boards; local government; State agencies; Aboriginal corporations;
    • Development and evolution of corporate structures,
    • constitutional reviews
    • directors’ duties and disclosure
    • development of policies, compliance with statutory obligations.
  • Local Government: statutory frameworks, operational relationships in State Government, Ministerial powers, Show Cause Notices, Departmental Inquiries, Independent Governance Reviews, Council and Administrative relationships

Regulatory

  • Government investigations, regulatory challenge and criminal matters, relating to statutory authority and corporate misconduct.
    • Representing witnesses and investigation subjects at private and public examinations, conducted by the Western Australian Crime and Corruption Commission
  • Forensic investigations; provision of advice on managing employee misconduct; public policy advice and media management, including advice on defamation.
  • Acting for public officials on execution of search warrants, advice on telephone intercepts and forensic data analysis; prosecution of matters concerning allegations of acceptance of gifts and misuse of public office
  • Acting for Australian Securities and Investments Commission on investigations into financial services and illegal credit activities, allegations of stealing, fraud and obtaining advantage by deception, preparation of brief to senior counsel and Commonwealth DPP, witness interviews and preparation of statements, conduct of s.19 examinations, acting in banning proceedings
  • Acting for Australian client on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation by US Department of Justice and representations to US Securities and Exchange Commission

Why ESG Legal?

We solve challenges through innovation and strategy. We are responsive to social licence and we always look for a holistic solution.  We bring our expertise in public policy, litigation and law to clients and their stakeholders. We work well in teams, as we are independent and forward thinking.

We have consulted to other law firms on major projects and complex litigation, due diligence and peer review.

We offer predictability of budget, highly competitive hourly rates; fixed price, project-based work; and retainers

Margie Tannock, principal

Margie Tannock has worked for and across the table from government for 30 years. She understands the nature of administrative decision making, in Local, State and Federal governments; and maintains key relationships within government.  Ten years as partner of a global law firm, heading up the Australian Approvals and Regulatory practice, provides her clients with a unique depth of pragmatic, commercial experience.

Margie has been recognised as a leading lawyer by her clients and her peers, most recently in Doyles (https://doylesguide.com/leading-planning-environment-lawyers-western-australia-2021) and Best Lawyers in Australia | Real Property Law | 2020/21 editions. She is a member of the State Design Review Panel.

She led the national Pro Bono practice of a global law firm and was a strong advocate for gender equality and parity, representing the Australian partnership at global board level in Diversity and Inclusion. She was awarded the Attorney-General’s Community Service Award in 2019. She has an especial focus on indigenous education and advancement – Dandjoo Darbalung is the flagship program for Aboriginal university graduation in Western Australia, and Margie is chair of St Catherine’s College, home to Dandjoo Darbalung (https://stcatherines.uwa.edu.au/future-residents/dandjoo-darbalung)

Get in touch

Fill in the form below or call us on 0423290269 to discuss how we can help you.

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