For 30 years Adam McLean has been practising in the controversial and highly publicised and politicised areas of Indigenous land rights, native title, treaty, industrial relations, employment law, and criminal law fields.
Adam has also developed a practice in mediation and facilitation particularly in community matters with significant dispute.
Adam also advises Indigenous Corporations and joint boards in governance and related matters.
Adam’s practice includes negotiating significant commercial agreements including large infrastructure and mining agreements, including significant joint venture agreements.
Adam’s many court appearances include trials and appeals in the Federal Court and Federal Magistrates' Court; the Supreme, County and Magistrates' Courts, Coroner's Court and in Royal Commissions.
Adam was admitted to practice in 1991 and signed the Bar Roll in 1999.
Significant court matters include appearances in:
- Eastern Maar People NTDA Vid 21/2019
- Cape York United Number 1 Claim QUD 673/2014 – continuing
- Applicant v. Toyota Motor Corporation Australia C2012/6 + 45 other matters-Toyota Redundancy matters
- Dja Dja Wurrung Peoples v. State of Victoria. Federal Court
- Wadi Wadi, Wamba Wamba, Barapa Barapa v. State of Victoria. Federal Court
- Byron Bay Bundjalung People (Arakwal) v. State of New South Wales (Arakwal). Federal Court
- Tabulam Bundjalung v. State of New South Wales. Federal Court
- Baryulgil Bundjalung v. State of New South Wales. Federal Court
- Wiradjuri Wellington v. State of New South Wales. Federal Court
Summary of significant native title and related agreements
Barrister with carriage of:
Peninsula Development Road Cape York Indigenous Land Use Agreement. Traditional Owners, State of QLD, Cape York Land Council.
Dja Dja Wurrung Indigenous Land Use Agreement, Central Victoria.
Gaagal Wanggaan (South Beach) National Park - Warrell Creek NSW
Yuin - Biamanga and Gulaga – Narooma NSW
Arakwal, Byron Bay NSW. Indigenous Land Use Agreement (No 2 and 3)
Worimi Conservation Lands – Stockton Bight NSW.
Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan Mr Grenfell - Cobar NSW
Arakwal, Byron Bay NSW. Indigenous Land Use Agreement (No1)
Traditional owners – Armidale mining co agreement. Armidale NSW.
Traditional owners – Adelong Mining NL - Tumut Brungle Area Agreement. First registered Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) in Australia under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)
Arakwal, Byron Bay NSW. Arakwal-Byron Shire Council agreement.
NSW Aboriginal Land Council - State of NSW. National Park Framework Agreement
Arakwal, Byron Bay NSW. State Conservation Area agreement.
Tabulam Bundjalung, Tabulam NSW – Mining.
Wellington Town common Agreement central western NSW.
