About us
About Saylor Legal
Practising native title law since 2003. Representing Traditional Owner groups in Queensland and across Australia for more than two decades.
Credentials and practice
1997
Admitted to practice
2003
Practising native title law
Townsville
Based in North Queensland
Federal Court
Appeared across Queensland
David Saylor, principal lawyer at Saylor Legal
David Saylor was admitted to practice in 1997. He has been practising native title law since 2003, and few Australian lawyers have worked in this field for as long.
His practice is focused entirely on native title and Indigenous law. Over the course of his career he has represented Traditional Owner groups in consent determinations, contested hearings, compensation proceedings, ILUA negotiations and PBC governance matters. He has appeared before the Federal Court of Australia in native title claims across Queensland and has acted for Traditional Owners in proceedings that required him to travel to country, attend on-country ceremonies and understand the specific cultural and historical context of each claim group he has served.
David works from Townsville. That matters for clients in North Queensland, Cape York, Torres Strait and the Gulf Country, where a lawyer who knows the region and is willing to travel to meet with claim groups is worth considerably more than a firm a thousand kilometres away.
How David approaches his fees
Saylor Legal’s work is for Traditional Owners, and David discounts his fees wherever it is practicable to do so in order to support Traditional Owners who may not have significant resources. This is a straightforward reflection of who his clients are.
Where a court or tribunal orders costs against the other side, the full undiscounted fee becomes payable by that party. That outcome benefits the client and reflects the true value of the work done. If you want to understand how this works in the context of your particular matter, the best approach is to have a direct conversation with David.
What David does not do
He does not take on matters outside native title, Indigenous law and protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. There is no general litigation practice, no property conveyancing, no criminal defence. The exclusive focus means that when you instruct Saylor Legal, you get a lawyer whose knowledge of the Native Title Act, the Federal Court, the NNTT processes, and the PBC governance framework is current and deep.
How to get in touch
Call David directly on (07) 4431 0074 or 0474 244 447, or email david@saylorlegal.com.au. The office is at 5 Woolcock Street, Hyde Park, Townsville QLD 4812.