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Federal

Native Title Lawyers: Australia-Wide Federal Practice

Native title legal services for Traditional Owner groups in , Australia and surrounding areas.

How we serve

Area served

, Australia

Federal

Courts attended

Federal Court

Native title jurisdiction

Consultations

In or remote

Phone, video or in-person

Australia-wide federal native title practice

The Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) is federal legislation. The Federal Court of Australia has jurisdiction over native title determination applications and compensation claims in every state and territory. There is no requirement that a native title lawyer be based in the same state as the determination area.

David Saylor has acted for Traditional Owner groups in Federal Court proceedings arising from multiple states and territories. His focus on native title law, without the distraction of a general practice, means his knowledge of the Act and its application is current and deep wherever in Australia a matter arises.

How Federal Court native title practice works

The Federal Court of Australia has registries in every capital city and the capacity to sit in regional locations. It also has the capacity to sit on country, which is significant for consent determination hearings where the community’s presence on Country during the determination is part of the ceremony.

For Traditional Owner groups in states other than Queensland, instructing David Saylor means working with a lawyer who will travel for hearings and community meetings as required, and who understands that native title matters have a community dimension that extends beyond the legal proceedings.

The national picture

Native title has now been determined over approximately a third of Australia’s land mass, with a significant number of matters still active. The map is densest in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, but determinations exist in every jurisdiction. The body of law developed over three decades applies consistently across all states and territories under the federal Act.

Services available Australia-wide

  • Native title determination applications
  • Native title compensation proceedings
  • ILUA negotiations
  • PBC governance advice
  • Dispute resolution
  • Connection evidence strategy

How to reach us

Phone: (07) 4431 0074 or 0474 244 447 Email: david@saylorlegal.com.au Office: 5 Woolcock Street, Hyde Park, Townsville QLD 4812

Frequently asked

Native title questions,

Can David Saylor advise Traditional Owners outside Queensland?

Yes. As a Federal Court native title practice, Saylor Legal accepts instructions from Traditional Owner groups across Australia.

The Native Title Act 1993 is federal legislation and the Federal Court has national jurisdiction.

Can a Queensland-based lawyer handle Northern Territory or Western Australian native title matters?

Yes. Federal Court native title practitioners can appear in any state or territory registry.

David Saylor has experience across multiple jurisdictions and can advise and appear in Federal Court native title proceedings Australia-wide.

What is the Federal Court's role in native title?

The Federal Court of Australia is the primary court for native title determinations. It has exclusive jurisdiction to make native title determinations and hears compensation claims.

The Court can sit anywhere in Australia, including on country.

Ready to discuss your native title matter?