James Minchinton

Background

About James Minchinton

I am a lawyer in the growing and important space industry in Australia working towards developing a sovereign launch capability in this country. With over 20 years of experience in mining, petroleum & gas, energy and resources law, I'm now applying those skills to the space sector. My particular expertise lies in the development of projects for project proponents including- obtaining the grant of the necessary regulatory approvals (such as development approvals, mining leases and petroleum leases) and related environmental approvals- drafting sales, transportation, services and other significant contracts that support large-scale projects- establishing project structures and corporate structures- resolving issues with landowners and other stakeholders through agreement or court processes- reaching agreements with competing land users- resolving native title and cultural heritage issues for projects; and - advising on various legal issues for significant projects and corporate affairs. During my career, I have been a partner at national law firms and have also undertaken a number of secondments at various companies including a major oil and gas company, an aluminium company and an international coal company. Prior to becoming a lawyer, and based on my Bachelor of Science, I was a statistician and process engineer at the Boyne Island Aluminium Smelter. This experience and background has given me a unique perspective on legal and corporate issues for space and scientific industries.