LAW FIRM Freehills has promoted one of its senior associates to the position of special counsel in its native title and cultural heritage division. Set to operate in a national capacity for the firm, Chloe Piper has retuned to the Perth office after spending a year in Brisbane. Piper has experience in all aspects of major infrastructure and resource developments, specialising in the area of indigenous affairs.

“[Piper] has been a remarkable firm-wide resource which has been recognised by this appointment and we have every confidence in her continuing success in delivering expert advice to clients in this area,” the head of Freehills’ native title group, Ken Jagger, said.

Chloe has advised mining and petroleum companies, government departments and instrumentalities in relation to infrastructure development, land access, approvals, risk management, state agreements, project structuring, government liaison, due diligence, native title matters and indigenous site protection issues.

She has acted for companies such as AGL in relation to the Moranbah acquisition of a share in the Moranbah Gas Project. She has advised on the drafting of a project agreement for indigenous issues for the Boddington Gold Mine and also advised the Argyle Diamond Mines on the negotiation, registration and implementation of an indigenous land use agreement with traditional owners.