Our approach prioritises constructive negotiation and relationship preservation over litigation. We represent clients committed to reaching strong, enduring agreements, including traditional owners, mining, energy, and infrastructure companies, government agencies, and land developers.
Services
Native Title and Aboriginal Heritage
At Castledine Legal and Mediation Services, we specialise in:
- Native title and Aboriginal heritage agreement-making (negotiating and drafting)
- Native title and Aboriginal heritage compliance advice
- Native title claims
- Compensation claims for loss or impairment of native title rights
- Indigenous land use agreements
- Intra-Indigenous agreements
- Negotiation and dispute resolution
- Establishing and securing nomination of prescribed bodies corporate
- Environmental procedures and compliance for projects in native title areas
- Trusts and benefits management structures
- Advising prescribed bodies corporate and other Aboriginal corporations on native title, heritage, commercial, and corporate issues
Planning and Environment
Our planning and environment practice covers:
- Approvals for planning, building, environmental, and State agreements
- Review of decisions in the State Administrative Tribunal
- Advising on and preparing planning schemes and laws
- Compensation for compulsory acquisition or injurious affection of land
- Contaminated land, waste, and pollution management
- Advising on State and Local Government planning powers
- Project due diligence focusing on planning approvals, contaminated land, environmental licences, and permits
- Planning in Aboriginal communities
- Environmental protection for cultural heritage values
Our clients include property owners, community groups, local governments, Government Trading Enterprises, and Aboriginal corporations.
Our clients include property owners, community groups, local governments, Government Trading Enterprises, and Aboriginal corporations.
Negotiation, Mediation, and Restorative Engagement
Graham Castledine, accredited mediator since 2005 under the National Mediator Accreditation Scheme, offers expertise in:
- Native title and Aboriginal heritage
- Civil law disputes (business, corporate, construction, engineering)
- Government and administrative law
- Local government and town planning
- Environmental disputes
- Community and not-for-profit mediation/facilitation
- Restorative Engagement in abuse claims
- Family business or estate disputes
- Property and tenancy disputes
- Energy and resources conflicts
- Workplace disputes and facilitation
Using the Harvard technique of interest-based negotiation, Graham focuses on identifying and advancing the underlying interests of each party, avoiding traditional positional bargaining. He has mediated numerous disputes and facilitated workshops and meetings for various organisations, including Aboriginal Land Councils, government agencies, and corporate and community groups.
