Robert Milbourne
Partner, Registered Foreign Lawyer
Robert Milbourne is a cross-border mining and resources corporate lawyer based in Brisbane.
Robert provides innovative and strategic commercial advice to international mining and resources companies across the project life cycle from early stage exploration matters to project development and to procurement, commodity sales agreements and operational matters, financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance and corporate and commercial advice.
Robert's experience has included exploration, project development and operational matters for iron ore, manganese, copper, nickel, potash, coal, rare earths, uranium, and bauxite. In addition to mining projects, he has worked on pellotizing plants, steel mills, geothermal power plants, and other complex infrastructure projects. He also has extensive experience advising with respect to political risk insurance matters. Robert has acted on several landmark mining transactions including the development of the major Moatize coal mine in Mozambique, the development of the world's first deep sea mining operations to be located in PNG, the first foreign investment in the privatisation of a major Chinese coal mine operation, and the development and commissioning of a major longwall underground coal mining operation in Queensland.
Robert is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law where he teaches Mining Law and is a member of the School’s Advisory Council. He has been recognized in the 2012 and 2013 Chambers Global Directories and in the 2011 Asia Pacific Lawyer 500 as a recommended lawyer within the practice area of energy and natural resources. He has also been recognized by Doyle’s guide as a leading mining and resources practitioner in Queensland. In 2012 he was recognized as one of the leading “hot 40” lawyers in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Legal Business Journal.
Selected client work
• Representing Vale on project development, cross border acquisitions, procurement, international disputes, and various operational advices.
• Representing Centaurus Resources in multiple farm in and option agreements, potential acquisitions, and operational matters in Brazil.
• Representing Nautilus Resources in the development of a deep sea mining shipping joint venture and the terms of off-take of the copper ore to China.
• Representing Chinese Nickel Company on Long Term Off-take arrangements
• Representing Runge Ltd on corporate governance and various mining services matters internationally.
• Representing a large Chinese mining & metals firm in a nickel concentrate agreement with a nickel miner in Australia.
• Representing a railroad infrastructure developer in connection with potential investments in Queensland.
• Represented major Indian Steel and Power company in proposed joint ventures and off-take arrangements.
• Represented major mining services firm in proposed international merger.
• Represented international mining house in joint venture development of assets in India, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
• Represented a Chinese mining firm in a farm in agreement for the development of a rare earths mining operation in Australia.
• Represented coal developer in proposed sale of tenements to a Chinese purchaser.
• Represented Mundo Mineracao in corporate restructuring and operational matters in South America.
Speaking engagements
Host and Chair | Bom Dia Brasil - Panel on Brazil/Australia Relations with Brazilian Ambassador, CEO GreenCross, others | 27 February, 2013 |
Presenter | Mining Law Seminar - Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane | 21 February 2013 |
Interview | Severe Weather Events and Change in Law- - LawTV - Sky News Business | 20 February 2013 |
Presenter | Mining Law Seminar - AUSIMM Monthly Luncheon, Brisbane | 13 February 2013 |
Delegate | Mining Indaba Africa, Capetown South Africa | 4-6 February 2013 |
Interview | Mining Law Year in Review - Sky News Business | 19 December 2012 |
Host | US Consul General - Briefing on US Election and Government | 4 December |
Chair | LegalWise Seminar on Foreign investment in Queensland, - Brisbane | 20 November, 2012 |
Host and co-presenter | Mongolian Mining Law Seminar - Brisbane | 15 November, 2012 |
Panelist | Mining Investment Opportunity in South America - Australian Resources Convention and Exhibition - Perth - | 12 November, 2012 |
Presenter | Investing into Australian Resources Projects - Australia China Resources Investment Forum - Beijing | 8 November, 2012 |
Professor | Mining and Resources Law - University of Queensland TC Beirne School of Law - Brisbane | Semester 2 2012 |
Presenter | South American Diggers conference - Sydney | 19 September |
Host | Australian Latin American Business Council Breakfast Seminar - Brisbane | 31 August, 2012 |
Chair | Financing Complex Infrastructure Projects in Queensland - International Project Finance Association Seminar - Brisbane | 23 August, 2012 |
Interview | Mining Through the Downturn - Law TV - Sky News Business | 8 August, 2012 |
Chair | LegalWise Seminar - Mining and Resources law - The Practical Issues | 26 July 2012 |
Lecturer | Lexis Nexis Workshop on Negotiating Joint Venture Agreements | 17 May, 2012 |
Chair | Lexis Nexis National Mining Law Conference - Brisbane | 16 May 2012 |
Co-Host | AIBC Indonesian Mining Law Reforms with Rebecca Mohr | 15 May 2012 |
Moderator | Managing the In-House Legal Team - Norton Rose CLE Master Class Day Brisbane | 7 March 2012 |
Moderator | Conversation with Clive Palmer - ACBC Annual Dinner Celebration - | 24 November 2011 |
Chair | Galilee Basin Mining - Conference - Brisbane | 23 November 2011 |
Presenter | Comparative Regulatory Systems in South America - South American Diggers Conference - Sydney | 17 November 2011 |
Presenter/Introduction | CEDA 20/20 Conversation with Kevin Rudd | 14 October 2011 |
Interview | Law TV - Regulatory Reform in PNG Mining Sector - Trading Day - Sky News Business | 10 September 2011 |
Panelist | Foreign Investment in Queensland Coal - Coaltrans Australia - Brisbane | 23 August 2011 |
Presenter/Introduction | AMCHAM Luncheon - Queensland's Future Energy Needs | 29 July 2011 |
Interview | Law TV - Foreign Investment Review for Mining and Resources - Sky News Business | 6 July 2011 |
Presenter | South American Mining Regulation - Global Mines Symposium - Sydney | 4 July 2011 |
Panelist | Foreign Investment into Australia - AFR Mining Investment Conference - Sydney | 23 June 2011 |
Presenter | Foreign Investment into Australian Resources Projects - China International Mining Group Seminar | 13 May 2011 |
Chair | Lexis Nexis National Mining Law Conference - Brisbane | 18 May 2011 |
Chair | Surat Basin Mining Conference - Brisbane - | 12 May 2011 |
Moderator | CEDA 20/20 Lunch with Clive Palmer - Brisbane | 7 April 2011 |
Chair | Legalwise Seminar - Mining Law - Brisbane | 17 March 2011 |
Presenter | Australian/South African Mining Investments - South African High Commission Investment Day - Sydney - | 16 March 2011 |
Presenter | AMPLA/IBA Bi-Annual Conference - Severe Weather Events in the Resource Sector - Singapore | 25 February 2011 |
Presenter | Incident Management Response - Norton Rose CLE Day Master Class - Brisbane | 23 February 2011 |
Presenter - - | Foreign Investment into Australia Mining and Resources Projects - PDAC Mining Convention - Toronto | 7 March 2011 |
Presenter | Australian Corporate Lawyers Association - Seminar on Queensland Floods - Brisbane | 10 February 2011 |
Presenter | Queensland Law Society Symposium on Floods - Brisbane | 9 February 2011 |
Presenter | Directors and Officers Duties in the Context of the Queensland Floods - AICD Seminar - Brisbane | 7 & 8 February 2011 |
Interview | Law TV - Legal Consequences of Queensland Floods - On the Record - Sky News Business | 4 Feb 2011 |
Presenter | Consequences of the Queensland Floods - Seminar - Brisbane | 1 February 2011 |