Presenters

Stephen Wright SC, Barrister, Francis Burt Chambers
Stephen Wright is an experienced barrister who specialises in native title, taxation, trusts and mining law. Stephen joined the Western Australian Bar in 2010 and was appointed senior counsel in 2017. Prior to joining the Bar he was a Judge’s associate, a commercial litigator at Malleson, worked for 11 years at the Western Australian State Solicitor’s Office, and had his own private practice. Stephen has a wealth of experience in native title related issues dating back to 1996. He is a leading native title barrister, having been counsel in many native title claims and in ‘future act’ litigation and arbitrations at all levels, and more recently in compensation claims. He represents native title parties and representative bodies, government and mining interests. He is also an experienced and effective negotiator having provided advice and representation to various parties involved in numerous ILUA and other native title agreement negotiations, including in relation to the establishment of benefits management (trust) structures and taxation issues. Stephen also provides stamp duty and other tax advice (including income tax and GST) and appears in tax cases in the Court of Appeal (WA), Federal Court, and State and Commonwealth Tribunals.


Marshall McKenna, Partner, Gilbert + Tobin
Marshall McKenna has been a partner since 2000. He joined the partnership of Gilbert & Tobin in its Perth office on 1 June 2016. His principal focus is on commercial litigation, intellectual property, mining litigation (in both the Warden's Courts and the Supreme Court), native title , litigation, land access and planning and environmental approvals and Freedom of Information issues. He is also active in negotiating and documenting compensation, heritage and land access agreements. Marshall has extensive litigation experience including appearing as counsel in several native title and mining matters, and has also instructed in significant trust remediation matter, enforcement of confidentiality obligations, restraints of trade and employment obligations. He was the counsel for the successful party in the first determination that an act not be done under the Native Title Act 'right to negotiate' process. He also lectures in Mining and Petroleum Law at the University of Notre Dame and has lectured in Equity at that institution and at the University of Western Australia. Marshall is recognised by Chambers and Doyle's list as a preeminent practitioner in native title and Australia's Best Lawyers recognises him as being a leading lawyer in Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Mining Law; Native Title; Land Access and Planning.