BA, LLB (Hons)
Principal
Michael Hunt was the senior partner in Perth of the national law firm Blake Dawson. He left there in February 1996 to establish Hunt & Humphry as a specialist project law firm.
Michael Hunt has practised mining and petroleum law in Perth for over 40 years. In 1983 he conducted an inquiry into Western Australia’s mining laws and in 1987 reviewed Papua New Guinea’s mining laws. His comprehensive recommendations were incorporated into the mining legislation of both jurisdictions. He has been recognised nationally and internationally as a leading mining lawyer, regularly named as such in legal market surveys, such as the Financial Review’s survey of Australia’s top lawyers, the IBA’s “Who’s Who Legal – Mining Lawyers” and Asia Law Leading Lawyers. For many years he served on the Government’s Mining Industry Liaison Committee which regularly reviews the condition of the Western Australian mining industry and assesses the need for changes in law and practice.
Michael Hunt has extensive experience consulting for the mining, petroleum, exploration and infrastructure industries to both government and non-government clients, nationally and internationally. A former national President and founding member of the Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association, his writings include the book Mining Law in Western Australia (the fourth edition of which was published in March 2009), the “Energy and Resources” volume of Halsbury’s Laws of Australia and the book Minerals and Petroleum Laws of Australia (which is a comprehensive review of all onshore and offshore petroleum and mining laws throughout Australia).
Michael has advised on proposed resource and property developments overseas in many countries including Guyana, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Mauritania, Zambia, Eritrea, Indonesia, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Falkland Islands and Vietnam.
Michael Hunt has maintained a role in the mining corporate world by participating over 30 years as a director of several ASX listed junior exploration and mining companies. He is chairman of Azimuth Resources Ltd (ASX and TSX listed) which has a significant gold project in Guyana.
Michael is also the lawyer for the Port Hedland Port Authority which is the world’s leading bulk commodity port.
