At the core of the mining industry
With a track-record in operating and expanding mines and downstream infrastructure, funding growth, doing deals and navigating complex regulatory and foreign investment regimes, no matter what the commodity, the King & Wood Mallesons team is across the issues at the core of the mining industry.
Fit for purpose advice across the full mine life cycle
Our experience working with clients of all sizes at every stage of the project lifecycle means that you have a partner that is at the forefront of safely navigating through sector challenges, in Australia or abroad. We thrive on finding unique, cost effective solutions to some of the industry’s most complex projects, transactions, capital raisings and joint venture agreements.
Our global mining team maintains an unrelenting focus on understanding your business and project and achieving your objectives through a value-driven approach, rather than a process-driven one. Our sector lawyers are recognised go-to practitioners for strategically and commercially important matters across the full spectrum of resource projects, with particular expertise in Australia, Asia, Africa, South America, the United Kingdom and North America.
Safely navigating the future of mining
Our experts are providing creative solutions to the latest ground-breaking and commercial issues in the mining sector whether it be the world's first fully automated underground mine or major technology procurement projects. We understand that productivity and efficiency across all aspects of the mine life cycle are key to extracting the most from your assets, and as a result, this ever evolving aspect of the industry will continue to see market firsts. This fundamentally drives the reason why KWM invests in ensuring we are keeping pace with innovation in our clients’ businesses.
Full service support
The areas we advise on:
- Mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, farm-in and joint venture arrangements
- Project financing
- Government agreements and negotiations
- Front end construction, engineering and procurement
- Commodity sales, off-take arrangements, shipping and letters of credit
- Decarbonisation and clean energy
- Corporate governance and ESG
- Health, safety and environment
- Employment and industrial relations
- Native title and cultural heritage
- Project approvals, environment and planning
- Competition and infrastructure access issues
- Tax and structuring
- Dispute resolution (including international arbitrations)
Our recent experience
- Newmont on the acquisition of Newcrest. The landmark acquisition constituted Australia’s biggest M&A deal of 2023.
- Allkem Limited on its AU$15.7 billion all-stock merger of equals with Livent Corp, to create a leading global lithium chemicals producer “Arcadium Lithium”.
- Iluka Resources on its AU$1.2 billion Eneabba rare earths project development and its strategic partnership with Northern Minerals.
- Alumina Limited on its proposed $3.3 billion acquisition by Alcoa Corporation.
- BHP on its AU$9.6 billion acquisition of Australian copper producer OZ Minerals. Limited by way of scheme of arrangement.
- BHP on its iron ore projects in the Pilbara, metallurgical coal projects in Queensland, and aluminium and nickel operations in Western Australia. Our advice for BHP covers port, rail and power infrastructure, including access to infrastructure, land tenure, native title, environment, project approvals, safety and major incidents, procurement and mining contracts.
- Glencore on its Australian and international coal mines, including Rio Tinto’s 82% interest in the Hail Creek coal mine and adjacent coal resources, as well as its 71.2% interest in the Valeria coal resource in central Queensland for a total cash consideration of US$1.7 billion.
- China Molybdenum Co. Ltd on its US$550 million gold and streaming transaction
- Shandong Gold Mining (HongKong) Co., Limited on an off-market takeover bid to acquire 100 per cent ownership of Cardinal Resources, an ASX/TSX dual listed gold exploration and development company
Industry recognition
- Ranked Band 1 Energy & Natural Resources - Chambers Asia-Pacific
- Ranked Tier 1 Natural Resources (Transactions & Regulatory) - Legal500 Asia Pacific
