Claire Robertson

• Advising the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste in relation to ongoing negotiations with the Republic of Indonesia on its unresolved land and maritime boundaries.
• Advising the government of a Pacific Island nation in relation to ongoing negotiations with a neighbouring State on matters relating to sovereignty and shared maritime boundaries.
• Represented the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Government of Solomon Islands, Government of the Kingdom of Tonga and Government of the Republic of Zambia in separate submissions before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the advisory opinion requested by the United Nations General Assembly concerning the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change. The advisory opinion considers States’ obligations under international law to protect the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, including the legal consequences for breach of those obligations. The ICJ advisory opinion had the largest participation of States and international organisations in history and confirmed that States have legally binding obligations under international law to protect the climate system from greenhouse gas emissions, including duties under climate treaties, and can be held responsible when they fail to exercise due diligence in regulating emissions, including from private actors/corporations under their jurisdiction.
• Represented the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in the advisory opinion requested by the Commission of Small Island States regarding the obligations of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to protect and preserve the marine environment in the context of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. The landmark decision confirmed that parties to UNCLOS are obliged to take measures to combat marine pollution caused by climate change.
• Acted for a defence contractor on a dispute arising from the termination of a multi-billion-dollar procurement contract in Australia.
• Advised a South East Asian nation on the development of its aviation sector, including considering contingency aviation services, negotiating a strategic partnership, wet lease, capacity-building agreement, and underwriting agreement with a South East Asian airline to improve international connectivity, and advising on the upgrade of the international airport including the upgrade, and extension of the runway and terminal facilities in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

• Presenter at the International Law Association’s seminar on Unpacking the Climate Change Advisory Opinions | November 2024
• Trainer for the Sustainable Markets Initiative Climate Training for Government Officials on the following topics:
  – The Climate COP – fundamentals: International climate negotiations – an introduction | April 2024
  – Introduction to blue finance | May 2024
  – Introduction to the climate change advisory opinions | August 2024
• Guest lecturer at the University of Queensland’s undergraduate public international law course, Monash University’s climate justice clinic, and the University of Sydney’s international law masters program on the climate change advisory opinions before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Court of Justice | 2023 to present
  
• Panellist at Australian Arbitration Week in 2023 on DLA Piper’s panel event, Navigating Rough Seas: Insights into arbitration trends and issues relating to offshore petroleum, shipping, decommissioning, and blue bonds in Australia | October 2023
• Panellist on a webinar for the Blue Pacific Pro Bono Collaborative, Volunteer lawyers, climate change and the Pacific Region’s first UNESCO Global Geopark | October 2023

Claire was Local Pro Bono Coordinator for DLA Piper's Brisbane office for several years where she led a successful initiative to achieve 100% office participation in pro bono legal support. It is the first time one of DLA Piper’s Australian offices has achieved this result, and only the second time globally.

Claire was also Chair of the ZONE Committee for DLA Piper's Brisbane office. ZONE is DLA Piper’s peer-to-peer networking program for non-partner fee earners to encourage junior lawyers to develop their networking skills. Claire re-launched the ZONE committee following a COVID-19 hiatus.