Matthew Roberts

Matthew Roberts

Partner
About

Matthew Roberts is a partner in DLA Piper's Energy and Natural Resources practice, where he leads complex mandates across the mining sector. He is recognised for his ability to guide clients through the full life cycle of major projects – from securing tenure and navigating regulatory frameworks, to structuring commercial arrangements that optimise risk allocation and protect long-term value.

Matt provides strategic counsel to major and mid-cap mining companies, debt and equity funders, and sovereign governments. His practice spans the negotiation of joint ventures, farm-in arrangements, land access and compensation agreements, tenement and share acquisitions, mining subleases, split commodity agreements, and royalty arrangements. He brings a commercially rigorous approach to each engagement, helping clients design project structures that balance competing stakeholder interests including those of government agencies, regulators, native title parties, and other land users. Matt also advises on mergers and acquisitions, project finance, and asset-level due diligence in the mining and energy sectors.

He has extensive international experience advising on the development of mining projects across Africa, Latin America, and Canada, and is recognised for his ability to navigate the distinct legal, political, and stakeholder complexities that characterise cross-border resource projects, and is in a select group of practitioners globally who are engaged by sovereign governments to draft national mining legislation and regulatory frameworks.

Professional QualificationsBarrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western AustraliaSolicitor of the High Court of Australia

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising Saracen Mineral Holdings Limited on the acquisition of Barrick Gold Corporation's 50% participating interest in the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Joint Venture, the owner of the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, and its subsequent AUD16bn merger with Northern Star Resources Limited.
  • Advising the Federal Government of Somalia, via the African Legal Support Facility, supporting the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in relation to legislative reform and the preparation of a new Mining Bill and Mining Regulations.
  • Advising Sprott Resource Lending Corp. (Canada), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprott Inc. (Ontario), on a USD135m mezzanine convertible debt facility and USD15m equity investment to Metals Acquisition Corp. as part of the USD1,150m acquisition of the CSA Copper Mine in Cobar, New South Wales.
  • Advising the Government of the Republic of Afghanistan, via the G7 CONNEX Initiative, in relation to legislative reform and the amendment of the Minerals Law and Minerals Regulation, and the award of various mining concessions.
  • Advising Leichhardt Industrials Group Pty Ltd on its acquisition of the Lake MacLeod salt and gypsum operations from Dampier Salt Limited, and on the development of the Eramurra Solar Salt Project, including procuring the grant of mining tenure and advising on tenure and approvals.
  • Advising Genesis Minerals Limited on regulatory and land access matters in connection with the development of the Leonora Gold Project, including procuring the grant of mining tenure and negotiating land access arrangements with key stakeholders.
  • Advising Regis Resources Limited on land access and mining tenure matters across its Western Australian operations, including access arrangements, pastoral compensation agreements, tenure acquisition, and joint venture agreements.
  • Acting for participants in the Australian Premium Iron Joint Venture in relation to the development of the West Pilbara Iron Ore Project, including third party access arrangements, stakeholder management, and proceedings before the Mining Warden.
  • Advising Piper Preston on the development of the Lake Way Sulphate of Potash Project, including the negotiation and execution of split commodity agreements, tenement acquisition agreements, access agreements, and associated corporate restructuring.
Languages
  • English

Awards

Best Lawyers (Australia) - Ones to Watch

  • Mining Law (2025 - 2027 ed)
  • Natural Resources Law (2027)

Legal 500

  • Recommended, Natural Resources (transactions & regulatory), Legal 500 Asia Pacific (Australia), 2026
Education
  • University of Western Australia, Bachelor of Laws (LLB), 2013
  • University of Western Australia, Corporate Finance and Financial Accounting, Bachelor of Commerce (LLB), 2013

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Law Society of Western Australia
  • Association of Mining and Energy Companies – Committee member of WA Mining Legislation Committee