Ali has practised for 24 years specialising in environment, natural resources and development law. She has extensive experience in the public and private sectors in these areas of law, joining HWL Ebsworth in 2025 after 5 years as Principal at Botten Levinson Lawyers and almost 20 years at the Crown Solicitors Office.
Whilst in government Ali advised and represented State government Departments, Ministers, Chief Executives, Boards and agencies across the public sector, including the EPA where she was in-house counsel for 3 years. Ali retains strong relationships with government staff and agencies.
Ali has extensive expertise in project approvals, licensing, land and environmental due diligence, and investigation, enforcement and compliance across all the firm’s environmental areas. She has a strong focus on environment and natural resource law and particularly on the recent developments in these areas in response to climate change and the increasing importance of social licence in project development. She advises and assists businesses on all aspects of environmental regulation and impact assessment.
Ali has particular expertise in water regulation, native vegetation clearance, biodiversity and environmental regulation across multiple industry sectors, including hydrogen and renewable energy generation projects. She undertakes work with the State’s new Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act.
Ali was recognised as a Leading Planning and Environment Lawyer in South Australia in Doyle’s Guide 2025.
Expertise
Experience
- A Mining company in advance exploration stage Advising on multiple land access negotiations with landowners (Crown leaseholders), renewable energy developers seeking to develop on the same land, and Native Title holders.
- Multiple Renewable Energy companies Advising on proposed project applications under the Hydrogen Renewable Energy Act’s crown land approval pathway advising on all aspects of the approval pathway including the State release area tender process, feasibility and generation licences and land access processes.
- A Mining Company Advising applied for EPBC Act approval, via experienced consultants. Extensive assessment was undertaken by consultants with the objective of achieving a finding that the project was not a controlled action for the purposes of the Act. Notwithstanding the extensive work to demonstrate minimal impacts, the Commonwealth indicated it was likely to determine the project to be a controlled action. We advised on the relevant provisions of the Act, and strategy to minimise or avoid a controlled action determination. This was ultimately successful.
- Developers and Mining companies Advising and assisting on the application of the Aboriginal Heritage Act to proposed projects and on actions to be taken following identified breaches of the Act.
- Numerous property development companies Advising on their requirements to obtain approval for the clearance of native vegetation, addressing the complex guidelines and assessment criteria and advising on the State’s new Biodiversity Act 2025.
- A private landowner Providing strategic advice to the client who had cleared native vegetation without consent and successfully obtaining retrospective consent for the clearance;
- A private water industry entity Advising on waste treatment plant land tenure and pipe and pump infrastructure land access and rights including preparing licences, agreements, easements and statutory authorisations.
- Conduct of SafeWork SA prosecution proceedings Advising both as prosecutor for the Regulator (SWSA) and in other matters defending charges laid by the Regulator (SWSA) under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012, including negotiating Enforceable Undertakings and withdrawal of charges.