Norton Rose Fulbright have joined forces with Jaramer Legal, a firm formed last year to help fill the commercial law gap for Indigenous commercial lawyers.
Formed with Bevan Mailman, a Bidjara man and Brian Bero, a Meriam man, the firm sees Norton Rose provide administrative support and training to Jaramer and regularly seconds lawyers there.
“This is something as a law firm we can do really tangibly beyond statements of intent, and help redress some of the wrongs of the past,” Peter Cash, a Norton Rose partner and Jaramer director told AFR.
“There’s a growing number of Indigenous businesses, but the absence of Indigenous commercial lawyers to work with them is potentially going to be a real brake on that sector’s capacity to grow in the way we all hope for.”
Mr Mailman, said there was a special need for legal advice delivered through a “cultural lens” for indigenous businesses dealing with the government.
“We can understand the real interests of these communities and how these businesses come from the heart of the communities,” he said.
The demand for these services is strongest in contract procurement, with the government-funded Supply Nation program promoting the use of Indigenous suppliers, many of whom prefer to go through Indigenous lawyers.
