Staff
Hema Hariharan, Managing Practitioner Director, has worked as a lawyer for over 16 years in New South Wales and Western Australia. Previously the Manager of the Strategic Development Unit at NTSCORP, Sydney, Hema worked with a multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, tenure specialists and researchers to deliver social and economic benefits to the Aboriginal people. At the forefront of Hema’s approach is an emphasis on collaborating with native title holders and other Aboriginal groups to achieve their social, cultural and economic aspirations. Hema has been recognised by 2021 Doyle’s Guide of Leading Australia Native Title Lawyers in Traditional Ownership representation.
John Edwards is an experienced lawyer with over 20 years experience including 8 years as legal manager for an ASX Top 50 mining company. He has worked on mine development project teams, native title negotiations, land access and commercial and corporate issues.
Hayley Haas, Director of Arma Legal, is an experienced legal practitioner whose areas of practice include complex commercial dispute resolution and human rights advocacy. In her time working with Arma Legal, Hayley has run successful Full Federal Court litigation, setting a new precedent for the protection of native title parties’ rights under the Native Title Act 1993. Hayley has also negotiated high benchmarks in cultural heritage protection and achieved strong commercial outcomes for native title parties faced with resource development in the Kimberley.
Damien Parriman is the Chief Executive Officer of KRED Enterprises and Arma Legal. Damien is a proud Yawuru and Jabirr Jabirr man from the Kimberley in Western Australia. Damien has worked in Native Title for more than 19 years and has managed various Aboriginal corporations and organisations in the Kimberley. Damien is concurrently the CEO of Aarnja Ltd, a Kimberley Regional Body with a focus on collaboration and empowerment of Kimberley Aboriginal People.
Merrilee Williams is a non-practicing director of Arma Legal. She is also COO for KRED Enterprises. Merrilee is a Kimberley Aboriginal woman of Bardi and Yawuru descent, born and raised in Broome. Merrilee has had over 20 years’ experience working with Aboriginal Corporations, across the Kimberley region.
Grace Manning-Davis is an Associate Lawyer who has been practising in native title since 2015. Grace has previously worked in New South Wales and Queensland for Native Title Service Providers as well as for Government. Based out of Queensland, Grace has experience in native title determination applications, future act matters, cultural heritage matters and corporate governance.
Sarah Bartrim is an Associate Lawyer with over three years’ experience working in native title in New South Wales. Sarah has previously worked as a solicitor in criminal and family law and in environmental consulting across New South Wales and Queensland. She has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Queensland and has been completing her Master of Laws from the University of Sydney part-time. Sarah has experience in the running of native title determination applications, the negotiation of Indigenous Land Use Agreements and s 47C Agreements, Federal Court litigation, and water policy.
ADVISOR TO THE BOARD
Laurie Shervington is a respected and highly experienced corporate lawyer who has now retired from practice after fifty years involvement in the law and business. His corporate expertise included capital
raising, reconstruction, mergers and acquisitions, director’s duties, corporate governance, due
diligence, risk management and ASIC licensing and investigations.