Australian specialist litigation law firm Phi Finney McDonald often reinvests the proceeds of its commercial practice into public interest cases, enabling it to pursue environmental-related litigation that would typically be reserved for the non-profit and pro bono sectors.

The firm is currently acting in a landmark climate change class action against the Commonwealth of Australia on behalf of all Torres Strait Islanders. The applicants allege that the Commonwealth owes a duty of care to the Islanders to take reasonable steps to protect them, their culture, and their environment from harms caused by climate change.

Another ongoing matter is the firm’s work advising Djab Wurrung traditional owner Marjorie Thorpe in her action against State of Victoria entities to stop the destruction of land and trees which have cultural meaning to Aboriginal Australians. The firm has so far obtained an injunction to ensure the sacred Djab Wurrung birthing trees’ protection, and the state has agreed to revisit the relevant cultural heritage plan.

Key individuals in the team include Brett Spiegel and Cassandra Evans, who both played a key role advising on the aforementioned cases. The firm has also shown sustainable practices on an internal level by operating a paperless office and introducing an initiative banning single use plastics and take-away coffee cups, among other policies.