Mal Skipworth

Mal Skipworth is a distinguished Partner based in Cairns, with a legal career spanning over four decades. Since the early 1980s, Mal has provided insightful legal advice to local governments and operators in the transport and electricity sectors. His practice encompasses significant areas such as government and public law, property law, competition law, and commercial law. With a keen focus on local councils, Mal addresses a wide array of matters, from rating and roads to tendering and procurement, leasing, and the intricacies of property development approvals. His role as a frequent presenter at local government industry conferences underscores his commitment to advocating for strategies that safeguard the interests of his clients and their communities. Mal is adept at crafting legal solutions that respect cultural sensitivities. In the realm of infrastructure, Mal represents both public and private sector clients, including owners and operators of seaports, airports, and electricity assets. His extensive experience covers critical aspects such as land tenure, leasing, and commercial agreements. He is well-versed in compulsory land acquisition, including navigating compensation negotiations and Land Court claims. Mal's portfolio of major projects includes advising the Cairns Port Authority on seminal ventures like the Cairns Airport acquisition and Greenbank land procurement. He has also been instrumental in land tenure planning for Cairns Cityport, the land acquisition initiatives for the Cassowary Coast Regional Council's new reservoir, the Cairns Regional Council's administrative infrastructure, and the Cloncurry Shire Council's heavy vehicle bypass project.