Mining Law 2020: Herbert Smith Freehills Helps Clients Navigate the Legal Challenges of Doing Business in the Mining Sector

The mining industry is growing, changing and becoming more sophisticated, while at the same time facing increased regulation.  Herbert Smith Freehills has contributed to Mining Law 2020 in a bid to help you navigate the ever-changing and complex legal landscape.

Herbert Smith Freehills Partners Greg Mulley and Jay Leary have contributed a chapter 'Current Global Trends and Developments in Mining', which explains the challenges and opportunities in the changing legal landscape. The chapter covers topics such as:

• The use of new technologies and processes to help improve productivity while also minimising the footprint of mining;
• The increased risk of mass claims (particularly in respect of environmental and human rights matters) being brought in England against parent companies and their subsidiaries;
• Resource nationalism;
• Tackling climate change disclosures;
• and the trend towards the globalisation of the mining industry.

The firm has also contributed three separate regional Q&As including: Australia, written by Partner Jay Leary and Senior Associate Geoff Kerrigan; South Africa, written by Partner Peter Leon and Directors Patrick Leyden and Matthew Burnell; and the UK, written by Partner Greg Mulley, Senior Associates Julie Vaughan and Yulia Zaytseva.

Commenting on the publication, Greg said: "Understanding and engaging appropriately with the various stakeholders continues to be a key factor in mining companies maintaining their licence to operate and in navigating the various challenges. This guide sets out those key challenges and how clients might best handle them."

Jay added: "Mining companies, along with others in the extractive industry, continue to be expected to go significantly beyond simply providing market shareholder returns. They are under ever increasing pressure to redefine the industry as sustainable and responsible and engage on these issues with a broader group of stakeholders. This guide sets out just what those challenges are and where the opportunities lay for businesses."

For more information on the publication, please click here.