The Law Council of Australia is pleased to announce that the recipient of the 2023 Mahla Pearlman Australian Young Environmental Lawyer of the Year award is Phoebe Roberts.
Ms Roberts is a senior associate in MinterEllison's Climate Risk and Sustainability Governance team and is the Global Director of Implementation and Co-Lead of APAC at the international pro bono initiative, The Chancery Lane Project.
Law Council of Australia President, Mr Luke Murphy said Ms Roberts' award was confirmation of the importance of young lawyers being engaged in evolving areas of law and finding solutions to complex legal issues.
"Ms Roberts has applied her legal knowledge to advise clients on the complex interaction of commercial contracting and the achievement of net zero and broader sustainability objectives. She has also applied her skills to support various pro bono clients and non-government organisations in Australia and globally. Her significant contributions to community organisations such as Regen Melbourne and Plant for the Planet, in addition to her considerable involvement with The Chancery Lane Project to deliver global educational workshops to lawyers on contractual solutions to deliver net zero outcomes, are a tremendous example of the importance of volunteering in the legal profession," Mr Murphy said.
Chair of Australian Environment and Planning Law Group of the Law Council's Legal Practice Section, Ms Robyn Glindemann said this year's Award highlighted the increasing relevance to corporations of paying closer attention to the triple bottom line and the complex interaction of their operations with the environment.
"Ms Roberts has applied her skills as a construction lawyer to the rapidly changing development environment. Her expertise is now part of essential corporate legal advice. "It is fantastic to see young lawyers leading the way in these areas," Ms Glindemann said.
The Mahla Pearlman Award is named in honour of the former Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, and former President of the Law Council of Australia, the late honourable Mahla Pearlman AO.
The recipient is a young lawyer who has made a significant contribution to environmental law and to the legal and wider community. The award is conducted annually by the Australian Environment and Planning Law Group of the Law Council's Legal Practice Section.
