LLB/BA (JCU)
Louisiana Luke
Solicitor
Expertise
Louisiana Luke is a Solicitor at Terri Janke and Company, specialising in Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). She brings a deep respect for First Nations peoples and as an Indigenous Papua New Guinean woman, her own cultural background gives her a strong awareness of the importance of protecting cultural knowledge and helps her recognise where possible gaps in ICIP recognition and protection often arise.
Photo by Stephen Wilson Barker
She is skilled in drafting ICIP-inclusive agreements that are cohesive, clear, and user-friendly for both First Nations and non-Indigenous clients. Louisiana develops ICIP protocols both for organisational use and project specific, she has experience tailoring internal and forward-facing policies for organisations from large institutions to community-based projects and creates practical resources and toolkits that support respectful and informed engagement with First Nations peoples. She is particularly adept at answering the “why” behind ICIP and translating that into actionable, client-focused solutions that promote meaningful and sustainable change.
With strengths in legal research, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving, Louisiana supports clients to embed ICIP rights into their core work, policies, and relationships. Her approach is holistic, empathetic, and grounded in real-world outcomes.
Experience
Louisiana was admitted in NSW as a lawyer in 2024, she has completed a Bachelor of Laws at James Cook University in Cairns. While finalising her legal studies and before entering the legal profession, she worked for three years in social work with First Nations communities in Cairns and the surrounding hinterlands. In this role, she built strong, culturally informed relationships with young people from high-trauma backgrounds and supported families in reconnecting and healing.
At Terri Janke and Company, Louisiana works across a broad range of ICIP-focused legal and advisory matters. She is experienced in managing client relationships, delivering workshops, and supporting organisational change through thoughtful legal tools and policy strategies. Louisiana values transparency and collaboration in her work. She ensures clients are brought along as matters progress, offering support that is both legally sound and empathetic, grounded in mutual respect.
Community
Louisiana is a proud Southern Highlander from Papua New Guinea. With close friends in the arts, she often supports and attends their exhibitions. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time exploring with her Fintelmann, family and friends.
