BInSt LLB (UNSW)
Laura Melrose
Senior Solicitor
Expertise
Laura joined Terri Janke and Company in July 2021. She has expertise in cultural heritage and environmental law, commercial law, privacy and data, intellectual property, and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). She uses diverse knowledge to deliver creative legal, contract, and policy solutions that protect and celebrate First Nations culture. Laura specialises in contract drafting, policy development, and embedding ICIP and cultural heritage into ESG, investment, and corporate decision-making. Laura is a regular presenter of workshops about ICIP, implementing the Dhawura Ngilan Principles in business, bush foods, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty. She has also presented at the AIATSIS Summit on multiple occasions.
Photo by Stephen Wilson Barker
Experience
Laura was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in October 2020 after graduating with distinction from UNSW. Laura has undertaken impactful and tailored work for a variety of clients, including Aboriginal corporations, government agencies, local councils, museums and galleries, universities, and large Australian companies. Laura is also a writer and has published articles in a range of peer-reviewed journals and publications including the Alternative Law Journal, the Australian Environment Review, and the Human Rights Defender. She previously worked in native title in NSW, and as a human rights researcher.
Recent Projects
In Oct 2025, Laura delivered implementation training to businesses and investors about how to integrate cultural heritage considerations into commercial and investment decisions, for the Dhawura Ngilan Business and Investor Initiative.In 2023, Laura drafted the Dhawura Ngilan Guides for Businesses and Investors.
In June 2025, Laura co-presented a paper at the AIATSIS Summit in Garramilla (Darwin) about integrating ICIP into contracts and agreements based on Country, livestreamed and attended by approximately 200 attendees.
In 2025, Laura managed a project for CSIRO to implement the CSIRO ICIP Principles, including developing a Practical Guide for Research, Language Use Guidelines, and a suite of 7 bespoke contracts for managing ICIP.
In early 2025, Laura project managed the development of web content for Creative Workplaces, to support arts workers to protect culture and build strong collaborations.
Since 2023, Laura has been regularly engaged by the National Environmental Science Program to deliver specialist True Tracks® training workshops for researchers working with First Nations peoples and cultures.
Laura worked with Western Sydney University Creative, Library, and Archives to develop an ICIP Protocol for Collections, which was publicly launched in 2025.
In Nov 2023, Laura travelled to several Torres Strait Islands to consult with Traditional Owners for an ICIP Protocol for the Torres Strait Regional Authority Land and Sea Management Unit;
Author, Emerging trends in Australian climate change litigation: Bringing the heat, Alternative Law Journal (2022)
Co-author, Bushfires, climate change and Indigenous Ecological Knowledge: healing country through holistic environmental management, Australian Environment Review (2021)
Community
Laura volunteers as the Vice President of the NSW Chapter of Pride in Law, Australia’s national association for LGBTIQA+ legal professionals and students. She has worked with Pride in Law since 2023, seeing the NSW Chapter from launch through to over 200 members.
Laura is a digital nomad and has been living and working remotely while driving around Australia since 2024. She is currently spending most of her time on Wadandi Boodja, in southwest WA. When she’s not playing with contracts, you will most often find her outdoors: either SCUBA diving, freediving or mermaiding – yes, it’s a thing – surfing, hiking, or camping. And when she needs a breather, she swaps the wetsuit for a pencil and tackles a cryptic crossword in the sunshine.
