Lachlan Spargo-Peattie

Year and Place of First Admission

2015 Northern Territory

Qualifications

BEc / LLB (1st Class Honours), Australian National University, 2014

LLM (Public and International Law) (1st Class Honours), University of Melbourne, 2026

Areas of Practice

Constitutional law, administrative law, native title and land rights, human rights, defamation, resources and environment, planning and inquiries, appeals (including criminal appeals)

Career

Lachlan practises in public law and adjacent areas.  He regularly appears in the High Court of Australia, the Federal Court, and the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory, principally in constitutional law, administrative law, human rights and native title matters.  He has appeared in the High Court approximately 30 times, on several occasions unled. 

Prior to commencing at the private bar, Lachlan was Crown Counsel for the Northern Territory, having held that position since 2020.  He came to the Territory in 2015 as the Associate to Justice Stephen Southwood and commenced practice at the Solicitor for the Northern Territory in 2016, working in native title and general civil litigation.  He joined the Solicitor-General’s Chambers in 2018 and has practised as counsel since that time.  

Lachlan has lectured in administrative and constitutional law and is the convenor of the Northern Territory Chapter of the Australian Association of Constitution Law.  In his spare time, he is on the boards of the Darwin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and Tracks Dance Company, is a violinist in the DSO and is a failing gardener in Darwin’s northern suburbs. 

He joined William Forster Chambers in 2026. 

Select cases in which Lachlan has appeared as counsel are as follows:

High Court of Australia

  1. Mpwerempwer Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing [reserved] (led by the Solicitor-General and C Jacobi KC)
  2. New South Wales v Wojciechowska (2025) 99 ALJR 1125 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  3. Cherry v Queensland (2025) 99 ALJR 782 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  4. Commonwealth v Yunupingu (2025) 99 ALJR 519 (led by the Solicitor-General and S Wright SC)
  5. KMD v Chief Executive Officer (Department of Health) (2025) 99 ALJR 474 (led by S Free SC)
  6. Pearson v Commonwealth; JZQQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs; Tapiki v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs (2024) 99 ALJR 110 (unled)
  7. KMD v Chief Executive Officer (Department of Health) [2024] HCASJ 40 (led by S Free SC)
  8. Chief Executive Officer, Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority v Director of National Parks (2024) 98 ALJR 655 (led by J Gleeson SC and S Hartford-Davis)
  9. Harvey v Minister for Primary Industry and Resources (2024) 278 CLR 116 (led by S Lloyd SC)
  10. Vanderstock v Victoria (2023) 279 CLR 333 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  11. Vunilagi v The Queen (2023) 279 CLR 259 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  12. Palmer v Western Australia (2021) 274 CLR 286 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  13. Mineralogy Pty Ltd v Western Australia (2021) 274 CLR 219 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  14. Palmer v Western Australia (2021) 272 CLR 505 (with T Moses)
  15. Gerner v Victoria (2020) 270 CLR 412 (unled)
  16. Northern Land Council & Anor v Quall & Anor (2020) 271 CLR 394 (led by N Kidson QC) 
  17. Northern Territory of Australia v Sangare (2019) 265 CLR 164 (led by the Solicitor-General)

    Special Leave and Constitutional Removal

  18. KMD v Chief Executive Officer (Department of Health NT) [2024] HCASL 271 (led by S Free SC)
  19. Sherrington v Independent Commissioner Against Corruption & Ors [2024] HCASL 52 (led by S Free SC)
  20. Commonwealth v Yunupingu [2023] HCATrans 143 (led by S Wright SC)
  21. DWD Project Pty Ltd (ACN 601 276 108) & Anor v Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority [2023] HCASL 137 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  22. Bara v Blackwell [2023] HCATrans 104 (led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and James Renwick SC)
  23. Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority v Director of National Parks [2023] HCATrans 68 (led by J Gleeson SC)
  24. Harvey v Minister for Primary Industry and Resources [2022] HCATrans 229 (led by S Lloyd SC)
  25. Parklands Darwin Pty Ltd v Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics [2022] HCATrans 55(led by the Solicitor-General)
  26. Northern Land Council & Anor v Quall & Anor [2019] HCASL (unled)
  27. Northern Territory of Australia v Sangare [2018] HCASL (led by the Solicitor-General)
  28. Kerinaiua v The Queen [2018] HCASL 224 (led by the Solicitor-General)

    Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia

  29. Yunupingu obo Gumatj Clan v Commonwealth (2023) 298 FCR 160 (led by S Wright SC)
  30. Australia Bay Seafoods Pty Ltd v Northern Territory of Australia (2022) 295 FCR 443 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  31. Harvey v Minister for Primary Industry and Resources (2022) 291 FCR 263 (led by S Lloyd SC)
  32. Northern Land Council v Quall (2020) 268 FCR 228 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  33. Ellis v Central Land Council (2019) 267 FCR 339 (with R Levy)

    Court of Appeal of the Northern Territory and Full Court

  34. Reynolds v Chief Health Officer [2025] NTCA 2 (unled)
  35. Badari & Ors v Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing & Anor; Badari & Ors v Minister for Housing and Homelands & Anor; Nadjamerrek v Chief Executive Officer (Housing) [2025] NTCA 1 (led by B Doyle KC)
  36. Reynolds v Chief Health Officer [2024] NTCA 2 (unled)
  37. Sherrington v Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (NT) (No. 2) [2023] NTCA 11 (led by S Free SC)
  38. Sherrington v Fleming [2023] NTCA 1 (led by S Free SC)
  39. Bara v Blackwell (2022) 374 FLR 150 (led by J Renwick SC)
  40. Parklands Darwin Pty Ltd v Minister for Infrastructure Planning and Logistics [2021] NTSFC 4 (unled)
  41. Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority v Director of National Parks [2022] NTSCFC 1 (led by R Webb QC and S Hartford-Davis)
  42. Parklands Darwin Pty Ltd v Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics [2021] NTSCFC 4 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  43. Booth v An Assessor [2020] NTCA 5 (unled)
  44. NB v SB [2020] NTCA 2 (unled) – care and protection

    Federal Court of Australia

  45. Davey v Northern Territory of Australia (McArthur River Compensation Claim) (No. 5) [2026] FCA 153 (led by D O’Leary SC, with S Bryson)
  46. Top End (Default PBC/CLA) Aboriginal Corporation & Ors v Northern Territory of Australia [2025] FCA 22 (led by S Lloyd SC)
  47. Top End Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC v Northern Territory of Australia (2022) 403 ALR 666 (led by G Del Villar KC)
  48. Quall v Registrar of Native Title [2021] FCA 865 (unled)
  49. Australia Bay Seafoods Pty Ltd v Northern Territory of Australia (2021) 389 ALR 486 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  50. Cumaiyi v Northern Territory of Australia (No. 2) [2020] FCA 1804 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  51. Cumaiyi v Northern Territory of Australia [2020] FCA 1299 (led by N Christrup SC)
  52. Friday v Minister for Primary Industry and Resources [2020] FCA 984 (led by S Lloyd SC)
  53. Fulton v Northern Territory of Australia [2019] FCA 2156 (unled)

    Supreme Court of the Northern Territory

  54. Sherrington v Independent Commissioner Against Corruption [2026] NTSC 25 (led by B Lim SC)
  55. Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust Incorporated v Attorney-General of the Northern Territory (No. 3) [2025] NTSC 87 (leading A Shackell)
  56. Sherrington v Independent Commissioner Against Corruption [2025] NTSC 27 (unled)
  57. Director, Crimes Victims Services Unit v TT [2025] NTSC 26 (leading M Moloney)
  58. Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust Incorporated v Attorney-General of the Northern Territory (No. 2) [2024] NTSC 87 (unled)
  59. Groote Eylandt Aboriginal Trust Incorporated v Attorney-General of the Northern Territory [2024] NTSC 83 (unled)
  60. Central Australian Frack Free Alliance Inc v Minister for Environment & Anor [2024] NTSC 75 (unled)
  61. Sherrington v Fleming & Anor [2024] NTSC 18 (unled)
  62. The King v Hicks [2024] NTSC 16 (led by I Read SC)
  63. Sterry v Commissioner of Police [2023] NTSC 55 (unled)
  64. Badari & Ors v Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing & Anor [2022] NTSC 83 (unled)
  65. Sherrington v Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (NT) (2022) 372 FLR 13 (led by S Free SC)
  66. Phillips v Chief Health Officer (No. 2) [2022] NTSC 72 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  67. Lottoland (Australia) Pty Ltd v Minister for Racing, Gaming and Licensing (2022) 371 FLR 152 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  68. Moriarty v Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (NT) (2022) 368 FLR 268 (led by B Doyle QC)
  69. Adjrun v Chief Executive Officer (Housing) [2022] NTSC 42 (unled)
  70. Phillips & Ors v Chief Health Officers & Anor [2022] NTSC 29 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  71. Phillips & Ors v Chief Health Officers & Anor [2021] NTSC 97 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  72. Jack v Chief Executive Officer (Housing) (No. 2) [2021] NTSC 81 (unled)
  73. Director, Crimes Victims Services Unit v Rezazadeh [2021] NTSC 71 (unled)
  74. Brackenreg v Northern Territory of Australia [2021] NTSC 17 (unled)
  75. Wurramarra v An Assessor under s24 of the Victims of Crime Act (2020) 353 FLR 200 (unled)
  76. On v Attorney-General for the Northern Territory [2019] NTSC 93(led by S Henry SC)
  77. Booth v An Assessor & Anor [2019] NTSC 89 (unled)
  78. Kalhemera Pty Ltd v Planning for People Inc [2019] NTSC 85 (with F Mulvey)
  79. Environment Centre Northern Territory Inc v Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority; Environment Centre Northern Territory Inc v Pastoral Land Board (2019) 348 FLR 194 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  80. NB v SB [2019] NTSC 61 (unled)
  81. BB Retail Capital Pty Ltd v Origin Energy B2 Pty Ltd [2019] NTSC 64 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  82. Registrar of the Supreme Court v Jenkins [2019] NTSC 51 (with R Brebner)
  83. McGregor v Jenkins [2018] NTSC 84 (unled)
  84. Kerinaiua v Andreas Andreou [2018] NTSC 87 (unled)
  85. Northern Territory of Australia v Shannon [2018] NTSC 88 (led by the Solicitor-General)
  86. Mamouzellos v Electoral Commissioner [2018] NTSC 57 (unled)
  87. Lavery v Anti-Discrimination Commissioner and Northern Territory of Australia (2018) 341 FLR 115 (unled)

    Local Court of the Northern Territory

  88. Inquests into the deaths of Karen Bading, Ms Dick and David Hardy [2025] NTLC 015 (unled)
  89. Frost v Commissioner of Territory Revenue [2023] TARAT 1 (unled)
  90. Thomas v Keatch [2021] NTLC 14 (unled)
  91. Rombola Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [2019] NTLC 19 (unled)
  92. Director of Building Control v Penny Whinney-Houghton [2019] NTLC 6 (unled)
  93. Peter Skeen v Northern Territory of Australia [2018] NTLC 8 (unled)

    Tribunals

  94. Environment Centre Northern Territory v Tamboran B2 Pty Ltd; Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water Security [2024] NTCAT 19 (leading M Moloney)
  95. Badari, Galaminda, Nadjamerrek, Tilmouth v Chief Executive Officer (Housing) [2023] NTCAT 6 (unled)
  96. Rajwin v Electoral Commissioner [2021] NTCAT 42 (unled)
  97. Cocking v Electoral Commissioner (No. 2) [2021] NTCAT 41 (unled)
  98. Electoral Commissioner v Parry & Wilson [2021] NTCAT 33 (unled)
  99. Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics v Alice Springs Town Council [2021] NTCAT 27 (led by M Foley SC)
  100. Clubs NT v Jumian Pty Ltd & Ors [2021] NTCAT 11 (unled)
  101. Re EH [2020] NTCAT 17 (unled)
  102. Nelson v Northern Territory of Australia (No. 3) [2020] NTCAT 3 (unled)
  103. Woolworths Group Ltd v Northern Territory Liquor Commission & Ors (Dan Murphy’s)[2019] NTCAT 37 (unled)
  104. DE v Information Commissioner [2019] NTCAT 34 (unled)
  105. Nelson v Northern Territory of Australia [2019] NTCAT 30 (unled)
  106. Pringle and Pringle v GMIT Pty Ltd [2019] NTCAT 20 (unled)
  107. Sultan v Gap View Holdings Pty Ltd [2019] NTCAT 23(unled)
  108. Director of Building Control v Whinney-Houghton (Building Practitioners Board, Professional Misconduct) (unled)
  109. Director of Building Control v Whinney-Houghton (Building Practitioners Board, Penalty) (unled)

Contact Details

Lachlan Spargo-Peattie
William Forster Chambers
26 Harry Chan Avenue
Darwin NT 0800

PO Box 4369
DARWIN NT 0801

Tel: (08) 8982 4700
Email: lspargo-peattie@williamforster.com

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