Meet the Team
Paul Sheiner
Principal
Professional Background
Paul has over 20 years of experience in Native Title law and commercial litigation and dispute resolution. He is passionate about getting the best possible outcomes for his clients and is recognised as a leading practitioner in the area of Native Title.
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Legal adviser to Native Title holding and claim groups in the negotiation of numerous Native Title agreements, heritage agreements and Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUAs).
Acted for the Tjurabalan People in consent determination of Native Title in 2001.
Acted for Martidja Banjima and Banjima People since 2005 in their Native Title claim which has resulted in a successful determination of Native Title in the Central Pilbara made in 2012.
Acting in complex Supreme Court litigation relating to enforcement of a Native Title agreements and trust compliance.
Legal adviser to Banjima People in relation to comprehensive claim wide agreements with Rio Tinto Iron Ore and BHP Billiton Iron Ore in relation to the Yandi, Hope Downs and Area C mines in the Central Pilbara.
Solicitor and counsel for Kerry and Diana Robinson in successful and landmark Supreme Court case about the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA).
Solicitor and counsel in successful judicial review case in the Federal Court for pharmacists challenging decisions of Australian Community Pharmacy Authority.
Advising large corporations on heritage and Native Title matters relating to mining, tourism and gas developments.
Acting for corporate clients in relation to commercial and employment related disputes in the Supreme and Federal Courts.
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Acting solicitor for the liquidator in Geneva Finance collapse litigation. After the Bell Group litigation, these were the longest and most complicated insolvency recovery actions that arose out of the corporate collapses of the 1980’s in Western Australia. Andrew was the solicitor responsible for the litigation for over ten years and obtained a successful settlement in the principal litigation in 2009.
Acting as an external advisor to the liquidator in the Bell Group litigation.
Acting in relation to:
wide representation of various insolvency practitioners across Perth;
Great Southern Finance litigation (auditor action);
Bond family litigation (representing Personal Insolvency Trustee);
various litigation and disputation for high net worth individuals;
Bass Strait pipeline joint venture disputation;
major Federal Court of Australia class action proceedings; and
numerous insolvency related court proceedings.
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Bachelor of Arts (BA), UNSW Australia
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), UNSW Australia
Masters of Laws (LLM), University of Western Australia
Member of The Law Society of Western Australia
Member of AMPLA – The Resources & Energy Law Association
Andrew Mason
Principal
Professional Background
Andrew has over 20 years’ experience in commercial litigation and insolvency. He carefully balances the commercial needs of his clients with a practical application of the law to deliver the best possible outcome.
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Andrew was admitted into practice in 1990. Through Andrew’s insolvency and litigation exposure he has gained extensive knowledge and appreciation of corporate governance and management issues. Andrew always seeks to provide practical and commercial solutions to complex litigation problems. Andrew’s practice is principally in the superior courts but extends to work in various tribunals (now generally consolidated under the State Administrative Tribunal). He has particular expertise with Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) issues and any form of contractual based claims.
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Acting solicitor for the liquidator in Geneva Finance collapse litigation. After the Bell Group litigation, these were the longest and most complicated insolvency recovery actions that arose out of the corporate collapses of the 1980’s in Western Australia. Andrew was the solicitor responsible for the litigation for over ten years and obtained a successful settlement in the principal litigation in 2009.
Acting as an external advisor to the liquidator in the Bell Group litigation.
Acting in relation to:
wide representation of various insolvency practitioners across Perth;
Great Southern Finance litigation (auditor action);
Bond family litigation (representing Personal Insolvency Trustee);
various litigation and disputation for high net worth individuals;
Bass Strait pipeline joint venture disputation;
major Federal Court of Australia class action proceedings; and
numerous insolvency related court proceedings.
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Insolvency / restructuring and turnaround
Dispute resolution and litigation
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Bachelor of Jurisprudence (B.Juris), Law, University of Western Australia
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Western Australia
Member of The Law Society of Western Australia
Member of RINWA (Restructuring & Insolvency Network WA)
Kelsi Forrest
Principal
Professional Background
Kelsi is a Wadjuk, Barladong Mineng Nyungar and joined Biyara Legal (then Roe Legal Services) in April 2016. Kelsi was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in December 2017 and the High Court of Australia in March 2018.
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Kelsi works in our Indigenous Law Team on native title and heritage matters as well as advice and representation for native title prescribed body corporates.
Kelsi graduated from the University of Western Australia in March 2017 with Law and Arts degrees, majoring in Politics and Indigenous Knowledge. Kelsi is also casual academic at Curtin University Law School tutoring in the Bachelor of Laws core unit Indigenous Peoples, Law & Justice.
In 2019 Kelsi was awarded Lawyer of the Year (less than 5 years experience) by the Law Society of Western Australia and Young Lawyer of the Year by the Women Lawyers Association of WA. In 2018 Kelsi was awarded Young Lawyer of the Year by the Piddington Society.
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Kelsi has worked on a number of native title and heritage matters including:
Future Act management;
Agreement management and compliance (including Indigenous Land Use Agreements); and
National Native Title Tribunal proceedings and determinations; and ORIC and PBC compliance including membership disputes;
Instructing solicitor in a number of Federal Court native title proceedings, including separate question procedings and as one of instructing solicitors in the Darlot native title determination in the goldfields of Western Australia: Harrington-Smith on behalf of the Darlot Native Title Claim Group v State of Western Australia (No 2) [2022] FCA 764.
Advising prescribed body corporates (PBCs), Aboriginal Corporations and Indigenous Trusts providing advice and representation in relation to:
The Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth),
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (Cth);
the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA);
company secretariat functions;
ILUA and future act agreement reviews;
Trustee service agreements; and
governance and self-determination issues.
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Native title and heritage
Native title prescribed body corporates
Indigenous Trusts and Corporations
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Bachelor of Laws, University of Western Australia
Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Indigenous Knowledge), University of Western Australia
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, College of Law
Legal Practice Management Course, College of Law
Member of the Law Society of Western Australia
Contact and Social Information:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsiforrest/
Email: kforrest@biyaralegal.au
Ian Compton
Special Counsel
Professional Background
Ian has over 30 years’ experience in commercial property legal services and related areas. He endeavours to provide consistent, pragmatic and practical commercial legal advice to all clients.
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Ian was admitted into practice in 1996 followed by extensive experience in a wide range of commercial property areas with a number of national firms in senior positions and a boutique property law firm. In late 2016 Ian joined Biyara Legal (then Roe Legal Services).
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Ian has acted for a broad range of clients including ASX listed property companies, institutional clients, government, mortgagees, developers, landlords and tenants.
Acted for various owners and managers of major retail shopping centres in relation to ownership, development and major tenant leasing.
Acted for a major national retailer in the restructure of its leased property portfolio.
Acted for various commercial banks in relation to leasing requirements and sale and leaseback arrangements.
Acted for State Government in relation to leasing requirements.
Acted and advised various Churches in relation to property law requirements.
Acted for various telecommunications organisations in relation to leasing requirements and transfer of property assets.
Acted for various overseas clients in the sale and purchase of businesses and land.
Acted as part of a team in relation to property aspects of large scale commercial transactions.
Acted on major projects including the acquisition and disposal of CBD office buildings, regional shopping centres and hotels.
Advised and acted on large scale due diligence, property development and joint ventures.
Assisted Aboriginal corporations in the acquisition of businesses and land.
Assisted and advised in relation to subdivision, estate development planning, restrictive covenants and building conditions, and sale of multi-lot subdivisions.
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Complex and specialist leasing (including retail, office, industrial and telecommunications)
Acquisition, development and sale of property
Contracts review and advice
Drafting commercial documents
General commercial matters
Property settlements
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Bachelor of Business (B.Bus), Edith Cowan University, Western Australia
Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Murdoch University, Western Australia
Member of The Law Society of Western Australia
Contact Information:
Ian’s email: icompton@biyaralegal.au
Raquel Woodcock
Senior Associate
Professional Background
Raquel joined Biyara Legal (then Roe Legal Services) in 2023. Raquel practices in the area of litigation, dispute resolution, native title and cultural heritage, Mining Warden’s Court, and land access. Raquel has advised for a variety of corporations, small businesses and individuals located throughout Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
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Raquel has experience in providing legal advice and conducting litigation across a range of areas, including native title, land claims, contractual disputes, corporate governance, criminal law, trusts and succession.
Raquel was admitted into practice in 2017 after graduating from Murdoch University, completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science & International Relations (undergraduate) in 2012 and a Juris Doctor (post-graduate law degree) in 2015.
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Litigation
Dispute resolution
Native title and cultural heritage
Land access agreements
Corporate Governance
Mining Warden’s Court
Administrative Review Decisions
Appeals
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Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and International Relations), Murdoch University
Juris Doctor (post-graduate law degree), Murdoch University
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law
Member of the Law Society of Western Australia
Contact information:
Email: rwoodcock@biyaralegal.au
Nikolas Patterson
Lawyer
Professional Background
Nik joined Biyara Legal (formerly Roe Legal Services) in 2024 and works across both the commercial insolvency and native title teams. A keen litigator, he is equally passionate about alternative dispute resolution and brings a balanced, solutions focused approach to his matters.
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Nik was admitted to practice in Western Australia in February 2024 and to the High Court of Australia in December 2024. Before joining the firm, he worked in a specialist insurance and litigation practice, following a career transition from Perth’s live music, arts and entertainment sector. His diverse professional background gives him a distinctive perspective on client needs, communication, and the practical realities of dispute resolution.
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Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Murdoch University
Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law
Member of The Law Society of Western Australia
Contact and Social Information:
William Macdonald
Senior Associate
Professional Background
Will joined Biyara Legal (then Roe Legal Services) in August 2022. Will is a keen commercial litigator but is interested in, and has experience in, a wide variety of areas including administrative law, crime, construction, native title, and wills and estates.
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Will was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in August 2018 and the High Court of Australia in May 2019. He has an eye for detail and takes care to make sure he is putting his client’s best foot forward. Will has experience appearing as counsel in both civil and criminal matters, including trials and substantive hearings, across various courts and tribunals. He very much enjoys court work.
Prior to joining Roe Legal, Will was the associate to Justice Newnes in the Western Australian Court of Appeal, and subsequently practiced a mixture of civil and criminal law at a small Perth law firm. Will was a board member of Safer Venues Western Australia Inc from its inception in 2017, including acting as chair.
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Acting solicitor in:
Supreme Court civil litigation involving insolvency; manufacturer’s liability; misleading or deceptive conduct; commercial trusts;
Construction arbitration;
District and Supreme Court criminal trials (including homicide)
Counsel in trials in the Supreme Court (estates) and District Court (criminal); counsel in various interlocutory, final, and sentencing hearings in Supreme, Federal, District, Magistrates & Childrens Courts
Advice and representation to liquidators, directors and creditors regarding insolvency and personal property matters
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Dispute resolution and litigation
Insolvency / restructuring and turnaround
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Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Western Australia
Bachelor of Science (BSc) (Psychology), University of Western Australia
Member of The Law Society of Western Australia
Contact and Social Information:
LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/william-macdonald-9a5209103
Email: wmacdonald@biyaralegal.au
Alexandra Theseira
Office Manager
Professional Background
Alex joined the Biyara Legal (then Roe Legal) team in 2022. She has over 15 years experience, working in a variety of legal administration and management roles, across multiple practice areas.
Alex graduated from Curtin University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Business Law).
Susmita M Sengupta
Paralegal
Professional Background
Susmita has been associated with Roe Legal Services for over 8 years. She joined Roe Legal Services in 2015, in the capacity of paralegal and administrative staff.
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She has completed her BA LLB Hons program from Amity Law School India. Susmita heads an off-shore branch of Roe Legal Services based out of Delhi, India. Susmita was admitted to practice in 2006 and has practiced in Indian courts in civil capacity. She has also worked in in our Indigenous law team on native title and heritage matters since her association with Roe Legal Services.
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Susmita has worked on a range of litigation and native title matters including:
Complex Supreme Court litigation between the Banjima People and BHP Billiton relating to Native Title agreement and trust compliance including trustee direction application which resulted in a successful settlement between the parties;
Assisted Paul in his capacity as legal adviser to Banjima People in relation to comprehensive claim wide agreements with Rio Tinto Iron Ore and BHP Billiton Iron Ore in relation to the Yandi, Hope Downs and Area C mines in the Central Pilbara;
Assisted in the matter of Kerry and Diana Robinson in successful and landmark Supreme Court of Western Australia case about the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (WA); and
Various Future Act Management and ILUA agreement management processes.
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Civil litigation
Native title and heritage
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Bachelor of Law (LLB) (with Hons), Amity Law School, India
Certificate of Australian Legal Studies
Member of AMPLA – The Resources & Energy Law Association
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Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Business Law), Curtin University
Contact information:
Email: admin@biyaralegal.au
