In planning and implementing your exploration activities around the globe, you need expert advice. Our team of mining lawyers has intimate knowledge and technical understanding of the system for staking claims, or acquiring other types of exploration rights and granting licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations required for exploring and developing properties in your jurisdiction. For certainty regarding access to land for mineral resource development and compliance with all types of environmental and land use regulations, partner with Dentons—we understand site-specific assessment, licensing and permits for any mine, anywhere.

We understand the multiple regimes of mineral rights that host governments maintain, whether based on a non-competitive (free-entry system), a competitive (tender) process or a combined system of permits. The Dentons mining team has developed a substantial record of negotiating and drafting: confidentiality, concession, consulting and exploration agreements, stability agreements with host governments, applications for mining, reconnaissance and prospecting licenses, and permits in a variety of forms and to suit a variety of client requirements. Take advantage of our expertise in negotiating and drafting leases, joint venture, and purchase and option agreements for claims, surface rights, producing and non-producing mining and mining assets.

Undertaking mining exploration, development and production requires that you address numerous regulatory requirements. Dentons’ mining lawyers provide advice on issues such as land access, Aboriginal rights, the environmental permit process (which often involves compliance with water, land and air quality and wildlife regulations), and infrastructure development and transportation. Our team can help you in implementing strategies to address public concerns. Our clients seek our advice because we know how to help build sound, respectful working relationships with Aboriginal groups and other local communities, and we have a well-known reputation for our skill in negotiating mutually beneficial agreements such as pre-development and impact and benefit agreements.

Together we will achieve a successful conclusion to the mineral exploration phase so you can proceed with your operations.

Insights

Zambia's mining law overhaul

March 18, 2025

Zambia: The Mining sector, heralded to be the economic backbone of Zambia’s economy, is undergoing significant legal changes. The Mines and Minerals Development Act, No. 11 of 2015, which governed the sector for nearly a decade, has been repealed and replaced by the Minerals Regulation Commission Act, No. 14 of 2024 (MRCA). In this article, a comparison between the 2015 Act and the 2024 Act will be done, highlighting the main changes in regulatory structure, licensing, and taxation.

Emerging trends in critical minerals, precious metals, and mining

May 31, 2024

Canada: Hear from precious metals expert, Miranda Werstiuk, and Dentons Partner and Canada Mining Co-Chair, Greg McNab, on the key takeaways from the recent Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto, such as accessing capital in the critical minerals space, ESG and social licenses to operate, artisanal mining, and the future of mineral exploration in the next 12 – 24 months.

News and Events

Recent Press Releases

Dentons writes Uzbekistan chapter in The Mining Law Review 2022

October 20, 2022

Partners Eldor Mannopov and Bobur Shamsiev and junior associate Salohiddin Parmonov from Dentons’ Tashkent office have contributed a chapter to the eleventh edition of The Mining Law Review, published by Law Business Research.

Dentons writes Uzbekistan chapter in The Mining Law Review 2021

November 18, 2021

Partners Eldor Mannopov and Bobur Shamsiev from Dentons’ Tashkent office contributed a chapter to the tenth edition of The Mining Law Review, published by Law Business Research.

Dentons writes Uzbekistan chapter in The Mining Law Review 2020

December 15, 2020

Lawyers from Dentons’ Tashkent office contributed a chapter to the ninth edition of The Mining Law Review, published by Law Business Research.