Manisha Blencowe

As Practice Group Leader at Slater and Gordon, Manisha works across a range of matters to assist clients through challenging times and work collaboratively with clients to achieve strong outcomes.

Reflecting Manisha’s extensive experience and trusted-advisor status with First Nations organisations, Manisha has been appointed to the First Nations Legal & Research Services (FNLRS) Third Party Provider Panel (Legal). As a member of this Panel, Manisha is eligible to undertake work funded by FNLRS for Traditional Owner organisations on native title matters.

Manisha’s priority areas of practice are:

First Nations advice

Manisha has acted for a major Victorian Traditional Owner group for almost 20 years providing a broad range of advice and representation. Together with her team, a native title claim has been prepared for this group and is now authorised.

Manisha has advised a wide range of First Nations organisations on matters ranging from internal governance and compliance issues to commercial disputes including intellectual property and defamation issues. Manisha’s team undertakes work in cultural heritage, treaty and other land management and rights recognition areas.

Manisha works collaboratively with First Nations organisations and their members to understand their unique challenges and deliver tailored advice that supports their self-determination and particular needs and aspirations. Manisha is committed to supporting and advancing opportunities for First Nations peoples in a changing landscape.

Compulsory Acquisition

Manisha has extensive experience representing clients facing compulsory acquisition of interests in land and maximising compensation and outcomes for clients. Manisha acts for individuals and business facing relocation or partial acquisitions and ensures that clients receive the guidance they need through the difficult process, as well as ensuring that claims are carefully prepared and robustly pursued.

Manisha has acted for clients across all of Victoria’s recent major projects, as well as for clients around the country including significant business operators.

Manisha has lead complex and novel claims to extend the rights of individuals affected by the compulsory acquisition of interests in land. In doing so, Manisha brings her experience in class actions, and Slater & Gordon’s ability to back meritorious claims with favourable cost arrangements.

Environmental law including Interference with Property Rights

Manisha’s experience includes claims to enforce property rights for property holders facing compulsory acquisition as well as use of powers by statutory authorities, arising from contamination of land, and other interference with property rights.

Drawing on nearly 20 years’ of experience in commercial and class action litigation, Manisha brings considerable strategic acumen to ensure her clients rights are protected and that they achieve the best outcomes. Manisha is a skilled negotiator and accomplished litigator who has achieved significant outcomes and improved compensation for claimants in complex and novel claims.

Manisha is committed to leveraging the law to advance solutions to the climate crisis and environmental harms, including advocating for people affected by environmental damage and the impacts of climate change.

Governance Advice

Manisha provides specialist advice to a range of First Nations and Not-for-Profit organisations requiring advice on internal governance and disputes.

Dispute Work

Manisha has nearly 20 years’ experience in a wide range of commercial disputes and is available to assist individuals and companies in resolving disputes including via litigation.

Examples of Manisha’s experience include:

• Leading and settling the Cranbourne Landfill class action (Wheelahan v City of Casey & Ors), which secured a settlement of $23.5M for homeowners affected by gas migrating from a closed landfill site into a neighbouring housing estate

• Defending writers and journalists in a claim brought by a prominent crime figure

• Successfully resolving litigated claims regarding breach of confidential information and copyright

• Successfully resolving a complex litigated compulsory acquisition claims

• Involvement in large, complex litigation on behalf of a company claiming breach of confidential information and other IP claims against Telstra

• Successfully resolving novel claims and litigation on behalf of property owners affected by compulsory acquisition of substratum land

• Preparation of Native Title applications and evidence

In addition to her legal work, Manisha is a director of two not-for-profit companies with social purposes reflecting her commitment to social justice.

Manisha is the Chair of OurSchool, a not-for-profit organisation establishing alumni programs in state secondary schools to raise opportunity and aspiration for state school graduates.

Manisha is a director of Mycelia Renewables, a not-for-profit enabling regional communities to lead change and benefit from regenerative solutions including through community and First Nations engagement.