Leanne Bowie serves as the Principal of her own firm, demonstrating a distinguished career in environmental, planning, and resumption law. She has a profound history of advising major projects within mining, oil, quarrying, and infrastructure industries. Leanne holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from the University of Queensland, where she was admitted to practice in February 1991. Her early career saw an impactful tenure at Minter Ellison and its predecessor, where she advanced to become the head of the Brisbane Environment & Project Approvals practice by 1999. Her expertise here involved overseeing significant legislative and policy reform, particularly in planning and environmental law, which was foundational during her time as chair of the Planning & Environment Committee of the Queensland Law Society. Renowned for her strategic insight, Leanne has acted as a legal advisor for the Queensland Resources Council and represented them during the Commission of Inquiry into the 2010-11 Queensland floods. Her role in negotiating with the State Government and her involvement with peak industry groups has established her as an authority in environmental law. This recognition extends to her contributions as a lecturer at the University of Queensland, where she taught components of environmental law. Leanne's excellence is consistently acknowledged in prestigious directories such as Chambers Asia-Pacific, Who’s Who Legal, and Best Lawyers, cementing her status as a leading figure in the industry. Her career reflects a commitment to excellence and innovation in environmental law, earning her accolades across prominent legal platforms.
Principal
Leanne Bowie Lawyers
Aug 2010 - Present • 16 years 3 months
Head, Environment & Project Approvals
Minter Ellison
May 1999 - Jul 2010 • 11 years 2 months
Senior associate
Minter Ellison
Feb 1994 - May 2000 • 6 years 3 months
Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Laws
The University of Queensland
1984 - 1988
Doyles recognition
Doyles
Who’s Who Legal recognition
Who’s Who Legal
Best Lawyers recognition
Best Lawyers
Recognised in Chambers Asia-Pacific (Environment)
Chambers Asia-Pacific
Euromoney/Legal Media Group Australasia Women in Business Law Awards recognition
Euromoney/Legal Media Group Australasia
Listed in Chambers Global Environment / Chambers Asia-Pacific / PLC Global Counsel editions
Chambers / PLC Global Counsel
Listed in ‘Best Lawyers in Australia’
Australian Financial Review
Last checked: 2 May 2026 • Checked with Queensland Law Society
