Meet Hannah Marshall
Hannah Marshall is Principal of The Good Law Company, a boutique law firm based in Manly, NSW.
Hannah is also a volunteer for Surfrider’s national campaigns, using her legal expertise and love of surfing to stop new offshore oil & gas proposals and protect the coast.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved with volunteering Surfrider?
I grew up in a family of ocean people. My earliest memories are of sitting on the beach in Torquay while my parents raced catamarans out in the crazy swells of the Southern Ocean. Sometimes after the races my Dad would take me out for a ride, and the little boat going up and down over the big waves felt like a rollercoaster.
Sailing, diving and surfing have been a huge part of my life, and now I’m sharing that with my kids. Watching them grow to love the water too, I can't shake the feeling that we're handing them a fundamentally different ocean than the one I grew up with. That's what drove me to Surfrider Foundation - not just love, but a sense of maternal urgency.
What made you want to give back to the ocean with Surfrider?
When I founded Good Company Law in 2024, I wanted to build a practice with a blend of commercial work and non-profit activism. Surfrider was an obvious choice - I believe deeply in their mission, they’re relentless and passionate, and they win. They’ve helped to stop PEP-11, save the Great Australian Bight from Equinor’s drilling plans, and stop TGS from seismic blasting in the Otway Basin.
Image: Hannah’s son enjoying the ocean she is helping protect
Image: Hannah’s daughter at the Grom Search
What kind of things do you use your legal skills to help with?
We work a lot to fight Environment Plan (EPs) approvals for fossil fuel projects, like CGG's current seismic blasting application in the Otway Basin. The EPs are thousands of pages long. Working with marine scientists who identify what's wrong - maybe inadequate whale identification systems or flawed noise impact data - I help apply their findings to the legal requirements.
It's detective work, really. Companies bury problems in technical jargon and sheer volume, but there's always something - outdated data, underestimated impacts, procedural gaps. We're also looking at wider regulatory reform. Right now a proponent like CGG can resubmit deficient EPs indefinitely until finally approved. Four attempts suggests there are fundamental problems that can't be fixed - there should be a limit.
What are some moments you are really proud of since you started working with Surfrider?
Every submission is a huge team effort and there's a rush when we finally get it in. I love learning about marine fauna and ocean conservation in the process. When NOPSEMA (the offshore oil & gas regulator) refuses to accept the EP again, it’s great knowing that Surfrider's work has contributed.
Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to get involved?
I was marinating in feelings of worry, anger and frustration about the plight of the ocean. For me, getting involved with Surfrider was a positive outlet for those negative feelings. If you're feeling the same way, find your outlet - the ocean needs us.
Feeling inspired? We are too! Join the Surfrider volunteer community of passionate coastal protectors all over Australia.
