Business & Commercial Law

Our commercial lawyers act for a wide range of business entities and will discuss your individual circumstances to tailor solutions for the many planned and unplanned events that occur throughout the life of a business.

Buying or selling a business

Buying or selling a business requires careful planning to ensure that agreed terms and conditions are properly negotiated and documented in a written contract. The contract should detail the parties’ rights and obligations, deal with GST matters and set out processes to manage various contingencies.

Your contract and incidental agreements (i.e. lease or hire agreements) should be properly reviewed with due diligence prior to any settlement.

Franchises and their legal framework

Franchises are governed by a Franchising Code of Conduct which sets out the rights and responsibilities that apply to franchisors and franchisees. It is important for the parties to be aware of these obligations when entering a franchise agreement.

Choosing the right business structure

Business structures are an important consideration with any venture. The structure through which your business operates is chosen with regard to your personal and financial circumstances, your goals, and future plans for the business.

For a small enterprise, it may be appropriate to operate as a sole trader or partnership.

• Partnership agreements: A formal partnership agreement assists in governing the parties’ relationship and sets out agreed processes for matters such as termination, retirement, sale of partnership shares, and business succession.
• Company structure: The business may operate through a corporate structure by registering a limited liability company which provides a certain level of protection for its officers and shareholders for liability for the company’s debts.
• Trust structure: Similarly, a trust structure may be appropriate, providing asset protection and favourable taxation benefits. However, these are complex and must be properly set up and administered to ensure the benefits outweigh the costs and ongoing fees.

Drafting and reviewing business contracts

Business contracts are fundamental to any enterprise and govern the legal rights and responsibilities of the parties for a range of commercial transactions. These include:

• Supply/service agreements
• Partnership/shareholder agreements
• Licence agreements
• Employment contracts
• Loan agreements

Commercial & retail leases

Commercial and retail leases set out the legal terms and conditions through which the business may occupy premises to run the enterprise.

Whether you are a lessor or lessee, a lease agreement should be formally prepared and reviewed by an experienced lawyer to ensure a balance of rights between the parties. Many lease disputes can be avoided with careful drafting to ensure all terms and conditions are clear and complete.

Managing debt recovery

Debt recovery is an unfortunate but common situation experienced by many businesses. There are various ways to pursue an unpaid debt, including:

• Commencing Court proceedings
• Serving a statutory demand under the Corporations Act 2001

Choosing the most cost-effective and appropriate method is essential to avoid costly mistakes.

Understanding insolvency

Insolvency arises when a company cannot pay its debts when they are due. Companies facing insolvency or potential insolvency have various options to manage the situation.

Directors of companies facing cashflow problems should immediately obtain legal advice to ensure the best possible outcome for the company and to mitigate the potential risk of personal liability for insolvent trading.

Supporting business owners and directors

These are just some of the matters you will encounter as a business owner or company director. We have developed many trusted relationships with our business clients of varying sizes and operating across a range of industries.