Commercial & Business Law

Advice for the life of your business

Whether you are starting a business, running one, growing by acquisition or preparing to sell, the right legal structures and agreements protect what you are building — and keep small problems from becoming large ones. We work alongside you as your business changes, providing advice that is grounded in decades of first-hand commercial experience, not just the strict legal position.

We act for sole traders, partnerships, companies and trusts across Queensland, and we work closely with your accountant and other advisers so the legal, tax and commercial pieces fit together.

Contracts & agreements

Well-drafted agreements define the interests, roles and responsibilities of everyone involved — and are the cheapest dispute resolution you will ever buy. We prepare, review and negotiate:

• Shareholder & stakeholder agreements Clearly defining rights, responsibilities and exit mechanisms.
• Partnership & joint venture agreements Roles, capital contributions, profit-sharing and what happens when someone leaves.
• Non-disclosure agreements Protecting confidential information, know-how and business strategy.
• Terms of trade & standard contracts The documents your business runs on day to day.
• Employment & contractor agreements Engagements that are clear on both sides.
• Loan agreements Documenting lending properly, whether between related parties or at arm’s length.

Structures, governance & trusts

The structure you trade through affects your risk, tax position and options later. We advise on choosing and establishing the right structure, and on keeping it compliant as obligations change:

• Business structure advice & set-up Companies, partnerships, trusts and combinations of them.
• Directors’ duties & governance Practical guidance for directors, including succession planning.
• Setting up & managing trusts Trust structures, trustee responsibilities and investment arrangements.
• Corporate advisory & compliance Ongoing support as regulation and circumstances change.

Buying, selling & merging

Transactions reward preparation. We act on business acquisitions, mergers, sales and joint ventures — managing due diligence, negotiating terms, and carrying the transaction through to completion. Where property is part of the deal, our property team handles the conveyance as part of the same engagement.

Banking, finance & securities

We advise borrowers and private lenders on banking, leasing, loans and finance — including mortgages, caveat lending, guarantees and registrations under the Personal Property Securities Act. Getting security documents right at the start is what makes them worth something later.

Insolvency, restructuring & recovery

When a business is under financial pressure, early advice preserves options. We advise directors and individuals on personal and corporate insolvency, work regularly with insolvency practitioners, and act on restructuring and commercial debt recovery. If a shareholder or contract dispute is part of the picture, see litigation & dispute resolution.