Business

Our Business Law team is focused on, and committed to, being the pre-eminent provider of business law services in the Hunter Region, and to providing those services to businesses based or operating anywhere in the world.

Our services include:

  • all aspects of capital raising, including undertaking due diligence investigations, reporting to boards, preparation of prospectus and information memorandum documentation and otherwise ensuring compliance with all aspects of the Corporations Laws and ASX Listing Rules

  • reviewing and preparing all types of contracts: contracts for sale of business, online business terms and conditions, supply agreements, service agreements, distribution agreements, consultancy agreements, franchise agreements, partnership agreements, IT agreements, licence agreements etc.

  • provision of strategic commercial advice: sale of business, legal compliance, consumer law, trade practices law, Franchise law, negotiation strategies

  • establishing new business enterprises & business services: partnerships, joint ventures, companies, shareholders’ agreements, franchise agreements and franchisor disclosure documents

  • protecting, managing and enforcing intellectual property rights, information assets and brands: copyright, trademarks, registered designs, domain names and e-commerce

  • undertaking drafting and providing advice in relation to:-

    • Commercial Contracts

    • Business structures

    • Corporate governance including directors’ duties, shareholders’ rights and legal compliance

    • Employee incentive plans

    • Franchising

    • Mergers and acquisitions

    • Purchase and sale of businesses

    • International business and trade

    • memoranda of understanding and heads of agreement for joint ventures, partnerships, investments, finance and other commercial arrangements

    • brand protection, marketing activities and consumer law

    • standard terms and conditions, supply and services agreements, operation and maintenance agreements and outsourcing agreements

    • the procurement of goods and services, including preparing tender documents

    • competition issues, including transaction structuring, merger clearance, responding to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and other regulators’ investigations

    • strategies to manage contractual relationships and disputes in order to minimise legal, commercial and reputation risks

    • termination of relationships, business closure and insolvency issues.

Litigation, ADR

Our litigation team, headed by Andrew Harrison, has years of experience fighting the fight on behalf of our clients.  

Our litigation team's experience includes:-

  • Business Disputes, Commercial Litigation

  • Partnership Disputes

  • Corporate Litigation and Director's & Shareholder Disputes

  • Retention of Title and Relevant Securities Legislation

  • Debt Recovery

  • Insolvency & Bankruptcy

  • Employment Contract Disputes & Enforcement of Restraint of Trade Agreements

  • Property Disputes (including off-the-plan sales and Lease disputes)

  • Judicial review and Administrative Law

  • Building Disputes, Minor Debt Claims and other proceedings before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal

  • Actions under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and Fair Trading Act

  • Franchising Disputes

  • Body Corporate Disputes

  • Estate Disputes and Trusts

Our focus is often to reach commercial outcomes at the earliest possible time and with the least expense. Of course, that may often involve the commencement and/or involvement of court proceedings. We strive to ensure that you are well informed of your options, that your matter is progressed efficiently, and that the commerciality of the matter, and all potential outcomes, is afforded paramount consideration.

That said, if you find yourself in a legal stoush, incapable of resolution on acceptable terms, we love nothing more than the challenge presented by a high stakes battle, where we can bring our hard earned skills to the table to protect and enforce your rights.

We have considerable experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation, which is becoming increasingly useful in many commercial litigation matters.

Wills & Estates

Our dedicated and experienced wills and estates team can assist you with everything from drafting simple wills  through to complex wills using testamentary trusts, and from appointing Powers of Attorney (people who can look after your financial affairs on your behalf) through to appointments of Enduring Guardian (looking after your medical care).

 Our Wills & Estates services include:

  • preparing wills

  • handling the estates of people who die without a will - intestate estates

  • estate planning

  • applying for a Grant of Probate

  • applying for Letters of Administration

  • Family Provisions Act claims - acting for people left out of a will or people defending a will

  • probate litigation

  • contested wills

  • lodging caveats

  • Powers of Attorney

  • appointment of Enduring Guardian

  • testamentary trusts