Commercial law

Make the right business decisions.

Commercial leases.

Ensure the terms of your lease protect your rights and allow you to run your business from a space that suits your needs.

Business sales and acquisitions.

Avoid expensive mistakes down the track, with expert advice that helps ensure your success post-settlement.

Financial guarantor advice.

Need a legal letter of advice to show the bank? No problem. We can certify that you understand your obligations.

Shareholding agreements.

Future-proof your assets with an air-tight agreement that creates a smooth transition for all parties in the event of unexpected changes.

Performance agreements.

Make sure contracted work is carried out to your specifications and within agreed timeframes.

Business structuring.

Restructuring your business can be a tricky process. We help you understand tax implications, legal requirements, and risks.

How we work together
to help you achieve success.

1

Discovery call.

Let’s get to know each other and how we can help.

2

Proposal.

We send a fixed-price proposal for your review.

3

Dive in.

You sign the dotted line, and we get to work.

4

Finalise.

We finalise all arrangements and toast to your success.

Commercial leases.

Protect yourself against legal and financial loss with a team of experts who know exactly what to look for to ensure your rights, and goals, are secured.

Your space, in safe hands.

  • Negotiate terms for mutual satisfaction.
  • Safeguard your investment.
  • Resolve disputes efficiently.

We provide advice to landlords and tenants for office, commercial, industrial, and retail spaces. We can help you with:

  • Drafting a new lease.
  • Reviewing your lease.
  • Re-negotiating terms.
  • Resolving disputes.
  • Renewing your lease agreement.
  • Exercising options and assignments.
  • Repairing covenants, permissible use, and titles office registrations.

There are many things to consider when drafting or revising a lease agreement. Here are a few to get you started:

Outgoings.

These are building costs to be covered by the tenant (like land tax, Council rates, water, and sewage, body corporate feeds, garden maintenance etc.). They can be charged to you at the actual cost (which can vary each time) or as a fixed amount included in your regular rent. Each approach has different benefits so it’s best to seek professional advice.

Rent increases.

Most leases allow for annual rent increases. There are a few ways to calculate how much it can go up, and it’s worth checking to ensure you’re satisfied with the potential increase.

Legal costs.

Who pays for the lease to be drafted? The two most common options are:

    • Everyone pays their own legal fees.
    • All legal fees are covered by the tenant.


This is a negotiable term, so seeking legal advice is recommended to ensure both parties are satisfied.

Make Good Provisions.

Leases usually require the property to be returned in the same or better condition as when it was received. There can be variations between leases, so it’s important to make sure you don’t end up with an expensive obligation at the end.

Security bonds and guarantees.

The landlord or bank holds your security bond until the end of your lease, in case you breach it and cause your landlord financial loss.

If you don’t know your rights or all the terms you’re agreeing to, it can lead to big problems for you in the future. So, it’s always a good idea to get legal advice first.

Business sale or acquisition.

Make the purchase or sale of your business as smooth and stress-free as possible, with a team who knows how to get you the best deal.

Ensure the success of your deal.

  • Make informed decisions.
  • Understand the terms.
  • Identify potential risks.

When buying or selling a business, the first step is understanding exactly what action you need to take. This is where our team of proactive business solicitors come in. Our role goes beyond managing the legal stuff. We’re to advise you every step of the way so you make the best decisions for your future.

Here’s how we can help:

For Buyers:

  • Reviewing your contract.
  • Coordinating negotiations (of purchase and assets) between all parties.
  • Assigning and/or renegotiating your lease.
  • Registering and structuring your new business.
  • Drafting trust deeds, company constitutions and shareholding agreements.
  • Ensuring all critical dates are adhered to.
  • Registering and structuring your new business.

For Sellers:

  • Drafting your contract.
  • Assigning your lease.
  • Coordinating negotiation of the sale and asset distribution.
  • Providing advice on:
    • Restriction of trade
    • Intellectual Property
    • Goodwill

Financial guarantor advice.

If you need a legal letter of advice to obtain business lending, we’re here to help.

Paperwork? Sorted.

  • Understand your legal obligations.
  • Secure the funds you need.

If you’re a director or business owner who’s not registered as having any involvement in the business, a bank will ask you to get a letter of legal advice to prove you’re aware of your legal obligations. Put simply, this shows the bank you (the guarantor) know what you’re getting into before you sign the contract.

We meet with you to discuss everything and send this certificate to the financial institution, verifying you got independent advice from us.

Shareholding agreements.

Set the right ground rules and guard against future disputes, sales, and strategy changes among shareholders.

Strengthen your assets and relationships.

  • Resolve disputes quickly.
  • Give clarity to future investors.
  • Provide a clear path for future decisions.

With solid legal advice and a binding agreement, you’ll ensure potential risks and disputes can be managed successfully now and in the future. While the Corporations Act doesn’t require you to have a Shareholders Agreement, it’s the best way to safeguard your future against the unexpected.

The unexpected can look like:

  • Disagreements between shareholders.
  • The sale of shares to third parties.
  • The death of a shareholder.
  • Company strategy changes.


Your agreement puts conditions in place so there is a clear path forward for everyone involved, should these circumstances arise.

Performance agreements.

Contracted work can get messy when responsibilities aren’t clarified. A performance agreement ensures everyone sticks to their obligations, requirements, and timelines.

Guarantee performance in advance.

  • Set clear expectations.
  • Reduce miscommunication.
  • Build trust between parties.
  • Mitigate legal and financial risks.

Legali can help you understand your rights and obligations whether you want to establish a performance agreement or if you’ve been requested to follow one. We’ll provide advice and coordinate negotiations to ensure everyone is happy with the terms.

Business structuring.

Choosing the right structure involves complex legal and tax obligations. Legali helps you implement one that meets all requirements and benefits everyone involved.

Build a solid foundation for your future.

  • Choose the right structure for your needs.
  • Solve complex issues.
  • Ensure your continued success.

Setting up the wrong structure can have varied impacts on your business. At best, it can cause countless future headaches and become a drain on your time and resources. At worst, it can have significant legal and financial consequences.

Our team can help you choose the right structure for your new business or review your current business structure and advise you on the best way forward. We pave a clear path to your success, by helping you get it right the first time.

Don't take our word for it.
Here's the evidence.

A new breed of law firm.

Fixed pricing for your peace of mind.

Expert advice you can trust, always.

A team that speaks your language.

Free
discovery call.

Get clear, actionable legal advice from lawyers you’ll actually like.

Pick a time that suits you, and we’ll lock in a call with one of our lawyers.

Got a question? Get in touch.

Need your contract reviewed?