Commercial Lawyers in Canberra for Business

Commercial Lawyers in Canberra

Canberra’s commercial law firms act for a broad mix of clients, from cafes and builders to consultancies, clubs and not for profit groups. Most of the established firms sit in Canberra City, with others in Deakin, Woden and Braddon. Several also advise on contracts with government agencies, which can matter in a city with such a large public sector.

Choosing well often comes down to fit. A firm that already acts for businesses of your size may understand the problem faster and spend less time getting up to speed. Ask who will handle the work day to day and whether property, employment or tax lawyers are on hand if the matter grows. Some firms also have Queanbeyan offices, which can help if you trade on both sides of the border.

BAL Lawyers
9th Floor, Canberra House, 40 Marcus Clarke Street
Canberra City ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6274 0999

From Canberra House on Marcus Clarke Street, the business and commercial team at BAL Lawyers advises on structuring, terms of trade, governance documents and commercial strategy. Its contract work runs from drafting and review through to contract management training, including agreements between businesses and with government. The team also covers privacy, data breach response and intellectual property. Insurance, liability, loan and security documents are part of its work too. The firm says it works alongside a client’s tax and accounting advisers where needed.

MV Law
Level 2, 121 Marcus Clarke Street
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6279 4444

MV Law (formerly Meyer Vandenberg) is a locally owned Canberra firm with a business practice that covers contracts, constitutions, trust deeds and directors’ duties. It also advises on business structures, capital raising, franchising, intellectual property and privacy compliance. Owners buying or selling a business can get help with the sale or purchase, and the firm’s wider offering includes commercial leasing, employment, tax, disputes and debt recovery. It acts for start ups, growing businesses and owners planning an exit.
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Snedden Hall & Gallop
43-49 Geils Court
Deakin ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6285 8000

Based in Deakin, Snedden Hall & Gallop helps businesses at each stage, from choosing a structure and preparing shareholder or partnership agreements to leases, finance and franchising. For established businesses it advises on privacy policies, competition and consumer law, supplier contracts, the Personal Property Securities Register and intellectual property. The team handles shareholder, contract and customer disputes, preferring alternative dispute resolution where it suits. Business succession planning for owners preparing to exit is another focus.
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BDN Lawyers
Level 1, 1 Farrell Place
Canberra City ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6230 1999

With offices in Canberra City and Queanbeyan, BDN Lawyers acts for local businesses on leasing, buying and selling businesses, shareholder agreements and company structures. Its commercial team also runs commercial litigation, including contract and building disputes. The firm traces its history to practices in Sydney and Queanbeyan that merged in 1923, and it describes itself as a community oriented local business. Several partners and solicitors are listed for commercial matters.
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Elringtons Lawyers
6A Thesiger Court
Deakin ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6206 1300

Elringtons Lawyers has served Canberra and Queanbeyan since 1897, according to its site, and works from offices in Deakin and Queanbeyan. Its business and commercial practice covers retail and commercial leases, buying and selling businesses, joint ventures, shareholder agreements and buyouts. The team also advises on trusts, partnerships and company structures, stamp duty and revenue law, insolvency, franchising, liquor licensing and clubs and associations. Commercial dispute resolution and debt recovery are part of the service.
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Signus Legal
Ground Floor, Gadal Chambers, 48 Corinna Street
Woden ACT 2606
Tel: (02) 5133 5664

Working from Gadal Chambers in Woden, Signus Legal advises small and medium businesses on trading terms, intellectual property, privacy and the preparation and review of contracts. It acts for landlords and tenants on commercial, retail, office and industrial leases in the ACT and NSW. The firm also helps with buying and selling businesses and with structures that protect both business and family interests. It works alongside accountants, financial planners and insurance brokers, and offers notarial services.
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Costs and what your solicitor must tell you

Commercial work is often billed at hourly rates, although some firms quote a fixed fee for set tasks such as a lease review or a shareholder agreement. According to the ACT Law Society, your solicitor must tell you in writing about the costs of the work and the expenses you will pay, and in most cases this happens before they start acting for you. Where exact costs cannot be given, you should be told how costs are calculated and given an estimate or a range.

Estimates are not firm quotes. The Law Society notes that a solicitor will tell you as soon as practicable if they become aware of a likely significant increase, so it pays to ask early how updates on cost will be handled.

Getting advice before you sign

Many commercial matters in Canberra start with a lease, a sale contract or a supply agreement. Having a lawyer read the document before you sign is usually cheaper than fixing a problem later, and it gives you a chance to negotiate terms while the other side still wants the deal.

A short written brief of what you need can make quotes from different firms easier to compare. Include the key dates, the other party’s name and copies of any drafts. If a dispute is already brewing, say so, because it may change which lawyer at the firm is the right fit.