Commercial Lawyers in Sydney for Business

Commercial Lawyers in Sydney

Sydney has more commercial law firms than any other Australian city, and they range from large practices around Martin Place and Barangaroo to suburban firms in Parramatta and the south west. Most handle the daily legal work a business needs, such as contracts, leases, company structures and the purchase or sale of a business. Some also run separate teams for finance, franchising or government work.

Fit matters more than size. A firm that already acts for businesses in your industry will often pick up the problem faster, which can save on fees. Ask who will run your matter day to day and whether the firm has property, employment or tax lawyers in house, since many commercial questions touch more than one area. The Law Society of NSW also runs an accredited specialist scheme that includes business law, and you can search it by practice area.

Swaab
Level 4, 20 Hunter Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9233 5544

From its office on Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD, Swaab advises business owners, investors and partners on how to structure a venture, whether through a company, unit trust, partnership or joint venture. The commercial team drafts shareholder, distribution and joint venture agreements, acts on business sales and mergers, including due diligence. It also advises on franchising, finance for borrowers and guarantors, intellectual property and PPSR matters. Charities and not for profit groups are among its clients too. The firm describes itself as a long term adviser to its clients.

Coleman Greig Lawyers
Level 15, 32 Smith Street
Parramatta NSW 2150
Tel: (02) 9895 9200

Coleman Greig Lawyers has offices in Parramatta, Penrith, Norwest and the Sydney CBD. It acts for family owned businesses, medium sized companies, multinational subsidiaries and government bodies. Commercial work covers business contracts, share and business sales, succession planning, franchising, competition law and intellectual property. Separate teams handle commercial property and leasing, employment and WHS, tax and commercial disputes such as debt recovery and Security of Payment Act claims. Industry experience includes construction, manufacturing, healthcare and transport.
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Hicksons Lawyers
Level 24, 100 Barangaroo Avenue
Barangaroo NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9293 5311

Advising private and listed companies as well as public sector organisations, the corporate and commercial team at Hicksons works from Barangaroo and a second Sydney office in Bligh Street. Its work includes business structures, buying, selling or restructuring a business, capital raising, venture capital and corporate governance. The team also advises on competition matters (including ACCC merger clearances) and on protecting intellectual property. Sector experience listed on its site runs from agribusiness and construction to health, retail and technology.
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Bartier Perry
Level 25, 161 Castlereagh Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 8281 7800

Bartier Perry works with business owners from its Castlereagh Street office, with a focus on family owned and private companies with plans to grow. Help on offer includes buying and selling businesses, joint ventures and capital raising, board duties, ASIC obligations and commercial contracts with suppliers and customers. The firm also advises on bank finance and refinancing, intellectual property, credit management and family business succession plans aimed at reducing disputes between family members.
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Brown Wright Stein Lawyers
Level 6, 179 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9394 1010

Brown Wright Stein is a Sydney commercial firm on Elizabeth Street that acts for SMEs, owner managed businesses, listed companies and large retailers, along with accountants and financial advisers. Its corporate and commercial team sets up companies, acts on business sales, franchising and capital raising. Shareholder, licensing and loan documents are drafted in house. It also advises on Corporations Act compliance, competition and consumer law, privacy and trade marks. The firm also helps businesses build compliance systems and train staff.
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Marsdens Law Group
Suite 1, First Floor, 154 Elizabeth Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9233 1133

Startups, family businesses, national companies, government bodies and not for profits all appear among the clients of the commercial team at Marsdens Law Group. Its work covers business structures and restructures, buying and selling companies and businesses, mergers and joint ventures, construction contracts and corporate governance. The team also handles franchising, trade marks, tenders, privacy terms and director liability. Marsdens has a Sydney office on Elizabeth Street as well as offices in Campbelltown, Camden, Liverpool and Oran Park.
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What to raise at a first meeting

Bring the documents that matter, such as your current company and trust details, any shareholder agreement and the contracts or lease in question. A clear timeline of events helps a lawyer give a useful view early. It is also worth asking how the firm charges, whether by the hour, by a fixed fee for set tasks or a mix of both.

Many Sydney firms have offices in both the CBD and Parramatta or other suburban centres. If your business is in Western Sydney, a local office can make meetings simpler, although most firms now work by video and email as well.

Retail leases and small business disputes

Disputes over shop leases often come up for small businesses. In NSW, the Small Business Commissioner explains that mediation may be required under the Retail Leases Act 1994 and that a mediator for a retail lease matter is appointed by the Registrar of Retail Tenancy Disputes. Applying for that mediation costs nothing, although the parties share the mediator’s cost once a date is set.

A commercial lawyer can help you prepare for mediation and work out what a fair outcome may look like. In many cases a dispute settles at that stage, which saves the time and expense of a tribunal or court.