Commercial Lawyers in Darwin for Business Law

Commercial Lawyers in Darwin

Most of Darwin’s commercial law firms work from a compact CBD, with many offices a short walk apart on Mitchell, Smith and Cavenagh Streets. Their day to day work covers contracts, business sales, company and trust structures and commercial leases. Several firms below also list work that reflects the Territory economy, such as liquor licensing, building and construction, mining and pastoral matters.

In a smaller market, one firm often handles a business’s leasing, employment and dispute work as well as its contracts. That can save time, because the lawyer already knows how the business runs. Before you sign a costs agreement, ask who will run your matter day to day and how the firm charges for advice and for court work.

Ward Keller
Level 7, Northern Territory House, 22 Mitchell Street
Darwin NT 0800
Tel: (08) 8946 2999

Ward Keller is a full service firm with its main office on Mitchell Street and further offices in Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs. Its business practice covers business and share transfers, banking and finance, commercial disputes, leasing and franchising, intellectual property and information technology. The firm also advises on building and construction, infrastructure and major projects, mining and resources, pastoral and agribusiness matters, liquor licensing and stamp duty and payroll tax. Employment and property lawyers work alongside the commercial team.

Halfpennys Lawyers
Level 3, 69 Smith Street
Darwin City NT
Tel: (08) 8942 8888

From its Smith Street office, Halfpennys advises businesses ranging from start ups to established companies. Its commercial work includes contract disputes with suppliers and customers, business structuring from sole traders to corporate groups, and succession planning when ownership or management changes. The team also protects trade marks and other intellectual property, drafts lending and security documents and runs commercial litigation. Co director Richard Henschke has advised Territory businesses for more than 40 years, and the firm also handles liquor licensing and retail and commercial leases.
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De Silva Hebron
47 Knuckey Street
Darwin City NT 0800
Tel: (08) 8924 4944

Barristers and solicitors at De Silva Hebron work from Knuckey Street in the city, acting for start ups, established enterprises and individuals. Commercial services include drafting, reviewing and negotiating supply, partnership, service and licensing agreements, business structuring and shareholder arrangements. The firm also advises on Territory and Commonwealth compliance, commercial leasing, business sales and intellectual property. Commercial disputes are handled by its litigation team, and employment law and debt collection sit alongside the commercial practice.
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Jude Lawyers
Ground Floor, 9-11 Cavenagh Street
Darwin NT 0800
Tel: (08) 8941 8229

Jude Lawyers sets up businesses, trusts and corporate structures, and drafts shareholder agreements, constitutions and trust deeds. Lenders, borrowers, investors and developers can get help with loan and security documents such as guarantees, PPSR registrations and mortgages. The firm also advises on commercial and retail leases, including leases over pastoral, mining and Aboriginal land, and runs contract disputes, debt recovery and director or shareholder disputes. Its office is on Cavenagh Street, and the team speaks several languages including Mandarin, Hindi and Tagalog.
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Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers
1/21 Cavenagh Street
Darwin NT 0800
Tel: (08) 7929 1000

With its Darwin office on Cavenagh Street, Tindall Gask Bentley is a South Australian firm that lists commercial and business law among the services offered locally. Its business team helps with buying and selling businesses, choosing a business structure and contract law from drafting through to termination and remedies for breach. Debt collection, compulsory land acquisition advice and commercial dispute resolution are also offered. Employment, property and wills lawyers work from the same Darwin office.
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Finding a commercial lawyer in the Territory

The Law Society Northern Territory coordinates a Legal Referral Service for the public. Member firms list the areas of law they practise, so you can find practitioners who take on commercial and business work. The Society itself does not give legal advice.

Many Darwin firms do a mix of commercial, property and litigation work. A firm with all of these under one roof may be useful if a lease problem turns into a dispute, or a business sale raises tax or employment questions.

Getting the most from a first meeting

Bring copies of the documents that matter, such as contracts, leases, company or trust details and any letters from the other side. A short timeline of what has happened often saves time and fees in the first appointment.

Ask for an estimate of costs and the steps involved, and check how often the firm will update you. If the matter is a sale or purchase, raise any deadlines early so the lawyer can plan around them. Leases in particular often have option or renewal dates, so note these when you first make contact.