Business & Commercial

Running a business comes with constant challenges – from managing suppliers, customers and creditors to ensuring the right structures and contracts are in place. We provide commercially-savvy advice to protect your business, avoid disputes and navigate issues efficiently. Whether your needs are simple or complex, we’ll help you make confident decisions that safeguard and grow your enterprise.

Corporate law sets the framework for how a business is owned, structured and operated. We’ll help you navigate incorporation, ownership arrangements, shareholder agreements and compliance obligations by providing clear, practical advice. We ensure directors and shareholders understand their rights and responsibilities, avoid pitfalls and make informed decisions to support growth and long-term success.

Mergers and acquisitions offer excellent opportunities to grow, diversify or exit your business, but navigating deals can be difficult and high-stakes. Our experienced team will guide you through deal structure, due diligence, contracts, intellectual property, employment matters, and restraint of trade so you can seize opportunities, manage risks and achieve outcomes that align with your strategic goals.

Strong contracts and licensing arrangements are the backbone of any business. We help draft, review and negotiate agreements ranging from terms of trade to procurement, supply, distribution, IP licensing, consultancy, IT, equipment lease and service contracts. With extensive experience across different industries and international markets, we’ll ensure your business relationships are clear, compliant and commercially effective.

Raising capital to grow your business is exciting but navigating regulatory requirements and investor expectations requires expert legal advice. We will guide you through deal structure, term sheets, due diligence, subscription agreements, and all the necessary documentation. Whether you’re an early-stage startup or a private equity client who is keen to invest, we can help manage risk and support your strategic objectives.

Strong governance underpins every successful business and trust. Many of our senior lawyers are directors and trustees themselves, allowing us to provide knowledgeable advice based on real-world experience. Talk to us about board composition, governance structures, shareholder agreements, directors’ and trustees’ duties, constitutions, incorporated society rules, delegated authorities and how to resolve shareholder or board impasses.

Whether you’re borrowing, lending or raising capital, navigating financial transactions requires careful legal oversight. We take care of all aspects of corporate, acquisition, property, project and asset-based finance, as well as security arrangements. We also advise clients on consumer credit law compliance and the Personal Property Securities Register, helping you structure transactions securely and manage risk.

Fair trading and consumer law can feel complex and intimidating, whether you’re running a business or asserting your rights as a consumer. We help businesses make confident decisions, stay compliant, and operate within legal frameworks. We also help consumers to understand and enforce their rights under the Commerce Act, Fair Trading Act, Consumer Guarantees Act, and the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act.