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Commercial Lawyers Melbourne

Commercial Lawyers Melbourne

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Our commercial lawyers in Melbourne and Brisbane offer practical legal advice so you can keep your focus where it should be – on your business!
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Shareholder Agreements
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Business Sales & Acquisitions
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We're business people

With a proven track record of delivering exceptional legal services, Sanicki Lawyers is one of the most trusted commercial law firms in Melbourne. Our team of expert business lawyers is here to guide you through the complexities of commercial law, while understanding the specific needs of your business. We have extensive experience across a broad range of industries, including hospitality, retail, manufacturing, health, media, entertainment and professional services. Our approach is centred on a close collaboration to understand your background and objectives, ensuring you are well informed and in charge of your commercial decision-making throughout the entire process.

Personalised solutions
for businesses

We understand that businesses, particularly small businesses, face unique challenges. As a boutique commercial law firm, we are dedicated to providing personalised legal solutions, tailored to your needs. We help you navigate the legal landscape and offer practical strategies to achieve your goals – from complying with applicable laws and regulations, to drafting bespoke contracts tailored to your arrangement, to negotiating agreements to protect your commercial interests.

Testimonials

Chelsea, Darren and the broader team at Sanicki Lawyers are an integral part of our business… It’s a bonus that they’re incredible to work with. We can’t recommend them highly enough – and wouldn’t trust anyone else with our contracts or business requirements

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— Giorgio M

Darren has an excellent team of friendly and accessible people who are both efficient and practical. I trust Darren and his team to deliver for my clients at the most crucial stage of their transaction.

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— Ian A

By having a Sanicki lawyer involved I feel peace of mind knowing the deal has every chance of coming to fruition. I can honestly say that Darren, along with his wonderful team, have saved deals for me on several occasions. Sanicki’s end to end service makes my business life much less stressful.

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— Steve P

The Sanicki Lawyers team make you feel so welcome, and explain fully costs and processes. It’s so comforting to be able to approach these guys and feel confident with what they do.

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— Gina C

Exceptional service from Sanicki Lawyers. I would never hesitate to recommend the team, and will certainly use their firm again for my business.

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— Julia N

Couldn’t have had a better experience. These guys are warm and efficient. Best!

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— Harry F

Expertise you can trust

We are experienced in a broad range of commercial law areas, including:

Corporate Structures

Advice on corporate structures, including drafting and guidance on shareholder and unitholder agreements, partnership agreements and joint ventures.

Commercial Leasing

Our commercial lease services are designed to protect your interests. We provide expert assistance in drafting, advising and negotiating commercial and retail leases.

Business Sales and Acquisitions

Specialists in business sales and acquisitions. We have a keen focus on industries including hospitality, retail, manufacturing, health, media, entertainment and professional services.

Licensing

Navigating the complex world of licenses, especially liquor licenses and planning permits, can be challenging. Our experienced team of business lawyers has the expertise to guide you through this process seamlessly.

Contract Review and Negotiation

Our broad expertise includes franchise agreements, shareholder agreements, loan agreements, services agreements, licence agreements, contractor and employment agreements, confidentiality agreements and deeds.

Franchising

Our expertise spans from our in-depth understanding of the Franchising Code to providing practical and commercial guidance tailored to your franchising plans.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

A constitution is a document outlining the internal rules and procedures for managing the company – such as voting, decision-making, appointment of directors, issuing new shares and transferring shares. The “replaceable rules” in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) also deal with many of these matters, but they can be overridden by the constitution. Companies also often have Shareholders Agreements, which can be tailored to be more detailed and flexible and will generally prevail over the constitution (if there is one) and the replaceable rules. Shareholders Agreements also often contain provisions about default, restraints and dispute resolution. These documents are important to ensure that the company and its business are properly managed and to avoid potential disputes, which can be costly.
A contract is binding if it satisfies the following elements. Agreement – This usually means an offer by one party and an acceptance by the other party. It can be written or verbal, or a combination both. Consideration – Both parties must promise to give each other something of value. Even nominal value (e.g. $1) can be enough. Intention to create legal relations – Both parties must intend to be legally bound. This is determined objectively, not subjectively. Certainty – The key terms of the contract must be clear enough to be enforceable. Most contracts do not need to be signed. However, it is easier to establish and enforce your rights under a contract if it is in writing, drafted clearly and unambiguously and signed by the right person(s). To protect your rights and avoid disputes, you should engage an experienced commercial lawyer before entering into significant contracts or arrangements.
Under the Australian Consumer Law, a standard form contract can exist where one party prepares a contract in the same form as other contracts that it uses, one party has substantial bargaining power over the other, and/or the other party has limited or no opportunity to negotiate the terms. When a consumer or small business enters into a standard form contract, the contract can be void (or partly void) if it contains an unfair term. There are also penalties for unfair terms in standard form contracts. An unfair term is one that causes significant imbalance against one party and is not reasonably necessary to protect the other party’s legitimate interests. If you use a standard form contract, you should be careful to ensure that it does not contain any unfair terms. Otherwise, you could face expensive legal action or penalties.

Enquire with our commercial lawyers in Melbourne

Melbourne

+61 3 9510 9888
9 Regent Street
Prahran, VIC 3181

Brisbane

+61 3 9510 9888
139 Gotha Street
Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006

Sanicki Lawyers acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work and live across Australia, and recognise their continuing connection to the land and community. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

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