We’re your trusted commercial lawyers
Whether you’re a sole trader or an established company, our commercial lawyers in Adelaide and Sydney are here to help you resolve complex commercial matters quickly and cost-effectively.
How we can help
Our expert team of commercial lawyers in Adelaide and Sydney specialise in all facets of commercial law, including business structuring and succession planning, intellectual property, contract drafting and reviewing, commercial leasing, buying and selling businesses, compliance and regulatory advice.
We work with a wide range of businesses all over Australia, including sole traders, small to medium enterprises, and medium to large corporations. When you need to resolve complex commercial matters quickly and cost-effectively, we’re here to help.
Why work with a commercial lawyer?
- Our commercial lawyers are so much more than legal advisors – they’re trusted partners who will support your business across every stage of growth.
- A commercial lawyer can help you achieve faster, smoother transactions.
- Working with a commercial lawyer will reduce legal and financial risks and enhance your business value and investor confidence for stronger contracts and commercial value.
Our promise to you
- We get things right the first time, helping you avoid mistakes that lead to costly and stressful delays.
- We’ll provide you with professional support to lighten the burden of your legal matters, so you can focus on what matters.
- We’re considerate of your financial circumstances. Our lawyers provide you with accurate and fair costs throughout the legal process.
- Ethics and integrity underpin everything we do at our law firm, from the corporate clients we service to the quality of work we deliver.
We specialise in
- We can help you establish a strong foundation by working together to set business goals
- Trying to choose a business structure? We can provide tailored advice on every type of structure, including sole trader, partnership, company, and trusts.
- Our commercial lawyers can manage all required business registrations, including your Australian Business Number (ABN), Tax File Number (TFN), Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration, business name registration, and company registration with ASIC.
- We also specialise in drafting and reviewing foundational documents like shareholders agreements, partnership agreements and joint venture agreements, and providing end-to-end legal guidance for startups on intellectual property protections (trademark and copyright), employment contracts, workplace policies and ensure compliance with any relevant regulations.
Contracts are a crucial element to all commercial relationships, to protect your interests and minimise any risks. They’re necessary for entering into an agreement with a supplier, customer, service provider, or employee.
Contracts should be clearly worded, legally enforceable, and align with your business objectives. Our tailored contract drafting services take into account your business’s needs and covers:
- Service agreements
- Consultancy contracts
- Terms and conditions of trade
- Supply and distribution agreements
- Franchise agreements
- Joint venture agreements
- Confidentiality (NDA) agreements
- Licensing agreements
We take into account the circumstances of each arrangement and make sure any relevant critical clauses get addressed, including payment terms, scope of services/deliverables, warranties and indemnities, liability limitations, termination and renewal provisions, and dispute resolution systems.
Our contract review service makes sure that clients understand their rights and obligations before signing with plain-English summaries, risk identification, negotiation support, and compliance review. Our focus is on clarity, enforceability, and commercial practicality so that businesses can avoid disputes, maintain strong relationships, and carry out their business activities with confidence.
For any businesses that rely on physical premises like offices, retail spaces, warehouses, or industrial sites, a commercial property lease is an essential part of doing business.
At PAX Law, our commercial property lawyers offer expert advice on every aspect of commercial leasing, acting for both landlords and tenants on services including:
- Drafting and review of retail and commercial lease agreements
- Negotiation and clarification of key terms
- Lease assignment and subletting advice1
- Advice on make-good obligations and end-of-lease requirements
Our commercially-minded legal support helps clients secure and maintain premises that meet their needs while protecting their legal and financial interests.
Buying or selling a business can be a complicated process with many different legal and financial factors to consider. A commercial lawyer can provide legal support throughout the process, from first negotiations through to post-settlement matters.
Our law firm represents both buyers and sellers and can assist with services like:
- Due diligence (i.e. contract reviews, leases, IP, employees, debts, and compliance history)
- Deal structuring (i.e. advice on asset vs share sales)
- Drafting sale documents
- Transfer of business assets (i.e. licenses, leases and equipment)
- Regulatory and tax compliance
- Transfer of employee entitlements
- Novation of supplier and customer contracts
- Satisfaction of regulatory conditions
It can be difficult to navigate Australian business regulations, but our team of expert lawyers can help ensure you comply with all applicable laws and rules, while minimising risk and maintaining operational efficiency. Our compliance advice covers:
- Consumer law
- Privacy law
- Marketing and advertising (fair trading laws and advertising codes)
- Competition law
- Record-keeping and reporting obligations
Our services include:
- Compliance audits
- Development of internal compliance programs
- Policy drafting and implementation
- Regulator correspondence and response management
FAQs
“Commercial lawyers specialise in business activities and structure, helping business owners run their operations smoothly, achieve sustainable growth, and reduce legal costs and liabilities,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “A commercial lawyer supplies the legal framework, documentation and compliance support needed for confident decision-making in business.”
“A commercial lawyer also assists with many legal aspects of your business operations, such as providing professional advice on corporate structures and start-ups, intellectual property, contracts, commercial property leases, buying and selling businesses, and ensuring compliance with regulations,” says Mario.
While online templates can provide a good starting point, they’re often too generic and don’t cover specific details that could be required by your business. We recommend getting a legal review or custom drafting for your business contracts to make sure they meet requirements.
Yes. A formal agreement helps to prevent any disputes further down the road. It sets out clearly defined roles and responsibilities, as well as procedures for decision-making and exits. Agreements are particularly important when there is more than one business owner.
“When setting up your business, it’s important to choose the right structure from the get-go, and a commercial lawyer will be able to help you choose the best structure based on your unique circumstances, business goals, industry, level of risk and tax considerations,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales.
“If you need to change your business structure later, for example changing from a sole trader structure to a company structure, that’s possible too. Restructuring is quite common as your business grows, and we can assist with the change and make sure your operations continue uninterrupted,” says Mario.
It’s important to get professional advice before signing any agreements, especially in any cases where large sums of money or long-term commitments are involved. Whether it’s an employment contract or a property lease, our commercial lawyers can help you understand what the contract covers, provide legal advice and recommendations and negotiate amendments.
“Ending your commercial lease early may result in break fees, or have a notice period or landlord approval requirements,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “The commercial lawyers at PAX Law can help you negotiate early exits and transfers of lease.”
“How long it takes to buy or sell a business can vary depending on the complexity of the sale,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “Usually sales will range from several weeks to a few months; some key time factors include negotiations and due diligence (identifying any risks or hidden costs).”
“Some common risks when buying a business might include: undisclosed debts, ongoing litigation, poor financial records, or problematic leases,” says Mario Amor, Principal Lawyer at PAX Law and a solicitor member of the Law Society of New South Wales. “At PAX Law, our due diligence process helps uncover and address these issues.”
In an asset sale, only specific business assets are transferred between the buyer and seller. In a share sale, the buyer acquires the entire business entity, including any liabilities. Our lawyers provide legal advice on the best approach for your needs.
Yes, you do – especially if you collect any personal information from users. Our team of commercial lawyers can help you draft compliant policies that meet privacy legislation requirements.
It’s important to be proactive about legal compliance. Breaching consumer law can result in hefty fines, enforceable undertakings, and reputational damage.
Our lawyers can review marketing materials to make sure they’re not misleading, deceptive, or in breach of any advertising codes. We also offer training and checklists to support ongoing compliance.
Meet the PAX Law Team
PAX Law founders Mario and Constantine are respected thought leaders in Australian immigration law, and lead our team with the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We recognise the level of trust you place in us and provide emotional support throughout the entire legal process.
Mario Amor
Principal Solicitor
Constantine Paxinos
Director
Christina Paxinos
Practice Manager
Natalia Zambrano
Assistant
Hear from our clients
Next steps
Fill in the form to book a personalised, one-on-one consultation with one of our expert commercial lawyers. We can meet online or in person at our Sydney or Adelaide offices.
The personalised consultation costs $330 (this includes GST) and we’ll credit this fee against the overall price for your service. During the hour-long consultation, you’ll receive a genuine analysis of your case and personalised advice to help you understand your strategy, risks, timelines, costs, and pros and cons of different options.
Book a consultation