It is an inevitable fact of business and life that sometimes disputes will arise and may become a costly and time consuming distraction from your core activities.

Our preferred approach to the practice of the law has always been from a non-adversarial perspective. While some conflicts must be faced directly and openly, we believe that this needs to be balanced with the broader picture in mind, where the parties to the conflict can move beyond past wrongs or disagreements and get back to business

Meeting all the obligations that come with being an employer can be a challenging task, particularly if your business is small to medium in size.

We can work with you to identify the level of support, advice or documentation you need to ensure your business meets its legal obligations when employing a workforce. This may include assisting you with:

• Preparing documents such as employment contracts and confidentiality agreements
• Assisting you with employee disputes
• Ensuring compliance with statutory obligations such the National Employment Standards and Modern Awards

You may not know it, but sometimes the most valuable asset of a business can be its creative ideas, technology, special procedures, unique expressions and branding.

We can help your business to identify the worth in those things and help you to ensure that their value is realised by offering services in the following areas:

• Structuring & Protection Advice
• Business and Company Names
• Commercialisation
• Confidentiality Agreements
• Domain Names
• Licences
• Trade Marks

The way that a business interacts with their customers, suppliers and competitors is an important factor in their success. It is also an area that is heavily regulated and can carry certain risks.

We can help steer you through this aspect of your business by helping you to minimise the impact of the present obstacles and prepare for the potential risks ahead.

This includes assisting you in compliance with:

• Franchising Code of Conduct
• Anti-competitive conduct provisions
• Australian Consumer Law
• Consumer Guarantees & Warranties
• Unfair Contract Terms

Are you thinking of leasing, purchasing or selling property, or have some other property-related issue?

We can assist you in the following areas:

• Commercial Leasing and Licensing
• Business Sale & Purchase Transactions
• Security & Loan Documents
• Negotiation and Dispute Resolution
• Conveyancing

Getting your personal and business affairs in order can be a task that is all too often neglected until an unexpected crisis occurs.

While it is important to put plans in place, we understand that it can be a difficult process and may raise sensitive questions. We can help you formulate plans that provide comfort that your business and personal affairs will be managed appropriately in the event that you are no longer able to do it yourself.

Our services in this area include:

• Business Succession Planning
• Buy-Sell agreements
• Asset and Business structuring advice
• Advice on Intergenerational Wealth transitions

Over the years, we have worked with many not-for-profit organisations and have developed significant expertise in the unique issues faced by charities, associations and other community organisations.

We have a passion for helping those that help our community and provide a range of services, including assistance in the following areas:

• Associations
• Companies limited by Guarantee
• Constitutions, By-Laws and Rules
• Corporate Governance Advice
• Deductible Gift Recipient
• Charities & Foundations
• Dispute Resolution
• Income Tax Exemption

The new Privacy principles which came into effect on 12 March 2014 have created greater obligations for businesses in respect of the collection, storage and use of personal and sensitive information.

We can provide advice and training to your organisation or business on the following issues:

• Policies
• Procedures and practices
• Addressing breaches

The PPSR stands for ‘Personal Property Securities Register’ and is a national register that incorporates 23 separate registers. It is regulated by the Personal Property Security Act 2009 which sets out the rules on how a person must go about creating an ‘interest in property to make it legally enforceable’.

If you operate a business, loan or have loaned money to people or other businesses, have borrowed money to purchase any goods or to assist with the operating costs of your business, have major ongoing contracts with customers or suppliers and/or supply goods to any customers under an arrangement that means you are not paid in full for the goods up front, it is important that you understand what the PPSA means for you.

Services we can provide include:

• Creating registrations for you and your business
• Reviewing documentation including terms of trade
• Writing and reviewing policies and procedures
• Advice on protecting your interest in goods and services