Corporate Business Lawyers Melbourne

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Throughout the lifecycle of your business, you will be making numerous decisions that could make or break your entire business. You need corporate lawyers who can advise you from the structuring phase to the point where you are ready to exit or sell the business. At TNS Lawyers, we take a pragmatic approach when advising our business owner clients on corporate matters. We draw on our experience working in the business sector to understand your long-term objectives and how your business operates. This means that we can ensure that your commercial interests are always protected and also cushion you from any problems along the way by anticipating where things could possibly go wrong in the future.

Our business lawyers in Melbourne can assist you in all corporate law matters including:

Business structures

Sole trader, partnership, company, discretionary trusts, unit trusts–whichever of these structures you choose determines multiple elements of your business. These include your legal and tax liability, the paperwork you need to file, and even your day-to-day operations. Our Melbourne corporate lawyers work closely with accountants to help you pick the best business structure that fits your needs and ensures sustainable success.

Company registration

To conduct business in Australia, our lawyers can help you register your business with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

Shareholder agreements

Whether your company is proprietary limited (Pty Ltd) or public, having a shareholder agreement is important. A shareholder agreement clearly defines share ownership, voting rights, both the company and its shareholders’ obligations, remedies for disputes, and restrictions for transferring and purchasing shares.

Directors' duties

The Corporations Act 2001 sets out the duties of company directors and other officers. These are your general statutory obligations as a director and a breach or failure to fulfill these duties could result in penalties or in some cases, criminal sanctions. Our experience extends to assisting and securing favourable outcomes for companies, shareholders, and directors who are involved in disputes and investigations by ASIC.

Regulatory and compliance advice

Are you being investigated for breach of directors’ duties or not meeting standards imposed on directors? Get a corporate lawyer to review your legal framework and manage the risk of complex regulations on your day-to-day operations and transactions.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) investigations

ASIC is an independent government body tasked with regulating corporate activity in Australia. It has the power to conduct investigations as well as enforce sanctions on individuals or businesses found to have violated applicable laws. If you find yourself involved in an ASIC investigation, we can help you get a good grasp of your situation and find a resolution.

Mergers, acquisitions, and disposals

Buying, selling, dividing, or merging ownership of operating assets or the business as a whole? Our M&A lawyers can assist not only with transaction documentation but also with the due diligence process, warranty and indemnity insurance negotiations, and cross-border transactions.

Joint venture

Joint ventures involve two or more companies that are working towards a common goal. Whichever project you’re doing, our corporate lawyers can guide you through the planning and negotiation stage and then draft clear-cut and binding agreements to secure your position.

If you need legal advice on a corporate advisory issue, please call us on +61 3 9052 3214 or email us at info@tnslawyers.com.au

Frequently asked questions about corporate law

Does consumer law apply to businesses?

Yes, consumer laws are there to protect the community as well as to promote fair trading and competition.

What is a company in business law?

Under the Corporations Act 2001, a company is a legal entity that performs all the functions of a body corporate, can sue and be sued, has perpetual succession, and can acquire, hold, and sell property.

What is partnership in business law?

A partnership is a group of people who share the control, profit, and losses of a business.

Is business insurance required by law?

There are forms of insurance that are compulsory for Australian businesses, such as workers’ compensation insurance, public liability insurance, amongst a few. Talk to us! We have worked with many insurance brokers who will be able to assist you in this regard.

What happens if a business breaks the law?

There would definitely be consequences. For example, since a company cannot be incarcerated like individuals, it could be charged with hefty fines. On the other hand, the directors could be charged criminally (as they are the minds of the company).