Business Lawyers — Sydney
Our business lawyers in Sydney advise on company formation, corporate governance, compliance, and mergers and acquisitions for businesses at every stage of growth.
Secure Your Legal Advantage
100+ M&A Transactions Completed
$500M+ Combined Transactions
450+ Businesses Structured
40+ Years Combined Legal Experience
What Is A Business Lawyer, And When Do You Need One?
A business lawyer advises on the internal legal foundations of your company: how it’s structured, how it’s governed, whether it’s compliant, and what happens when ownership changes. If a commercial lawyer handles how your business deals with the outside world, a business lawyer handles how it’s built and run from the inside.
Our Sydney business lawyers team regularly assists with the following scenarios:
You're deciding whether to operate as a sole trader, partnership, or company
You're setting up a trust structure for asset protection or tax purposes
You're bringing on co-founders and need roles and equity formally documented
Your shareholder agreement is missing, outdated, or being disputed
You're acquiring a business and need due diligence and deal structuring
You're selling your company and want to protect yourself post-settlement
Your business has grown and your current structure no longer fits
You need to meet ASIC, ATO, or industry-specific compliance obligations
Why Choose Lazarus Legal's Business Lawyers
When choosing a business lawyer, look for someone who understands how companies are actually built, who gives you advice you can act on, and who is upfront about costs from day one.
- Legal Expertise Backed by Real Business Experience. Our team advises on matters under the Corporations Act 2001, the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, and ASIC's regulatory framework. What sets us apart is that our principals have also structured and operated businesses themselves. That combination changes the quality of advice you get.
- Proactive Advice in Plain Language. We identify legal risks before they become problems and explain what they mean for your business in plain terms. You won't receive a legal opinion you need another lawyer to interpret. You'll get clear options and a recommended path forward.
- Clear Fees Before Any Work Begins. We offer fixed fees for matters with a defined scope, including company formations, shareholder agreements, and compliance reviews. For ongoing legal support, monthly retainer arrangements are available. You'll know what you're paying before we start.
Business Law Services for Sydney Companies
A good business lawyer covers the legal work that happens inside your company, from the day you register it to the day you sell it. The table below outlines the core areas Lazarus Legal handles for Sydney businesses, what each one involves, and why it matters.
| Service | What It Means | What We Handle | Why It Matters for Your Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Formation and Structuring | Choosing the right legal structure before you start trading, whether that's a company, trust, or partnership, and setting it up correctly from day one |
|
The structure you choose affects how you're taxed, how much personal liability you carry, and how easy it is to bring on investors or partners later. Getting it wrong early can be expensive to fix. |
| Corporate Governance | Documenting how your company is run, who makes decisions, how disputes are resolved, and what happens when shareholders or directors disagree |
|
Without clear governance documents, internal disputes can escalate quickly and become costly. A well-drafted shareholders agreement sets the rules before problems arise. |
| Compliance and Risk Management | Making sure your business meets its legal obligations to ASIC, the ATO, and any industry-specific regulators, and stays that way as it grows |
|
Non-compliance can result in fines, loss of licences, or personal liability for directors. Staying on top of obligations protects both the business and the people running it. |
| Mergers and Acquisitions | Managing the legal process when you're buying or selling a business, acquiring another company, or combining two entities into one |
|
M&A transactions carry significant financial and legal risk on both sides. Proper legal advice during the process protects your position before, during, and after the deal closes. |
Meet Your Lawyers
CEO, Notary Public
Barry Lazarus brings over 50 years of experience advising NSW companies on structuring, governance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate compliance across Australia and South Africa.
Director, Principal Solicitor
Mark Lazarus spent years leading legal teams inside major corporations before returning to private practice. As Legal Counsel turned Legal Director for EMEA at Monster Energy, he managed complex M&A transactions, corporate governance, and multi-jurisdiction compliance before joining Lazarus Legal as Director.
Associate Lawyer
Chen Gabay comes to business law from a background in venture capital and fund management, giving her a practical understanding of how early-stage companies are structured, funded, and built for growth.
What Businesses Say About Lazarus Legal
David Cohen
“I engaged Mark Lazarus to assist with a commercial legal matter, and his communication, experience and advice were first class throughout the entire process.
If you are looking for experienced business lawyers in Sydney, I would highly recommend Mark and the team at Lazarus Legal. Mark was a pleasure to deal with, highly commercial in his approach, and the outcome we achieved reflected the depth of his expertise.
Lazarus Legal is an excellent choice for anyone seeking professional representation in commercial and business matters.”
Linda Vydra
“We worked with Mark at Lazarus Legal to prepare a waiver for our business, and the process was handled quickly and with a clear understanding of what we needed.
The advice was sharp and practical, not overcomplicated, and gave us confidence in the final document.
If you’re dealing with business documentation and need reliable business lawyers in Sydney, Lazarus Legal is a strong choice.”
- Let's structure your business
Connect With Our Business Lawyers Sydney Team
- (02) 8644 6000
- info@lazaruslegal.com.au
- 1/422 Oxford St, Bondi Junction NSW 2022
- 5/133 Wakefield Street Adelaide SA 5000
- 1/14 Fremantle Street Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Questions Answered by Our Sydney Business Lawyers
How much does a business lawyer cost in Sydney?
Business lawyer fees in Sydney vary depending on the complexity of the matter. For straightforward work, fixed fees are common and give you cost certainty upfront.
At Lazarus Legal, fixed fees apply to most formation and governance matters. Company registration starts from $1,000 to $1,200. A bespoke shareholders agreement ranges from $2,500 to $3,500 depending on complexity. M&A transactions are scoped and quoted per matter given the variables involved. For ongoing legal needs, monthly retainer arrangements are also available.
Which business structure offers the best tax protection for a Sydney-based company?
There is no single answer. The right structure depends on your income level, growth plans, and how you intend to distribute profits. A proprietary limited company pays a flat corporate tax rate of 25% for base rate entities (broadly, companies with aggregated turnover under $50 million), which can be advantageous once revenue scales. Trusts offer flexibility in distributing income to beneficiaries at lower marginal rates, but come with more administrative obligations. Sole traders pay tax at personal income rates, which becomes less efficient as revenue grows. The structure that works at startup stage often needs revisiting as the business scales. A business lawyer and your accountant should assess this together before you commit.
How do I protect my personal assets from business liabilities?
The most effective starting point is operating through a properly structured company or trust rather than as a sole trader, since a company is a separate legal entity and its debts are generally not your personal debts. However, personal liability can still attach if you provide personal guarantees, breach your director duties under the Corporations Act 2001, or allow the company to trade while insolvent. Asset protection structures such as holding companies or family trusts add another layer, but only if set up correctly and in advance. Retrospective structuring after a dispute arises is rarely effective and can be challenged.
Does a company constitution override a shareholders agreement?
They serve different purposes and operate alongside each other rather than one overriding the other. A company constitution is a public document registered with ASIC that governs the company’s relationship with its shareholders as a whole. A shareholders agreement is a private contract between specific shareholders that can go further than the constitution on matters like exit rights, drag-along clauses, and decision-making thresholds. Where there is a conflict, the answer depends on how each document is drafted. In practice, a well-drafted shareholders agreement will include a clause that addresses how conflicts with the constitution are handled. If yours doesn’t, that is worth reviewing.
Do I need a new Privacy Policy if we use AI tools for client sorting or marketing?
Likely yes, if the AI tools are making or influencing decisions about individuals. Under the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024, Australian businesses face new transparency obligations around automated decision-making that take effect on 10 December 2026. If you are using AI tools that process personal information to sort, score, or target clients, your Privacy Policy needs to disclose that, including what data is used, how decisions are made, and what recourse individuals have. Generic Privacy Policy templates drafted before these reforms are unlikely to cover this adequately. A compliance review is worth doing before the obligations come into force.
I've heard about 'Tranche 2' AML reforms. Does this apply to my professional services firm?
It may. The Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2024 extends AML/CTF obligations to professional services providers including lawyers, accountants, and real estate agents, referred to as Tranche 2 entities. If your firm provides services such as company formation, trust structuring, or managing client transactions, you will likely be captured. Enrolment with AUSTRAC opened on 31 March 2026, with full Tranche 2 obligations commencing 1 July 2026. Whether and how the reforms apply to your specific practice depends on the nature of the services you provide, so it is worth getting advice before enrolment.
Principal Solicitor, Director, Lazarus Legal
Mark Lazarus advises NSW businesses on company formation, corporate governance, compliance, and mergers and acquisitions. Before returning to Lazarus Legal as Director, he served as Legal Counsel and Legal Director at Monster Energy, managing corporate legal matters across the EMEA region. He has since helped structure over 450 companies and complete more than 100 M&A transactions.
Page Published: 30 September 2025 | Updated: 17 April 2026