Agreements Lawyer
We lock in equity splits, formalize handshake deals, and document supplier terms before partnership disputes or unclear expectations cost you the business.
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500+
Your brand deserves to be yours, no question. Join 500+ others who’ve secured trade marks built to grow, scale, and stand out globally.
$10M +
With over $10 million recovered, our clients move forward with renewed clarity, free from delays, distractions, and the weight of unresolved matters.
2,000 +
We’ve helped over 2,000 companies scale, advising on the deals, hires, and legal frameworks behind expansion, funding, and ownership.
40 Years
With 40 years of experience, we’ve all seen the challenges you’re facing. We’ll help you avoid the mistakes others have made.
When Do You Need An Agreements Lawyer?
An agreements lawyer drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts that protect your business interests before you sign. You’ll need one when handshake deals need formal structure, when standard templates don’t cover your specific risks, or when the other party’s contract heavily favors them. Our Sydney agreements lawyer team typically assists with the following scenarios:
You're bringing on a co-founder or business partner
You're signing a commercial lease for the first time
A supplier or client sent you their standard contract
You're hiring your first employee or contractor
The Legal Team That Makes Your Agreements Enforceable
Mark Lazarus founded Lazarus Legal after serving as Legal Director for Monster Energy, where he managed commercial agreements across distribution deals, sponsorships, and supplier contracts. Since 2018, we’ve reviewed over 2,000 commercial agreements for NSW startups and small businesses, identifying enforceability gaps in 72% of contracts drafted by non-specialists. We’ve defended clients in breach disputes, recovered damages when agreements were properly structured, and renegotiated terms when businesses outgrew their original deals.
Why Business Owners Choose Lazarus Legal
We don’t just check that your contract is legally valid. We assess whether your agreement actually gives you leverage when someone stops paying, whether your termination clauses let you exit without penalty, and whether your liability caps protect you if something goes catastrophically wrong. Every review includes specific recommendations on dispute resolution clauses, intellectual property ownership, restraint of trade provisions, and whether your payment terms give you recourse beyond chasing invoices. We draft agreements that reflect commercial reality, not just legal theory.
The Agreements We Draft Most and the Problems They Prevent
| Agreement Type | When You Use It | What It Protects You From |
|---|---|---|
| Founders Agreement | When two or more people are forming a company and want to set clear rules around roles, equity, and exits. | Prevents misunderstandings over who owns what, who makes decisions, and what happens if someone stops contributing or leaves early. Avoids disputes that freeze progress. |
| Supplier Agreement | When you engage a third party to deliver goods, services, or critical inputs to your business. | Holds suppliers accountable for timelines, quality, pricing, and delivery terms. Prevents cost blowouts and delays that impact your ability to deliver or launch. |
| Client Service Agreement | When you’re offering products or services to paying clients, especially in custom or ongoing work. | Sets boundaries around scope, payment terms, and responsibilities. Helps prevent unpaid invoices, unclear deliverables, and project blowouts. |
| IP Assignment Agreement | When you’re using contractors, agencies, or collaborators to build anything involving brand, product, or tech. | Ensures your company legally owns what it paid to create. Avoids disputes during fundraising or sale when IP ownership is unclear or retained by a third party. |
| Shareholders Agreement | When you’re issuing shares to a co-founder, advisor, investor, or new business partner. | Sets the rules for control, exits, funding rounds, and decision-making. Prevents future deadlocks, forced sales, or silent dilution. |
| Licensing Agreement | When you allow someone else to use your IP; software, brand, content, or product under specific terms. | Limits how, where, and for how long your IP can be used. Prevents unauthorised replication, sublicensing, or value leakage from unclear or informal terms. |
- Signing something soon?
Get Your Agreement Right First
Common Questions About Hiring an Agreements Lawyer
What does an agreements lawyer actually do?
An agreements lawyer translates commercial deals into clear, enforceable contracts. They don’t just copy-paste terms; they draft, review, and negotiate documents so they hold up under pressure. This includes co-founder agreements, employment agreements, share subscription deeds, licensing terms, commercial property lease, and supply contracts. Their job is to make sure what’s on paper reflects what was agreed and protects your position if things turn.
Do I need an agreements lawyer if I already have a contract draft?
What types of business agreements do lawyers usually handle?
Agreements lawyers handle a wide range of contracts, including founders agreements, shareholders agreements, licensing deals, contractor agreements, IP transfers, SaaS terms, NDAs, and exit clauses. If the document defines who controls what, who owns what, or what happens when it breaks, it should be reviewed. According to the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, poor contract clarity is a leading cause of commercial disputes (ASBFEO 2022).
What is a retainer agreement with a lawyer?
A retainer agreement is a written contract that sets out the terms of an ongoing legal relationship. Instead of engaging a lawyer for a one-off job, a retainer gives you access to advice and document review as needed, usually for a fixed monthly fee. This is common for startups, agencies, or scale-ups that need legal input across multiple contracts but aren’t ready for in-house counsel. A good retainer agreement should define scope, turnaround time, and how unused hours roll over (if at all). You can read more about retainer structures in the Law Council of Australia’s Best Practice Guidelines for Client Legal Costs.
What makes a signed agreement invalid?
A signed agreement can be invalid under Australian contract law for several reasons, including lack of genuine consent (due to duress, undue influence, or misrepresentation), illegality (the agreement requires unlawful acts), lack of capacity (one party was a minor or mentally incapacitated), or absence of consideration. Agreements may also be void if terms are uncertain or incomplete, making it impossible to determine what was actually agreed. Even with signatures present, courts can set aside agreements that were unconscionable or fundamentally unfair. The Australian Consumer Law, administered by the ACCC, provides additional protections against unfair contract terms in standard form consumer and small business contracts.