We Do Legal
Business Solicitor in Sydney: Commercial Legal Services for NSW Companies
Business Solicitors with Commercial Operations Experience
Led by Mark Lazarus, former Legal Director at Monster Energy, our team brings in-house commercial experience to client legal services.
We understand how contracts operate in daily business environments and which clauses protect companies during disputes or payment failures. Every commercial matter is managed by NSW and UK qualified senior lawyers who’ve drafted agreements for businesses ranging from sole traders to ASX-listed companies.We review more than 100 commercial agreements weekly for NSW businesses.
Common business legal services:
- Contract drafting and review (supply, distribution, service agreements)
- Shareholder and partnership agreements
Employment contracts and Fair Work compliance - Commercial property lease review
- Debt recovery and dispute resolution
- Intellectual property protection and licensing
- Business sale and acquisition documentation
- Regulatory compliance advice
How Our Business Solicitors Review Commercial Contracts
Send Documents
Submit contracts, agreements, employment terms, or compliance materials requiring review or drafting.
Risk Assessment
We identify commercial risks, ambiguous terms, or missing protections within 48 hours.
Draft or Revise
Clear documentation covering payment terms, liability limits, termination rights, and dispute resolution.
Ongoing Support
Continued assistance for negotiations, employment matters, or disputes as your business scales.
Legal Services Beyond Contract Review
Expanding operations? Our Employment Agreement Lawyer service structures workplace documentation that prevents unfair dismissal claims and protects business IP under Fair Work Act 2009.
Negotiating commercial space? Our Commercial Property Lease Lawyers identify hidden maintenance costs, rent review mechanisms, and exit clauses before you commit to multi-year terms.
Acquiring or selling a business? Our Buying a Business Lawyer team conducts due diligence examining financial statements, customer concentration, and operational dependencies that standard solicitors miss.
James Chen, SaaS Founder
Mark’s shareholder agreement caught a vesting gap that would’ve cost me 15% equity when my co-founder left six months later.
Priya Sharma, Healthtech Startup
Their IP assignment process was fast and covered scenarios our DIY template completely missed, saved us during Series A due diligence.
Tom Richardson, Fintech Founder
Clear fixed fees and investor ready documents without the $20K bill from big corporate firms.
- Ready when you are
Get Strategic Legal Advice
Schedule a consultation about your commercial legal requirements.
Initial consultation focuses on your situation, risks, and solutions.
You get specific advice and clear recommendations protecting interests while achieving objectives.
What Business Owners Should Know About Hiring a Solicitor in Sydney
How much does a business solicitor cost in Sydney?
Legal fees for business matters in Sydney vary depending on transaction complexity, document volume, and urgency requirements. Hourly rates for commercial solicitors typically range between $300 and $600 plus GST, with senior lawyers and specialised practitioners charging toward the higher end. Many business-focused firms now offer fixed-fee arrangements for predictable legal costs. Common fixed-fee services include contract drafting ($800–$2,500 per agreement), employment documentation ($600–$1,200 per contract), and commercial lease reviews ($1,500–$3,500). At Lazarus Legal, business owners receive written quotes before engagement with clear scope definitions to prevent billing disputes. Investing in proper contract documentation typically represents 1-3% of transaction value and prevents disputes that regularly cost $20,000–$100,000 to resolve through litigation or mediation. For guidance on professional legal costs and fee structures in NSW, visit the Law Society of NSW at lawsociety.com.au for resources on engaging legal services appropriately.
What's the difference between a solicitor and a lawyer in Australia?
In Australia, “lawyer” is a general term describing anyone admitted to legal practice, while “solicitor” specifically refers to lawyers who provide legal advice, draft documents, and represent clients in lower courts but typically do not appear as advocates in superior courts. Solicitors handle transactional work including contract drafting, property conveyancing, company formations under Corporations Act 2001, employment documentation, and dispute resolution through negotiation or mediation. Barristers are specialist advocates who appear in superior courts and provide expert legal opinions but generally do not meet directly with clients. Solicitors brief barristers when court representation is required. Most business legal work involves solicitors rather than barristers because commercial matters focus on preventive documentation, contract negotiation, and dispute resolution before litigation. When litigation becomes necessary, solicitors instruct barristers to appear in Supreme Court or Federal Court proceedings. The Law Society of NSW provides comprehensive information about legal profession structure and practitioner roles at lawsociety.com.au for business owners navigating legal service engagement.
When should a business owner hire a solicitor in Sydney?
Business owners should engage solicitors before signing significant commercial agreements, employing staff, entering leases, or acquiring business assets. The most critical intervention points occur before contractual commitments are made. Once agreements are signed, rectifying unfavourable terms requires renegotiation or litigation under contract law principles. Common situations requiring immediate legal advice include receiving supplier contracts with extended payment terms, hiring first employees and needing compliant employment contracts under Fair Work Act 2009, negotiating commercial property leases exceeding three-year terms, and acquiring existing businesses requiring due diligence on financial statements and operational liabilities. Business owners commonly make expensive mistakes without early legal guidance including signing contracts with ambiguous termination clauses, misclassifying employment relationships as contractor arrangements, agreeing to personal guarantees for business debts, and entering partnerships without formal shareholder agreements. Preventive legal review typically costs $1,500–$5,000 and prevents disputes that regularly consume $30,000–$150,000 in legal fees and lost business time. For information on legal obligations when operating businesses in NSW, visit the Australian Securities and Investments Commission at asic.gov.au.
What should I look for when choosing a business solicitor in Sydney?
Effective business solicitors combine commercial transaction experience with clear communication and fixed-fee pricing structures that suit business budgeting requirements. Ideal legal partners understand your industry’s specific risks. Construction solicitors recognise payment timing issues under Security of Payment Act, retail solicitors understand lease terms for high-traffic locations, and technology solicitors protect IP ownership in development agreements. Business owners should evaluate solicitors based on direct senior lawyer access rather than work handled by junior staff, transparent fee structures with written quotes before engagement, and experience drafting agreements for your transaction size and complexity. Large corporate firms often over-engineer documents for small business needs, consuming excessive fees for unnecessary complexity. Sole practitioners may lack capacity during urgent matters or specialised expertise in areas like employment law or business acquisitions. Mid-sized commercial firms like Lazarus Legal typically provide senior lawyer attention with reasonable fee structures suited to growing businesses. For guidance on selecting appropriate legal representation based on business size and legal needs, the Law Society of NSW offers resources at lawsociety.com.au for business owners evaluating professional service providers.
Do small businesses need formal contracts with suppliers and customers?
Yes. Formal written contracts protect small businesses from payment disputes, service failures, and liability claims that informal arrangements cannot address. Verbal agreements or email exchanges create significant legal uncertainty because parties often have different understandings about payment timing, service standards, liability limits, and termination rights. Under Australian contract law, courts interpret ambiguous terms against the party that drafted them, meaning informal arrangements typically favour the other party during disputes. Written contracts establish clear payment schedules preventing cash flow issues, define service standards and performance metrics, limit liability exposure for issues outside your control, and specify dispute resolution processes avoiding costly litigation. Small businesses face particular vulnerability because operational disruptions from payment delays or service failures can threaten business viability more severely than larger companies with capital reserves. Properly drafted supplier agreements cost $800–$2,000 and prevent disputes that regularly consume $15,000–$50,000 in legal fees, lost time, and damaged commercial relationships. Customer terms and conditions also protect against liability claims under Australian Consumer Law by clearly defining service scope, warranties, and limitation periods. The Law Society of NSW provides resources on contract requirements and dispute prevention at lawsociety.com.au for small business owners establishing commercial documentation.