Commercial Lawyer
Expert legal counsel for Sydney business growth, risk mitigation, and disputes
Written by: Mark Lazarus, Commercial Lawyer, Director of Lazarus Legal
Published: 02 July 2025
Last updated: 26 March 2026
Secure Your Legal Advantage
8000+ Contracts Reviewed
$10M+ Transactions Supported
2000+ Businesses Advised
40+ Years Managing Legal Risks
When to Engage A Commercial Lawyer?
A commercial lawyer handles the legal side of running and growing your business, from everyday contracts to major transactions. You need one when standard templates leave gaps in protection, when the stakes are too high to guess, or when the other side has their own legal team across the table.
Our commercial lawyer team regularly assists Sydney businesses with the following scenarios:
You need a contract reviewed, drafted, or negotiated
You’re setting up or updating your company structure
You’re buying or selling a business
You’re negotiating a lease or property agreement
Why Choose Lazarus Legal As Your Commercial Lawyer Team
Choosing the right commercial lawyer means looking beyond credentials to practical experience, proactive risk management, and a strong understanding of the legal and regulatory environment your business operates in.
- Depth of Commercial Expertise. Experience across key practice areas including contracts, corporate structuring, franchising, transactions, and dispute resolution, with expertise on Australian legal frameworks such as contract law, the Competition and Consumer Act 2010, employment law, and the Corporations Act 2001.
- Proactive, Risk-Focused Advice. Identifying legal and commercial risks early, structuring agreements clearly, and addressing issues before they escalate into disputes or disrupt operations.
- Local Insight, National Compliance. Based in Sydney with strong knowledge of NSW regulatory requirements, while ensuring advice aligns with broader Australian legal and compliance standards.
Core Services for Commercial Law
Contract drafting & review
Business Structuring & Advisory
Commercial Property & Leasing
Negotiation & Dispute Resolution
Mergers, Acquisitions & exits
Intellectual property & licensing
Employment & contractor agreements
Regulatory & compliance advisory
Carly Shamgar
Best of the best. Professional, prompt and always offering excellent advice. I’ve used Mark and his team for multiple businesses from a tech start up to more established businesses. Mark has advised on employee contracts, shareholders agreements, trade marks and more. I wouldn’t use any other legal service provider.
We used Lazarus Legal for a capital raise and some related corporate work, and they were excellent from start to finish. Straight-talking, responsive, and commercially minded — exactly what you want in a lawyer. They kept things moving, explained the options clearly, and made what could have been a drawn-out process quick and stress-free. Highly recommend.
Lazarus Legal is amazing. Absolute game changers. A friendly and dynamic team with fabulous offices. Good listeners with genuine knowledge of all sectors. Fast thinkers and really take the time to understand your business. What I love most is they work with and wholeheartedly encourage startups. Highly recommend. A ++
- Growing your business?
Get A Commercial Lawyer On Board
- (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
Our Commercial Lawyer Team Answers Your Questions
How much does a commercial lawyer cost in Sydney?
In 2026, Sydney commercial legal rates vary by experience. Expect $250–$400/hr for junior solicitors and $600–$900+/hr for senior partners. Many firms, including ours, now offer fixed-fee packages for standard tasks like lease reviews or shareholder agreements to provide cost certainty.
When should you engage a commercial lawyer for your startup?
You should engage a lawyer before signing any binding documents. Critical milestones include:
- Structuring: When choosing between a Company or Trust
- Co-founder Agreements: To prevent future equity disputes
- IP Protection: Before launching your product to the public
- Capital Raising: To ensure compliance with ASIC disclosure rules
Consulting a commercial lawyer is also recommended before signing supplier, SaaS, or distribution agreements that lock in pricing, liability, and termination terms.
How do I prepare my business for "Payday Super" starting July 1, 2026?
From July 1, 2026, employers must pay Superannuation Guarantee (SG) at the same time as salary and wages. This is a major shift from quarterly payments. Failure to have your payroll systems integrated by this date risks automatic ATO penalties and interest charges.
Is the $3M "Small Business Exemption" still active under the Privacy Act?
Technically, yes, but it is being phased out, and new laws have made it a risky “shield.” While the $3 million turnover threshold still exists in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 and 2025 reforms have introduced a Statutory Tort for Serious Invasion of Privacy and a Three-Tiered Penalty Regime. These allow individuals to sue small businesses directly and grant the OAIC power to issue fines for data mishandling, regardless of your turnover.
Can I still enforce a non-compete clause in an employment contract?
Caution is required. Following 2025 reforms, non-compete clauses for workers earning below the “high-income threshold” (approx. $183,000 in 2026) are increasingly difficult to enforce. We recommend moving toward Non-Solicitation and Confidentiality clauses, which remain the primary legal tools for protecting your client base and IP from competing businesses.