Litigation Lawyers
Our litigation lawyers help Sydney business owners with commercial contract breaches, property and construction disputes, civil claims, and court representation.
Secure Your Legal Advantage
750+
Disputes Resolved
$120M+
in Claims Recovered
1,200+ Businesses Represented
40+ Years Combined Legal Experience
What Is A Litigation Lawyer, And When Do You Need One?
A litigation lawyer represents your business when a dispute moves beyond negotiation and into formal legal proceedings. If you are a founder, director, or business owner in Sydney facing a breach of contract, a recovery claim, or a dispute that needs to be resolved in court, that is the work a litigation lawyer handles.
You need a litigation lawyer when the other side stops cooperating and the stakes are too high to leave to chance. The earlier you get advice, the more options you have. Lazarus Legal’s Sydney litigation lawyer team regularly assists with the following scenarios:
You're owed money and informal demands have been ignored
A contract has been breached and you need to enforce your rights
A shareholder dispute is threatening the business
A builder or contractor has left defects unresolved
A leasing or property dispute has escalated
You've received a claim and need to respond fast
A negligence or IP dispute requires court representation
Your business is dealing with insolvency proceedings
Why Choose Lazarus Legal's Commercial Litigation Lawyers
When choosing a litigation lawyer, look for someone who has actually appeared in court, who is upfront about costs from day one, and who has handled disputes similar to yours.
- 40 Years of Commercial Litigation Experience. We have been resolving commercial disputes since 1975, appearing in the Supreme, Federal, District, and Local Courts across contract enforcement, shareholder disputes, debt recovery, and insolvency proceedings.
- A Reputation Built Across Borders. Senior practitioner and CEO Barry Lazarus has handled disputes across Australia and South Africa over five decades. Experience that broad changes how you read a dispute, and how you prepare for one.
- Trust Account Transparency. You deposit funds into a protected trust account. We invoice against it only as work is completed. That money stays yours until the work is done, including if you decide to walk away.
What Our Sydney Litigation Lawyers Handle
Lazarus Legal handles commercial disputes across three core practice areas. Each matter is assessed for commercial viability before we recommend a course of action.
| Practice Area | What We Handle | Legislation and Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Litigation | Contract breaches, shareholder disputes, director liability, corporate insolvency, and restraint of trade disputes | Corporations Act 2001 governs director duties, shareholder rights, and insolvency proceedings |
| Property and Construction | Building defects, incomplete works, leasing disputes, property ownership conflicts | Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) governs progress claims and payment disputes; lower-value building matters may be heard at NCAT |
| Civil Disputes | Debt recovery, negligence claims, intellectual property disputes, unfair dismissal, and underpayment claims | Claim limits apply by court: Local Court up to $100,000 / District Court up to $750,000 / Supreme Court above $750,000; Fair Work Act 2009 governs workplace and employment matters |
Not all disputes end in a courtroom. Here is how we work through every stage of yours.
| Service | What It Involves |
|---|---|
| Pre-Litigation Advice | We review your position, assess the merits of your claim, and send formal demand letters before any proceedings are filed. Many disputes resolve at this stage without going further. |
| Dispute Resolution | Where court action is not yet necessary, we explore negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and conciliation to reach a faster and less costly outcome. |
| Court Representation | When proceedings are unavoidable, we appear in the Local, District, Supreme, and Federal Courts and represent you through every stage from filing to judgment. |
| Enforcement of Judgments | Winning in court is one thing. Collecting what you are owed is another. We pursue enforcement through garnishee orders, writs of execution, and examination hearings. |
| Appeals | If a judgment goes against you, or the other side appeals a decision in your favour, we advise on grounds of appeal and represent you through the process. |
Meet Your Lawyers
CEO, Notary Public
Barry has been practising law since 1975, with a career built on litigation, dispute resolution, and hard-nosed commercial advice. A fearless litigator who has handled high-stakes disputes across Australia and South Africa, he brings five decades of courtroom and advisory experience to every matter.
Director, Principal Solicitor
Mark is admitted in both Australia and the UK and has worked as a barrister, in private practice, and as in-house Legal Director for Monster Energy across EMEA. He has defended businesses in commercial disputes, advised founders through shareholder conflicts, and managed litigation strategy for clients ranging from startups to global brands.
Associate Lawyer
Chen brings a background in venture capital, fund management, and compliance to her legal practice. That experience informs how she reads a dispute, not just as a legal problem, but as a commercial one.
What Businesses Say About Lazarus Legal
Level Architects
“Lazarus Legal resolved our unpaid invoices with ease. Barry Lazarus is a highly knowledgeable litigation lawyer, and the team was always quick to respond and manage the matter with diligence and clarity. We’ve worked with many lawyers over the years, but Barry and Mark are among the best we’ve dealt with. Highly recommend them.”
Ken Littlewood
Sales Manager/Trainer
“Mark and Barry are fantastic. They took the time to make sure I got the best result and helped me understand the complexities of the documents they prepared. Barry Lazarus is a knowledgeable litigation lawyer, and the work delivered was high quality, professional, and thorough. Highly recommended.”
- Facing a legal dispute?
Book A Qualified Litigation Lawyer
- (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 Litigation Lawyers Answer Your Questions
What is a litigation lawyer?
A litigation lawyer represents clients in formal legal disputes, from the first demand letter through to court proceedings, judgment, and enforcement. They assess the merits of a claim, build the legal strategy, manage evidence and documentation, and appear in court on your behalf. Not all litigation lawyers have equal courtroom experience. Some handle mostly pre-trial work and settle early. At Lazarus Legal, our litigation team has appeared in the Local, District, Supreme, and Federal Courts and handles every stage of a dispute in-house.
What are the stages of the civil litigation process in Sydney?
Civil litigation in Sydney generally follows this sequence:
- pre-litigation advice and formal demand
- filing a statement of claim
- serving the defendant
- filing of defence
- discovery and evidence gathering
- mediation or settlement conference, and if unresolved,
- a hearing or trial.
The District Court of New South Wales outlines the jurisdictional requirements and procedural rules when going to court for civil cases. Most disputes resolve before reaching trial. At Lazarus Legal, we assess commercial viability at each stage and advise on whether continuing to the next step makes practical and financial sense for your business.
How much does a litigation lawyer cost in Sydney?
Litigation costs vary depending on the complexity of the dispute, the court it is heard in, and how far proceedings go. Simple debt recovery matters can cost a few thousand dollars. Complex commercial disputes that proceed to trial can run significantly higher. At Lazarus Legal, we operate on a trust account model. You deposit funds into a protected trust account and we invoice against it only as work is completed. That money stays yours until the work is done, including if you decide to walk away.
How long does a commercial litigation case typically take from filing to trial?
In the NSW Supreme Court, matters commonly take 12 to 24 months from filing to trial, depending on complexity, court availability, and whether the parties engage in interlocutory steps or appeals. Local Court matters can move faster, sometimes resolving within a few months. Many disputes settle well before a hearing date, particularly once both sides have exchanged evidence and received honest advice about their prospects.
At Lazarus Legal, 73% of the matters we have handled reached a favourable settlement before trial. We give clients an honest assessment of their position early, including a realistic timeline and cost projection, so you are never waiting on a lawyer to tell you something you should have heard at the start.
What are the risks of going to trial versus accepting a settlement offer?
Trial carries cost, time, and outcome risk for both sides. Even a strong case can produce an unfavourable result, and legal costs often exceed what is recovered if the matter drags on. Settlement offers certainty; you know what you are getting and when. The trade-off is that settlement may mean accepting less than you are owed, or paying more than you believe is fair. The right answer depends on the strength of your evidence, the other party’s financial position, and what the dispute is actually costing your business. We give clients an honest assessment of both paths before recommending either.
Can my lawyer use AI to prepare my litigation documents in Sydney?
Yes, but with strict conditions. In February 2025, the NSW Supreme Court issued Practice Note SC Gen 23, the first dedicated AI practice note in Australia, setting out exactly how and when generative AI can be used in court proceedings. Lawyers must disclose when AI has been used to prepare filed documents, verify every legal citation manually, and remain fully responsible for the accuracy of anything submitted to the court. AI cannot be used to draft expert reports without prior leave of the court. Courts have already referred practitioners to regulators and imposed cost penalties for AI-assisted submissions containing errors or non-existent case citations.
What this means for you as a client is straightforward: the quality of your case depends on the lawyer reviewing it, not just the tool producing it. At Lazarus Legal, every litigation file is handled by senior lawyers who appear in NSW courts regularly. We do not hand your matter to a junior associate or rely on unreviewed output. You get qualified eyes on your case at every stage, which is exactly what Practice Note SC Gen 23 requires, and what your dispute deserves.
Litigation Lawyer, CEO Lazarus Legal
Barry Lazarus has been practising law since 1975, with experience across Australia and South Africa in litigation, dispute resolution, commercial law, and property transactions. A fearless litigator and commercially minded advisor, Barry has guided businesses through high-stakes disputes, franchise matters, and corporate transactions for five decades. He is a qualified Notary Public and the CEO of Lazarus Legal.
Page Published: 20 June 2025 | Updated: 16 April 2026