In modern Australia, blended families are increasingly common, bringing with them complex family dynamics, competing loyalties, and heightened risks of conflict when it comes to estate planning.  Nowhere are these risks more apparent than in the appointment of an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA), p...

Selling a business isn’t just about agreeing on a price. It’s about clearly defining who gets what and when. A Supreme Court of NSW case, Dangerous Goods Training Centre Pty Ltd v South Pacific Training Group Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 1356, sheds light on a common yet often overlooked issue in business s...

Disputes involving property co-ownership and informal business relationships are not uncommon. When personal relationships overlap with investment arrangements, the risk of unclear obligations and future disagreements rises significantly. The recent Supreme Court of New South Wales decision in Kyria...

Since November 2021, all company directors in Australia have been required to apply for and hold a Director Identification Number (Director ID). The reform, part of the Australian Government’s Modernising Business Registers (MBR) program, was a key step towards improving transparency in corporate go...

The NSW Court of Appeal decision in Bird v Bird [2013] NSWCA 262 serves as a powerful reminder of the responsibilities and legal limitations faced by family members acting as attorneys or executors of a deceased estate. The case, involving the misuse of powers of attorney and the failure of executor...

Franchising is a popular business model in Australia, allowing brand expansion without direct operational control of each outlet. However, franchisors can be held responsible for serious breaches of workplace laws committed by their franchisees. The Full Court of the Federal Court’s decision in Bake...

When informal family arrangements intersect with substantial financial contributions and property ownership, disputes can often arise following the unexpected death of a family member. The Khoury family case, recently dealt with by the Supreme Court of New South Wales, provides a detailed analysis o...

A recent Appeal Panel decision of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Take Two Seven Pty Ltd v Hewson Properties Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCATAP 1) has confirmed that a lessee’s claim to the entire basement of a leased commercial premises can be defeated where the terms of the lease and supporting do...

In a recent decision of the NSW Supreme Court, Hederics v Spare Weel Pty Ltd [2025] NSWSC 1171, Justice Williams considered the breakdown of a farming partnership and a subsequent dispute over land ownership – raising important questions about proprietary estoppel, boundary realignment, and implied ...

Running a business can be both rewarding and risky - especially if its a cafe operated not by a single owner, but by business partners — often friends or family — who decide to “go in together.” But when agreements are made informally, without clear written contracts, disputes can quickly arise.

Th...

For clients buying or selling a business, especially one involving leased premises, it is critical that we consider whether the business operates from leased premises, and how that lease is to be dealt with as part of the sale.  Usually, having leased premises will require a special condition to be ...