When a dispute heads to court, most people focus on the merits: who is right, what was done, and what it cost. But before any of that matters, there is a deceptively simple question that trips up litigants again and again exactly who are you suing, and have you properly delivered your court document...

Almost every business has a person like her: the manager who is the face of the place, who knows every client by name, who holds the relationships that keep the bookings full. So what happens when that person resigns, takes the client data with her, and opens a competing business down the road takin...

For many small business owners, the single most valuable thing they own is not the stock on the shelves or the equipment out the back – it is the lease. The right to occupy premises, often in a hard-won location, can be the difference between a business that sells for a healthy figure and one that c...

The High Court of Australia recently handed down a landmark decision in Helensburgh Coal Pty Ltd v Bartley [2025] HCA 29 (‘Helensburgh Coal’), evolving the legal landscape of redundancy and unfair dismissal.

For years, Australian employees have operated on the assumption that a redundancy was “genu...

If you are a director of an Australian company, there is a legal obligation that may appear small in administrative terms but carries real consequences if ignored: you must hold a Director Identification Number. Recent prosecutions by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have ...

Loan agreements and mortgages are among the most significant legal documents individuals and business owners will sign. They carry long-term financial consequences and, if default occurs, expose borrowers to possession proceedings and substantial cost liabilities.

The recent Supreme Court of Victor...

When personal relationships fracture, the fallout often extends beyond the home, and for business owners, the commercial consequences can be dire. The 2024 Federal Circuit and Family Court decision in Emmerton & Manwaring (No 2) [2024] FedCFamC2F 966 offers a sobering example of how poor business go...

When planning to build a home, it’s common for homeowners to consult different builders and compare prices and design ideas. However, few realise that using someone else's house plans without permission, even with some modifications, can breach copyright law.

In this blog, we unpack the decision in...

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...

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...

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...

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...