Legal Services

Our company and corporate services section sets up companies of all types including those limited by shares, by guarantee, incorporated associations and co-operatives.  We also advise on mergers and acquisitions, buying and selling businesses and their holding companies.

We often advise on amendments to and interpretation of constitutions, memoranda of association and articles of association; shareholders agreements and directors’ and trustees’ responsibilities. It is not uncommon for us to be asked to prepare shareholders agreements which involve reviewing a company’s constitution (articles of association) to ensure shareholders’ interests are properly protected.

Sometimes we are required to protect the interests of minority shareholders - this involves a consideration of companies’ constitutions and the rights granted in conjunction with the Corporations Act 2001 and other related companies legislation.   The true value of a comprehensive and properly drafted shareholders agreement is particularly appreciated when shareholders are in dispute. A properly drafted shareholder’s agreement can effectively limit the scope of a dispute, often seeing great savings in litigation and incidental costs to the parties and the company.

Our solicitors have lectured on corporate governance and company law, both in the private and public sector.

Our company law solicitors assist companies and businesses in purchasing other businesses whether incorporated on unincorporated. We have acted on a number of multi-million dollar acquisitions and disposals, restructures and de-mergers across Queensland and Australia.

We provide company legal advice in respect to:

• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Purchase and sale of private companies
• Setting up joint ventures and group company structures
• Management buy-outs
• Advising upon and setting up distributorships
• Due diligence
• Setting up offshore companies
• Agency agreements
• Assisting in formulating franchise arrangements and structures
• Advising upon the suitability of charities and companies limited by guarantee
• Private company structures
• Employment matters
• Structuring private companies to manage liability and risk
• Buying and selling businesses
• Securing property
• De-mergers
• Disputes - shareholder, oppression, winding up, sale