What do commercial lawyers do (and how can they help you)?

If you’re a business owner, you already know that navigating business can be complex. You’ll be faced with industry challenges, growth challenges and even legal and regulatory challenges. And to overcome these, you’ll need a deep understanding of your business, an entrepreneurial spirit and… a law degree?

Well, not really. But you do need to have someone on your side who does have a keen understanding of the legal landscape. This is a commercial lawyer.

In this article:

1. What is a commercial lawyer?
2. What do commercial lawyers do?
3. Areas of work for commercial lawyers
4. How can a commercial lawyer help you?
5. How Patrick Dawson Law can help
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What is a commercial lawyer?

A commercial lawyer is sometimes called a business lawyer, and this is a great way to think about us. All commercial lawyers specialise in helping businesses navigate the complex world of business regulations and commercial law.

So if you operate in the business world, you will have to work within the realm of commercial law. A commercial lawyer can help you with that!
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What do commercial lawyers do?

You may be wondering what it is that commercial lawyers do. Because the scope of business and commercial law is so broad, the work commercial lawyers actually do is also quite broad.

As a commercial lawyer, our primary role is to provide you with advice and services that help you and your business comply with legal regulations and protect your interests. In doing this, we focus on legal matters that impact businesses, including offering expertise in compliance and risk mitigation so you can better safeguard your business interests.

We also help you ensure your business operates within the law while still achieving your strategic objectives. This means you can achieve your goals while avoiding any potential legal roadblocks.

Areas of work for commercial lawyers

To help you achieve your objectives, commercial lawyers work in a wide range of areas, including:

• Contract law. Drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts so they’re legal and enforceable. This could include supplier agreements, employee contracts, partnership agreements and more.
  
  
• Corporate law. Assisting in setting up your business structure (whether company, partnership, trust or sole trader) and handling all legal aspects of corporate governance. This includes creating shareholder agreements and ensuring regulatory compliance.
  

• Employment law. Helping you understand the fundamentals of employment law, including the rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees.
  
  
• Sales, mergers & acquisitions. Guiding you through the process of buying or selling a business, from conducting due diligence to drafting transaction documents and negotiating terms.
  
  
• Property & leasing. Assisting with purchasing business assets like commercial property or entering into lease agreements for property, vehicles or equipment.
  
  
• Regulatory compliance. Helping ensure your business stays compliant with all the industry regulations that apply to your business, including licensing, environmental laws and consumer protection.
  
  
• Dispute resolution & litigation. Providing legal support in the case of disputes, including assisting with negotiations, meditations, or even appearing in court proceedings to help protect your business interests.

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How can a commercial lawyer help you?

A commercial lawyer can bring you huge benefits whether you have a small or medium-sized business, or even a larger enterprise.

1. Get your business started on the right foot

Engaging a commercial lawyer in the early stages of your business venture can be invaluable. We can help you determine the right business structure to bring you the most benefits, help you register and get all the legal documents in place. You’ll know you’re on the right track from the start.

2. Protect your interests

We will help you draft or review all your contracts, which will protect your business interests and protect you from unfavourable terms or potential legal disputes.

3. Stay fully compliant

Staying compliant with all the legal requirements that could apply to your business can sometimes feel like a full-time job. But it’s also non-negotiable.

As commercial lawyers, we can help you understand all your legal obligations. And we’ll stay on top of any changes that could impact you. This means you don’t ever have to worry about what you don’t know, and you can be confident that you won’t run the risk of fines or legal action.
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4. Grow and expand more easily

Growth is important in business. But it’s not always easy. Having a commercial lawyer on your side when you want to acquire another business or new equipment or expand into new regions or industries with different regulations, can help make this process smooth and easy.

6. Provide ongoing support.

The best benefit you’ll get from working with a commercial lawyer is ongoing support. We can help you navigate the business world despite it being in constant flux. We’ll assist you with new legal challenges as they emerge or as your business pivots and ensure you’re always in the best (and legally compliant!) position.