Commercial Lawyers for Australian Businesses

Fixed-price commercial legal advice from Australian lawyers - business deals, disputes, leases and sale of a business

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Trusted by 650,000+ Australian businesses

Who we help, and who we refer out

Commercial law is a broad label. Before you spend an hour writing a brief, it helps to know whether Lawpath is the right fit, or whether you should be talking to a specialist. Our commercial lawyers handle the everyday legal work that runs an Australian business. If you need a family law solicitor, a criminal defence barrister, or trial counsel for a Federal Court matter, we'll point you at someone who does that full time. Everyone else, read on.

This page is for you if…

You run an Australian business (sole trader, company, or trust) or you're about to start one.
You need a commercial agreement drafted, reviewed or negotiated - NDA, services agreement, shareholders agreement, supplier contract, terms of trade.
You want a fixed-price quote before you commit, not an open hourly retainer.

This page isn't for you if…

You need family law, criminal defence, personal injury or immigration advice, we refer to specialists in those areas.
You need residential conveyancing, wills and estates, or a family provision claim, we don't advise on those.
You're already in the Federal Court and need trial representation, a litigator is your next call, not a commercial lawyer.
You need workers compensation, workplace investigation or Fair Work Commission hearing representation, we handle conciliation only.

Commercial legal work Lawpath handles end-to-end

These are the 11 categories our commercial lawyers cover, priced up-front and delivered by a Lawpath lawyer. If your matter doesn't fit one of these cards, tell us on the form, we'll either scope it in or refer you out within one business day.

Category	What it covers	Starts from
Commercial contracts	Bespoke drafting, review, negotiation	$1,400 + GST
NDAs	Mutual and one-way, employee and third-party	$600 + GST
Services agreements	SaaS, agency, consulting, contractor	$1,800 + GST
Shareholders agreements	Share transfer, dividend, exit provisions, deadlock resolution	$1,600 + GST
Employment & contractor agreements	Employee, contractor, restraint clauses	$800 + GST
Sale or purchase of a business	Share sale, asset sale, due diligence checklist	$3,500 + GST
Commercial disputes & debt recovery	Letter of demand, conciliation, pre-litigation	$400 + GST
Commercial property & leasing	Retail and commercial lease review	$1,200 + GST
Business formation & company setup	Pty Ltd, trust, shareholder onboarding	$700 + GST
Trusts	Discretionary and unit trusts, deed variations	$1,500 + GST
General commercial matter	Anything else in scope, scoped on call	Matter-specific quote

What it actually costs

Boutique commercial firms typically bill $500–$650 per hour. On a straightforward contract that's 4 to 6 hours of work, so most SMEs are quoted $2,000–$3,500 before the matter starts. Lawpath uses fixed-price quotes agreed upfront, so you know the number before you commit.

Pricing as of FY 2025-26

Matter	Fixed-price range	Typical turnaround
NDA, mutual or one-way	$600–$1,150 + GST	3-5 business days
Services / consulting agreement	$1,800–$3,200 + GST	5-10 business days
Commercial contract (bespoke draft)	$1,400–$3,200 + GST	5-10 business days
Shareholders agreement	$1,600–$3,000 + GST	5-10 business days
Letter of demand	$400–$900 + GST	2-4 business days
General commercial matter	$500–$3,500 + GST	Scoping call first

Prices exclude GST. Turnaround is confirmed in your quote. Your fixed-price quote is issued within 1 business day of submitting your brief, and you approve it before we invoice anything.

How it works

Five steps from brief to delivery, the same process for every matter type.

STEP 1

Submit your brief

Tell us if you want to draft or review a small business matter, or want an initial consult to work out what you need - plus the basic facts. About 2 minutes on the form. No credit card, no lock-in.

STEP 2

We check your brief

A Lawpath Account Manager reviews your brief and allocates it to a Lawpath employee lawyer based on their experience and capacity in small business law.

STEP 3

Fixed-price quote

Your allocated lawyer prepares a fixed-price quote for the specific work you've described. You'll receive one quote, never a marketplace bidding war.

STEP 4

Hear back in 1 business day

Your quote arrives with the lawyer's profile, experience, and a plain-English scope. If you're happy, accept and we begin.

STEP 5

Work delivered

Once you accept, your fee is held in Lawpath's statutory trust account under the Legal Profession Uniform Law until the work is complete. You review the deliverable; funds release only when you're satisfied.

A team of Lawpath lawyers

Every Lawpath lawyer is admitted to the Supreme Court of an Australian state or territory and holds a current practising certificate. Your lawyer's admission details are provided on request before work begins.

One contract sorted. The next one's already on its way.

Unlimited lawyer consultations, on-call contract reviews and discounted fixed-price quotes, all for one monthly fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a commercial lawyer cost in Australia?

Boutique commercial firms typically charge $500–$650 per hour. On most matters that works out at $2,000–$3,500 before the work starts. Lawpath uses fixed-price quotes, the specific range for your matter is in the pricing table above. Every fixed-price quote is issued within 1 business day and you approve it before we invoice anything.

What commercial work does Lawpath refer out?

Federal Court litigation, criminal defence, personal injury, family law, wills and estates, residential conveyancing, and workers compensation. If your matter falls outside our scope we’ll refer you to a specialist within one business day.

How long does a commercial contract take to draft?

Most bespoke commercial contracts and shareholders agreements are drafted in 5–10 business days from the point the scope and price are confirmed. NDAs are typically 3–5 business days. Letters of demand are 2–4 business days. Turnaround is quoted with the price.

Are Lawpath's commercial lawyers actual Australian lawyers?

Yes. Every Lawpath lawyer is admitted to the Supreme Court of an Australian state or territory and holds a current practising certificate. Your lawyer’s admission details are provided on request before work begins.

What if I already have a draft, do you still charge full price?

No. Reviews are priced lower than bespoke drafts because the base document is done. Send us what you’ve got in the brief and we’ll quote a review fee, typically 40–60% of the drafting price for the same matter type.

Do I need a lawyer, or can I use a template?

Templates are great for simple, low-stakes matters, Lawpath Essentials includes access to 550+ legal templates you can use straight away. A lawyer is the better option for bespoke commercial contracts, shareholders disputes, or any contract worth more than $20,000 in value or with ongoing obligations. If in doubt, book an initial consult and we’ll tell you honestly if a template will do.

Ready to talk to a commercial lawyers?

Get a fixed-price quote within 1 business day, no obligation to proceed.

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