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Corporate and commercial law

As a leading corporate law firm, Cooper Grace Ward provides comprehensive advice and support on all aspects of corporate and commercial law from our offices in Brisbane.

Our team brings a wealth of experience advising both public and private clients on general corporate and commercial matters across a broad range of industries.

With one of the largest corporate and commercial law practices in Queensland, our team has a depth of resourcing which allows us to take on substantial projects as well as manage increased works flows from our broad array of clients. We are experienced in working closely with in-house legal teams, with boards and senior management teams, and with operational managers and other staff, depending on the size of our client’s organisation and their specific legal requirements.

Cooper Grace Ward’s practice within this category is differentiated from our competitors by our breadth and depth of expertise and experience, cost-consciousness, commercially-focused outcomes, outstanding client service, and value-added services.

Our clients choose us and continue to work with our corporate lawyers because of our commitment to them and their businesses.

Our corporate and commercial law services

Cooper Grace Ward’s corporate and commercial law services include:

  • mergers and acquisitions
  • capital raising, including private equity and debt funding
  • company law
  • compliance systems and responses to investigations/prosecutions for alleged breaches of statutory duties
  • constitutional matters
  • contract law and contractual issues
  • corporate governance and strategies
  • directors’ and officers’ duties and liabilities
  • drafting and advice on a wide range of commercial contracts and agreements, including marketing, distribution and licensing agreements
  • corporate and commercial law training programs.

We also offer a range of additional services which support corporate transactions and business operations, including:

Continuously developing our understanding of your business and your industry

We act for clients across a broad range of industries and continuously develop our team’s knowledge of key sectors in the Australian economy. Our corporate lawyers’ experience across industries allows us to provide you with market insights that can assist your business.

At the same time, we appreciate that each business has its own unique attributes and we work hard to develop our understanding of your business and your preferences in dealing with external advisers. This means you receive legal advice that is commercial and relevant, and enables you to take action and make sound business decisions.

Cooper Grace Ward’s experience includes acting for clients in the following industries:

In addition, the clients we work with vary greatly in size and scope – from family businesses to franchises, from middle-market enterprises to large corporates, from government agencies to not-for-profit organisations.

Achieving success through effective relationships with other advisers and regulators

We have significant depth and expertise across our corporate and commercial legal practice. We are recognised for working efficiently with other advisers such as brokers, underwriters, accountants and corporate advisers. This adds value for our clients who appreciate the way in which we seamlessly connect with their other advisers to achieve our clients’ business objectives.

Our commercial team members have an in-depth understanding of the critical role of regulators in corporate operations and transactions. This includes extensive experience in dealing with ASIC, the ATO and the ACCC. Many of our clients operate in highly regulated industries and Cooper Grace Ward’s experience in dealing successfully with regulators is of great assistance to their business operations.

The trusted name in corporate law

Cooper Grace Ward’s team of commercial lawyers has earned our firm a place on the Doyle’s Guide list of leading corporate and commercial law firms in each edition since 2010. Members of our corporate and commercial team are also listed as leading lawyers in independently-researched guides on Australia’s top legal practitioners, including Best Lawyers Australia.

The team regularly presents to industry and legal audiences on topics related to corporate advisory and commercial law.

To seek advice on corporate and commercial law matters, please call our Brisbane law firm on (07) 3231 2444

Frequently Asked Questions:

Cooper Grace Ward’s depth of expertise in corporate and commercial law is demonstrated through our role in major projects and transactions for some of Queensland’s leading businesses. Our expertise extends from operational legal advice on commercial matters through to strategic advice on our clients’ most significant corporate transactions.

We tailor our range of services to meet the unique needs of each client. As a firm that acts for start-ups through to long-established corporations, we know that businesses have different needs at different stages of their development. This in turn creates different business opportunities along with legal risks and challenges. Our advice and services are aligned to your business to help you make the most of current and emerging opportunities.

Client relationships are at the heart of our business. Leveraging our industry knowledge and understanding of the latest legal developments, we invest the additional time it takes to understand the in-depth requirements of your business. This means listening to and collaborating with you to ensure our services not only deliver the outcomes needed right now, but also set you up for ongoing success.

Key contacts

Charles Sweeney
Managing Partner
Andrew Corkhill
Partner
Carly Ashwood
Special Counsel
Adelaide Hayes
Special Counsel
Sophia Ousager
Associate
Sheanda Wijetunge
Associate

Publications

CGW’s corporate advisory team once again listed in Doyle’s Guide

Cooper Grace Ward’s corporate advisory team, managing partner Charles Sweeney and partner Andrew Corkhill have been named in the 2024 Doyle’s Guide rankings of leading corporate lawyers and law firms.

Who, what, where with Carly Ashwood

Click below for who, what, where with special counsel in our corporate advisory team, Carly Ashwood. Hear how long she's been at Cooper Grace Ward Lawyers, what she would be doing if she wasn't a lawyer and what she loves about her job.

High Court determines that Australia’s unfair contract term laws extend to overseas dealings

The High Court of Australia has held that Australia’s unfair contract term laws have extraterritorial application and will apply even where applicable contracts are not wholly or partially performed in Australia.