At Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers, we work with business owners, directors, and families across Berwick to provide strategic, down-to-earth legal advice. As a trusted commercial lawyer Berwick businesses turn to for leasing, structuring, and succession matters, we combine specialist-level property law knowledge with genuine local insight, so you can move forward with confidence.

Strategic Commercial Law Advice for Berwick Businesses

Berwick's rapid growth has created real opportunities. Growth brings new tenants, new developments, and new contracts, all of which need proper handling.

We help clients cut through the complexity so they can focus on running their business.

Commercial Leasing Concerns on High Street and Beyond

Leases in Berwick aren't all the same. Getting the wrong terms locked into a five or ten year lease can cost you dearly.

As your commercial lawyer in Berwick, we review, negotiate, and draft lease documentation for both landlords and tenants. This includes:

  • New leases, renewals, and variations.

  • Assignment and transfer of lease.

  • Lease disputes and breach issues.

  • Bank guarantees and solicitor's certificates.

  • Fit-out, make-good, and outgoings clauses.

Ready to protect your position? Speak with our commercial leasing team to book a consultation.

Business Structuring and New Venture Setup

Launching a new enterprise in a growth corridor like Minta is exciting, but the legal foundations you set now will shape how smoothly your business scales later. We've seen too many founders deal with avoidable disputes because their structure or agreements weren't right from day one.

Our commercial law services for start-ups and expanding businesses include:

  • Advice on company, trust, partnership, and joint venture structures.

  • Shareholder and partnership agreements.

  • Franchise agreements.

  • Business sale and purchase contracts.

  • Loan agreements and mortgages.

Whether you're a solo founder, co-founders launching a tech start-up, or an established operator bringing in new partners, we help you structure the deal properly.

Business Succession and Exit Planning

Many Berwick businesses are family-built and multi-generational. Planning how you exit, hand over, or sell is just as important as how you started. We work with owners who want to preserve the value they've created and pass it on cleanly, without family disputes or tax surprises.

Our succession and exit services cover:

  • Business succession planning.

  • Sale and purchase of business.

  • Companies and trusts advice.

  • Estate planning tied to business interests.

  • Powers of Attorney for business owners.

Your Local Commercial Law Experts Servicing Berwick

We're based just down the road in Clyde North, which means we understand the commercial realities of the local market first-hand. From professional service firms and trades to hospitality operators, we advise a broad cross-section of Berwick's business community.

Principal Solicitor Patricia Sheedy (Trish) is an Accredited Property Law Specialist in Victoria, recognised by the Law Institute of Victoria. For commercial clients, that specialist-level property knowledge proves invaluable when leases, premises, and property transactions intersect with broader business matters.

Want to talk through your situation? Book an appointment with our team today.

Why Choose Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers

Choosing the right legal partner for your business comes down to trust, knowledge, and how you're treated. Here's what sets us apart:

  • Accredited Property Law Specialist leading your matter: Very few practitioners in Victoria hold Trish's accreditation, giving commercial clients specialist-level knowledge where property and business law overlap.

  • Fixed-fee transparency: We provide upfront quotes so you know exactly what you're paying, with no surprise bills at the end.

  • Honest, straightforward advice: We tell you how it is, not what you want to hear. If a deal has red flags, we will let you know

  • Values-driven service: Equality, respect, and integrity aren't marketing lines, they're how every member of our team operates, every day.

  • Genuine local knowledge: As a firm serving the City of Casey, we understand the commercial rhythm of Berwick and the surrounding growth corridor.

  • Responsive and accessible: We aim to respond to enquiries within one business day, and our office offers on-site parking and wheelchair accessible access.

Commercial Lawyer Berwick

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Areas We SERVE

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A commercial lawyer advises on the legal side of running, buying, selling, or restructuring a business. That can include lease agreements, business sales, shareholder and partnership agreements, business structuring, loan and guarantee documentation, and succession planning. We tailor the advice to your specific situation, whether you're an established operator or just getting started.

  • Yes. We act for both landlords and tenants across Berwick and the wider City of Casey. Whether you're granting a new lease on a High Street premises, negotiating a renewal, handling a variation, or dealing with a dispute, we'll make sure your position stays properly protected.

  • Wherever possible, yes. Our preference is fixed-fee upfront quotes so you know what things cost before we start. For more complex or ongoing matters, we'll discuss the scope with you clearly so there are no surprises.

  • Most new ventures need: a company constitution (if operating via a company), a shareholders' or unit holders' agreement, employment contract templates, supplier and customer agreements, and a privacy policy if they collect personal information. We advise on what your specific setup requires and draft the right documents from the outset, rather than a one-size-fits-all template.

  • Beyond rent and term, a commercial lease sets out who pays outgoings, what fit-out works the tenant can do, what the make-good obligations are at the end of the lease, how rent reviews are calculated, and what happens if the business changes hands. These are the provisions that catch tenants out years after signing. We review leases before you commit and explain the practical implications in plain language.

  • A shareholders' agreement governs what happens between co-owners if there's a dispute, if one owner wants to exit, if someone dies, or if the business needs to be sold. Without one, you rely on Corporations Act defaults that often do not match what the parties would have agreed upfront. We draft agreements that anticipate common friction points and give all parties a clear path forward.

  • Business succession planning determines who will own and run your business after you exit, through sale, retirement, or death. It intersects with your Will and estate plan, particularly if the business represents a significant part of your assets. The earlier you start, the more options you have. We advise on succession structures, buy-sell agreements, and the legal steps involved in each exit scenario.

  • Getting started is simple. Call us on (03) 9707 1155, email admin@wslegal.com.au, or visit our office at Unit 2/43 Rainier Crescent, Clyde North VIC 3978. Our team will book you in for an appointment with Trish to talk through your matter and map out the next steps.

Speak With a Property Lawyer Today

Whether you're about to sign on a home in Circa Nar Nar Goon, weighing up a lifestyle block with a Bushfire Management Overlay, or working through a lease or commercial matter, we're here to help. Call Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers on (03) 9707 1155, email admin@wslegal.com.au, or visit us at Unit 2/43 Rainier Crescent, Clyde North VIC 3978 to book an appointment with Trish and the team.