Commercial Lawyer Cranbourne

Cranbourne is in the middle of a business boom. As a trusted commercial lawyer in Cranbourne, Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers helps ambitious business owners across the City of Casey secure their growth with practical, fixed-fee legal advice.

Principal Solicitor Patricia Sheedy leads our team. As one of the few Accredited Property Law Specialists in Victoria, she brings specialist-level knowledge to commercial property, business, and leasing matters. We translate dense contracts into plain English, so you can make confident decisions without feeling overwhelmed.

Commercial Legal Challenges Facing Cranbourne Business Owners

Commercial Lease Reviews That Actually Protect You

You've found the perfect site. Then the landlord hands you a 100-page lease.

Hidden outgoings, unreasonable make-good clauses, restrictive fit-out terms, and option-to-renew traps can cost tens of thousands of dollars down the track. We review commercial and retail leases for both tenants and landlords, clearly explaining what each clause means and negotiating changes where needed. You'll walk away knowing exactly what you've agreed to.

Ready to move forward with confidence? Book a consultation with our commercial team to get your lease reviewed by an expert before you sign.

Business Sale and Purchase Due Diligence

Buying an established Cranbourne business, whether it's a café, trades operation, medical practice, or retail store, can be a brilliant shortcut to growth. It can also mean inheriting someone else's debts, disputes, or dodgy supplier contracts if you don't look carefully.

Our team handles the legal side of buying and selling a business, including:

  • Contract of sale drafting and review.

  • Due diligence on liabilities, leases, employee entitlements, and licences.

  • Restraint of trade clauses.

  • Settlement and transfer of business assets.

  • Franchise, shareholders', and partnership agreements.

We'll tell you straight if the deal stacks up. If it doesn't, we'll say so, because we don't believe in charging for work toward an outcome we know isn't in your best interests.

Employment Contracts and Fair Work Compliance

Construction, retail, and healthcare SMEs power Cranbourne's growth corridor, and most are hiring. Unfortunately, off-the-shelf employment contracts rarely cover the bases, leaving owners exposed to Fair Work claims, wage underpayment issues, and disputes over restraint clauses.

We prepare tailored employment agreements, independent contractor arrangements, subcontractor agreements, and workplace policies that match how your business actually operates. Clients can also access related employment law guidance as their team grows.

Business Structures, Companies and Trusts

Setting up the right structure from day one protects your personal assets and lowers tax headaches later. We advise on:

  • Company incorporation and trust establishment.

  • Joint venture agreements.

  • Shareholders' and partnership agreements.

  • Business succession planning.

  • Bank guarantees and solicitor's certificates.

Your Local Commercial Lawyer in Cranbourne and the City of Casey

Based nearby in Clyde North, we regularly assist clients across Cranbourne, Clyde, Berwick, Narre Warren, and the surrounding service areas, as well as Melbourne-wide commercial matters.

We understand the practicalities of the City of Casey Planning Scheme, the zoning rules that apply to Commercial 1 and Industrial 1 Zone properties, and how the Cranbourne Town Centre Structure Plan is shaping commercial opportunity throughout the precinct. From signage permits near the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne to lease negotiations along the South Gippsland Highway corridor, we know the ground your business stands on.

To speak with a commercial lawyer who understands Cranbourne, call us on (03) 9707 1155 or email admin@wslegal.com.au.

Why Choose Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers

We're a boutique firm, and that's a deliberate choice. Here's what it means for you:

  • Accredited Property Law Specialist on your matter: Trish is one of roughly 75 Accredited Property Law Specialists across all of Victoria, bringing specialist-level knowledge to your commercial property and leasing matters.

  • Fixed-fee transparency: You'll know what things cost upfront, with no surprise bills and no hourly-rate creep.

  • Honest, straightforward advice: We tell you how it is, not what you want to hear. If there's a problem with a deal, we'll say so.

  • A real person service: Every client gets direct access to a lawyer who takes the time to understand your business. No "take a number" attitude.

  • Values that guide every file: Equality, respect, and integrity aren't marketing lines. They're how we work.

  • Local knowledge: We're on the ground in the Casey corridor and understand the market, council, and commercial realities you're dealing with. 

      Would you like more information?
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Areas We SERVE

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A commercial lawyer advises businesses on legal matters including contracts, leases, business sales and purchases, employment agreements, company structures, and disputes. At Wollerman Shacklock, we help Cranbourne business owners protect their interests at every stage, from start-up through to sale or succession.

  • We offer fixed-fee upfront quotes for most commercial matters, so you know exactly what you're paying before we begin. Pricing depends on the complexity of the work, and we'll discuss your specific needs during your initial consultation.

  • Conveyancers aren't qualified to provide legal advice. When a commercial transaction runs into issues, and they often do, you'll need a lawyer anyway. Engaging a qualified commercial lawyer from the outset usually works out cheaper and far less stressful.

  • Common issues include misclassification of workers as independent contractors, Modern Award compliance, underpayment of minimum entitlements, and unfair dismissal claims. The Fair Work Act creates significant obligations and getting it wrong can be expensive. We review employment contracts, advise on Award coverage, and help Cranbourne businesses build a compliant employment framework.

  • Commercial property purchases involve GST (which may or may not apply depending on whether the going concern exemption applies), Commercial and Industrial Property Tax, and planning restrictions on permitted use. We handle all of this and work with your accountant to ensure the transaction is structured correctly from both a legal and tax perspective.

  • Operating through a company provides limited liability protection in most circumstances, personal assets are not at risk from business debts or claims. However, personal guarantees (often required by landlords or lenders) and director duties under the Corporations Act mean the protection isn't absolute. We help business owners understand the extent of their protection and structure their affairs to reduce personal exposure where possible.

  • A heads of agreement summarises the key commercial terms of a proposed business sale before formal contracts are drafted. In most cases it isn't fully binding, but certain terms within it, such as confidentiality, exclusivity and deposit arrangements, may well be. Signing a poorly drafted heads of agreement can lock you into terms you didn't intend. We review heads of agreement before you sign.

  • We aim to respond to all enquiries within one business day. We typically complete lease reviews within a quick timeframe. If you need a quick turn around, let us know when you get in touch..

Secure Your Growth in Cranbourne Today

Your business deserves more than a rushed signature on a contract you haven't fully understood. Get clear, specialist legal advice from a commercial lawyer who knows Cranbourne.

Call (03) 9707 1155, email admin@wslegal.com.au, or visit us at Unit 2/43 Rainier Crescent, Clyde North VIC 3978. On-site parking and wheelchair accessible access available.