Corporate Law

Corporate law governs how companies are formed, managed, financed, and regulated. If you are a director, shareholder, investor, or business owner, corporate law shapes many of the legal decisions you make, often with serious personal and financial consequences.

Through Advisent, you can connect with corporate lawyers across Australia who advise on company structures, governance, transactions, and regulatory obligations.

What does corporate law cover?

Corporate law focuses on how companies operate and meet their legal responsibilities. It commonly includes:

• Company formation and structure
• Shareholder and unitholder agreements
• Director duties and obligations
• Corporate governance and compliance
• Capital raising and investor arrangements
• Mergers, acquisitions, and business restructures
• Insolvency and financial distress advice
• ASIC investigations and enforcement matters
• Corporations Act compliance

If you are involved in running or investing in a company, corporate law is directly relevant to your legal position.

When should you speak to a corporate lawyer?

Many people first speak to a corporate lawyer when something has already gone wrong, such as a dispute between shareholders, pressure from creditors, or contact from a regulator. In reality, early advice often prevents these issues from escalating.

You should consider speaking with a corporate lawyer if you are:

• Setting up a company
• Becoming a director or officer
• Bringing on shareholders or investors
• Raising capital
• Buying or selling company interests
• Concerned about your director duties
• Facing financial difficulty
• Dealing with ASIC or another regulator

Early advice helps you understand your personal risk, not just the company’s exposure.

Director duties and personal risk

Directors have strict legal duties under the Corporations Act. These duties apply regardless of whether the company is large or small, and they can carry personal liability.

Common director duties include:

• Acting with care and diligence
• Acting in the best interests of the company
• Avoiding improper use of position
• Avoiding insolvent trading
• Complying with reporting and disclosure obligations

If a company experiences financial or governance problems, directors are often exposed first. The focus is always on protecting your legal position and helping you make informed decisions. Getting clear advice early is critical.

If you are dealing with a company-related issue, facing personal exposure as a director, or planning a major business step, you can connect with a corporate lawyer through Advisent.

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