Contract Lawyers Sydney

Contracts we work on

• Services agreements — B2B services, master services agreements (MSAs), consulting agreements. See services agreements.
• Supply and distribution — supply of goods, exclusive and non-exclusive distribution, reseller and channel agreements.
• SaaS and subscription — SaaS terms of service, subscription agreements, data processing agreements (DPAs). See SaaS terms and subscription contracts.
• Licensing — IP licences, software licences, trademark licences, franchise-adjacent brand licences.
• Joint venture and shareholders' agreements — unincorporated JV agreements, incorporated JVs, shareholders' agreements.
• Employment and contractor — employment contracts, contractor agreements with IP assignment, restraint deeds.
• NDAs, LOIs, term sheets — one-way, mutual, letters of intent, term sheets for M&A and investment.
• Sale of business — asset sale agreements, share sale agreements, earn-out and warranty schedules.
• Website terms and privacy policies — website terms, privacy policies compliant with the Privacy Act.

Three ways we work on contracts

1. Draft from scratch

For contracts you will re-use — your standard services agreement, standard supply terms, standard SaaS subscription. One properly drafted template that every future customer signs. Fixed fee $1,500–$3,500 + GST for standard categories.

2. Review and mark up

You have received a contract from the other side. We review it against Australian law, redline the risky terms, and provide plain-English commentary on what matters and what does not. Fixed fee $800–$2,000 + GST for standard contracts.

3. Negotiate and close

For higher-stakes contracts (M&A, senior executive, licensing, JV) we run the negotiation end-to-end — mark up, exchange, negotiate with the other side's lawyer, close. Scoped individually.

What we watch for

Contracts hide risk in a small number of predictable places. In every review, we specifically flag:

• Liability caps — is the cap workable, or so low it makes warranties meaningless? Are consequential losses excluded?
• Indemnities — see our guide on indemnity clauses. One-way indemnities against a small counterparty can be commercial suicide.
• IP ownership — background IP, foreground IP, licences back on termination. Contractors especially.
• Payment and termination — payment terms, termination for convenience, termination for breach, notice periods.
• Restraint of trade — enforceable scope (activity, geography, duration) under NSW law.
• Unfair contract terms — for standard-form contracts, compliance with the ACL / ASIC Act UCT regime.
• Force majeure — see our guide on force majeure clauses.
• Governing law and dispute resolution — Australian law and Australian jurisdiction where possible. Arbitration vs court.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a contract lawyer cost in Sydney?

Envision quotes fixed fees. A standard commercial contract review is typically $800–$2,000 + GST. Drafting from scratch is $1,500–$3,500 + GST for a standard services, supply or subscription agreement. Complex bespoke work (M&A, JV, licensing) is scoped individually.

How fast can you review a contract?

Standard commercial contracts under 30 pages are typically turned around in 2–3 business days. Urgent work is available on request with a same-day or next-day option quoted at the time of engagement.

Should I use a template contract or hire a lawyer?

Templates are fine for very simple, low-value, one-off arrangements. For anything you will use repeatedly (services agreement, supply terms, SaaS subscription), or anything with material money or IP at stake, a properly drafted contract pays for itself the first time it is enforced.

Do you handle unfair contract term issues?

Yes — the expanded UCT regime (in force since November 2023) exposes both large and small businesses to penalties of up to $50m per breach. We review standard-form contracts against the UCT rules and redraft to comply. See our guide on unfair contract terms.

Related pages

• Business lawyers Sydney
• Commercial lawyers Sydney
• Business contracts
• MSA template Australia