Cross-border
Australian Lawyers for International Counsel and Foreign Companies
Cross-border Australian law firm acting as local counsel for overseas companies and law firms: subsidiary set-up, local contracts and governance, and clear Australian law advice, on a fixed fee quoted before we start.
Know what you need? Request a fixed-fee quote and upload your documents. Not sure of scope? Book a short call with a senior lawyer instead.
In short
Envision Legal is the Australian law firm for overseas companies operating here. We set up and support Australian subsidiaries, prepare local contracts and employment documents, and give Australian law advice to group and foreign counsel, all on fixed fees quoted before work starts.
We have worked with companies and counsel based in Singapore, India, the UAE, the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, supporting their Australian subsidiaries and providing Australian law advice on their matters.
Local counsel in Australia for international law firms
If you are in-house or external counsel outside Australia and need Australian lawyers on a matter, we act as your local counsel. We give the Australian law position in writing, review or localise your group documents, and stay in our lane so your relationship with the client is preserved.
Doing business in Australia: subsidiary or registered foreign company
A foreign company can operate here through an Australian subsidiary (a separate Australian company, which needs at least one director ordinarily resident in Australia) or by registering as a foreign company with ASIC, which gives it an ARBN and requires a local agent in Australia. We explain the trade-offs on liability, reporting and tax coordination with your accountants, then handle the set-up.
Who we work with
- Overseas parent companies setting up or running an Australian subsidiary or branch.
- Group general counsel who need a reliable Australian adviser without building a local legal team.
- Foreign law firms instructing on the Australian aspects of a transaction or contract.
Australian subsidiary support
- Entity set-up: company or branch registration, constitution, resident director requirements and initial resolutions.
- Governance: director duties, board and shareholder resolutions, intercompany arrangements and ASIC compliance.
- Local contracts: customer, supplier, distribution and services agreements drafted for Australian law, including the Australian Consumer Law. See commercial contract lawyer.
- Employment: employment contracts, awards and the Fair Work framework for locally hired staff and secondees.
- Ongoing counsel: a fractional general counsel for the subsidiary on a fixed monthly fee.
Australian law advice for overseas counsel
When your matter touches Australia, we give clear written advice on the Australian law position: enforceability of contract terms, privacy obligations, consumer law exposure, foreign investment considerations and corporate requirements. We write for lawyers who need a direct answer they can report to their board.
How it works
- Send a short brief through the form below, with any documents.
- We quote a fixed fee, usually within one business day.
- We work across time zones by email and video call, coordinating with your local counsel where needed.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with in-house and external counsel overseas?
Yes. We regularly act alongside group general counsel and foreign law firms, providing the Australian law input on a matter while they lead on their home jurisdiction. We have supported businesses and counsel based in Singapore, India, the UAE, the Republic of Korea and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Does an Australian subsidiary need a local director?
A proprietary company must have at least one director who ordinarily resides in Australia, and a public company at least two. We can explain the options for meeting that requirement and the duties the local director takes on.
Do foreign companies need FIRB approval to invest in Australia?
Some do. Whether foreign investment approval is required depends on the investor, the asset, the sector and monetary thresholds. We identify early whether the rules are likely to apply so the timetable allows for it.
Do you advise on the law of other countries?
No. We advise on Australian law only. Where a matter also turns on another jurisdiction's law, we work with your local counsel so each side covers its own law.
How are cross-border matters priced?
Every matter is quoted as a fixed fee before work starts, including ongoing local support for a subsidiary. There are no hourly rates and no surprise invoices.
Two ways to start
Get a fixed fee before any work starts.
Answer a few short questions, attach your documents if you have them, and a senior lawyer replies with the scope and the price.
Know what you need? Request a fixed-fee quote and upload your documents. Not sure of scope? Book a short call with a senior lawyer instead.