In recent times the term corporate governance, and the increasingly popular good corporate governance, appear to be regular topics of discussion both in the media and the general population. These terms are regularly used when considering the actions of a wide range of companies from very small local companies through to global organisations such as continue reading
If your business or one you know (or an individual) is facing litigation, either because another party is threatening it, or because you feel you have a right to act, what do you do first and where do you seek help? It has been said that litigation is a game in which the court is continue reading
If your company is in financial difficulty and heading towards insolvency, there are options available which allow a company to be guided through its financial distress. The best option for your company depends on the solvency of the company and the broad range of director duties and obligations. In this article, we examine the three continue reading
Intellectual property (IP) is the property of your mind or proprietary knowledge and can be an invention, a trade mark, a design or the practical application of your idea. It is important that you understand how to protect IP as it is a valuable business asset and it will usually be easier and cheaper taking continue reading
The collapse of Storm Financial Limited (Storm) occurred in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 (GFC) and reads like a textbook cautionary tale for directors and officers. Background Emmanuel and Julie Cassimatis established Storm and at all relevant times held all shares in the company and were the only executive directors. Prior continue reading
It is common for builders and operators in the construction industry to utilise contractors to carry out specific trade skills such as concreting, plastering, bricklaying and plumbing. Business operators however, need to be cautious when ‘hiring’ skilled or other labour to ensure that they are not in breach of provisions of the Fair Work Act continue reading
New privacy laws known as the Australian Privacy Principles were introduced in 2014, the laws are a new set of privacy principles affecting the handling of personal information. If you have a website privacy policy you should review it for compliance with the privacy principles. The aim of the principles is to bring Australia’s privacy continue reading
When renting a business related property it is important for both Landlords and Tenants to understand the relationship they are entering into and the rights and obligations that they each have, the document that governs this relationship is usually a Commercial Lease. So what is a Commercial Lease? A lease is a legally binding contract continue reading
One of the possibilities of coming into financial strife is that a person may have to deal with bankruptcy. Bankruptcy can have long term adverse effects on a person’s credit rating and ability to borrow money in the future. As such, it is crucial to be informed about bankruptcy and its effects. What is bankruptcy? continue reading
Landlords, tenants and managing agents should be aware of new provisions under the revised Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 (the ‘Act’). The Retail Shop Leases Amendment Bill 2015, staged to commence in November 2016, triggers new considerations when entering into a lease. The changes are intended to uphold present consumer protective provisions, whilst clarifying some continue reading
The Federal Government has enacted legislation extending the unfair contract term protections of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) to the small business sector. Under the new laws, a Court is able to declare that a term of a standard form small business contract continue reading
During difficult economic conditions it is important that all directors revisit their duties as directors and are aware of how the board should deal with the situation where a company is in financial difficulty and may be insolvent. What is insolvency? A company is deemed to be insolvent when it cannot pay its debts as continue reading
In an industry that is dominated by grey suits, Sajen Legal aren’t afraid to stand out from the crowd with a bit of style. The boutique business law firm has recently joined forces with corporate fashion label 400 Co. to bring an evening of inspiration and glamour to the coast. Earlier this year, Sajen lawyers continue reading
Everything You Need To Know About Shareholders Agreements If you’re planning on investing in a company, you probably expect that your investment will allow you to realise certain benefits in the future. Perhaps you’ve been promised a share in the company’s profits, or offered a managerial role in the business. Maybe you want to influence continue reading
Increase In Minimum Wage The Fair Work Commission has announced a 2.4% increase to minimum wages that will apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2016. This will bring the new national minimum wage up to $17.70 per hour, but it won’t affect employees who are already getting paid continue reading
Do you remember how much you looked forward to summer holidays as a kid? Weeks of running riot with your mates through the neighbourhood, long lazy days at the beach, and not a scrap of homework in sight! It’s hard to believe any grown-up would need convincing to take a holiday but apparently some people continue reading
Overzealous airport security, long days on the road and annoying flight delays can make travelling for business a challenging experience. However, there are ways to make your business travel less stressful and more enjoyable. Whether you’re travelling to see clients for half the year or have to attend monthly meetings interstate, there are simple ways continue reading
Cameron O’Hara is the Dealer Principal at Mercedes-Benz Sunshine Coast and Daimler Trucks Sunshine Coast. Being local businesses, they provide employment for over 70 Sunshine Coast residents and are centrally located in Maroochydore and Forest Glen. Both dealerships have fully operational sales, service and parts facilities as well as finance availability. In true Mercedes-Benz fashion, continue reading
Cash flow problems are often serious concern for any business. In today’s world, unstable economic conditions are making it increasingly difficult for small and medium businesses to maintain a steady source of cash flow. However, a cash flow problem doesn’t necessarily stem from negative cash flow. It could come from making a huge payment, leading continue reading
Lawyers are their own worst enemy, it’s no wonder nobody likes them. A contract is only as good as your ability or willingness to enforce it. Better no contract than a poorly drafted one. Judges are human too, they err. Some people can’t be told or sold. Rights come with responsibility – give away the continue reading
