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BUSINESS & COMMERCIAL LAW · BUSINESS STRUCTURING
Build the business on a structure that fits the risk, ownership and future plan.
Clear ownership. Practical protection. Room to grow.
Canterbury Legal helps business owners choose and maintain structures that support commercial goals while managing ownership, liability, succession and asset-protection considerations.
Talk to us before the structure is locked in
Ownership and structuring decisions are easiest to get right before assets, debt, shareholders and contracts become tangled together. Early advice can reduce avoidable restructuring later.
The aim is a structure that works commercially as well as legally.
We can help with…
- company and ownership structures
- shareholder arrangements
- asset ownership and risk separation
- succession and exit planning
- restructuring as the business evolves
Structure for the way the business actually operates
How we help with business structuring.
Entity structure
Choose an appropriate company, partnership or ownership structure.
Shareholder arrangements
Set clear rules around ownership, decision-making, exits and disputes.
Asset ownership
Consider where key assets should sit and how business risk is separated.
Risk allocation
Align guarantees, liabilities and obligations with the intended commercial position.
Succession planning
Plan for ownership transition, retirement, sale or unexpected events.
Restructuring
Update the structure as ownership, funding or business priorities change.
Business Structuring
People who can help.
Commercial legal advice for owners planning, restructuring or protecting a business.
What happens next.
- We understand the business and the commercial goals behind the structure.
- We map ownership, assets and liabilities and identify pressure points.
- We recommend a structure that balances practicality, control and risk.
- We prepare the documents and coordinate implementation.
- The structure is reviewed as the business changes.
Related business services
Finance, securities & guarantees
Understand funding obligations and security arrangements.
Commercial contracts & negotiation
Put clear legal terms around commercial relationships.
Sale & purchase of businesses
Structure acquisitions and exits with the legal detail under control.
Useful business structuring insights
Practical guidance on ownership, governance, succession and commercial risk.
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Strong structure. Clear ownership. Better decisions.
If you are starting, restructuring or planning the next stage of a business, talk with our commercial team before the structure becomes harder to change.
Phone: +64 3 377 0792
Send enquiry.
Frequently asked questions.
The right structure depends on ownership, risk, funding, tax advice, succession plans and how the business will operate. We can help assess the legal side alongside your accountant and other advisers.
Where a company has multiple owners, a clear shareholders’ agreement can help define decision-making, exits, funding obligations and what happens if relationships break down.
Sometimes, but the effectiveness depends on the structure, guarantees, transactions and legal obligations involved. It should be planned before risk crystallises.
Review it when ownership changes, new investors arrive, debt increases, significant assets are acquired, succession is approaching or the business model changes materially.
Yes. Business restructuring often works best when legal, accounting and tax advice are coordinated so the documents and implementation align with the commercial plan.