BUSINESS & COMMERCIAL LAW

Business and commercial lawyers in Christchurch. Practical advice for your next move.

Clear structure. Decisive advice. Commercial certainty.

Protect your position before committing

Our Christchurch business lawyers advise on commercial contracts, business sales and purchases, shareholder arrangements, asset protection and trading risks. We help business owners understand obligations, negotiate terms and make informed decisions before commitments become costly.

How can we help your business?

Commercial legal needs do not always begin with a document. Start with the business decision you are trying to make.

Starting, structuring or protecting a business

Get ownership, governance and asset separation right from the outset.
Structures · Shareholders · Asset protection · Governance

Explore business structuring

Signing, negotiating or trading

Turn commercial intentions into agreements that clearly allocate rights, obligations and risk.
Contracts · Negotiation · Terms of trade

Explore commercial agreements

Borrowing, lending or giving security

Understand exposure before guarantees, lending arrangements and securities are locked in.
Finance · Guarantees · Securities · PPSR

Explore finance & guarantees

Buying, selling or exiting a business

Structure acquisitions and exits with due diligence, warranties and commercial outcomes in view.
Buying · Selling · Due diligence · Exit

Explore business transactions
Structure, transactions and protection

Business & commercial services

Asset protection & business structuring

Company structures, shareholder arrangements and asset separation strategies.
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Finance, securities & guarantees

Advice on lending structures, security interests, guarantees and exposure.
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Terms of trade & trading protection

Terms designed to strengthen enforceability, manage liability and improve recovery options.
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Commercial contracts & negotiation

Drafting and negotiation that clearly defines rights, obligations and exit mechanisms.
Read More

Sale & purchase of businesses

Due diligence, warranties, restraints, leases and transaction structuring.
Read More
Business & Commercial Law

People who can help

Talk directly with people who understand business structures, transactions, property, finance and commercial risk.

Clive Cousins

Director

Grant Smith

Director

Callum McPetrie

Associate - Property & Commercial

Talk to us first.

Commercial problems are usually cheaper and easier to manage before a contract is signed, a guarantee is given or a transaction structure is fixed. Talk to us first, while there is still room to negotiate and protect your position.

Early advice can protect leverage and reduce expensive surprises later.

Early advice can help you…

 
  • choose the right ownership and governance structure
  • understand guarantees, securities and liability exposure
  • strengthen commercial terms before committing
  • identify issues before buying, selling or restructuring a business

Useful insights for business owners.

Practical guidance on commercial agreements, governance, business risk, transactions and structuring.

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Better contracts. Better protection. Better outcomes.

If you are starting, growing, restructuring, buying or selling a business, speak with our team before the paperwork locks the decision in.

 

Phone: +64 3 377 0792

Send enquiry.

Contact Form (#10)

Frequently asked questions.

Review it when ownership changes, new shareholders join, debt or asset exposure increases, or you are planning a significant transaction or exit.

A personal guarantee can expose personal assets if the business cannot meet its obligations. The scope and consequences should be understood before signing.

Where there is more than one owner, clear arrangements around governance, decision-making, funding, transfers and exits can substantially reduce uncertainty and disputes.

Ideally, yes. Once signed, the agreement may lock in obligations, liability, termination rights and risk allocation that are difficult to change later.

A purchase commonly involves due diligence, the sale agreement, finance, leases, warranties, employees, assets and the structure of the transaction.

Christchurch-Based Lawyers Serving Canterbury & New Zealand Since 1991

CL LOGO WHITE LSCPE

Clear, strategic legal advice for property, business, personal planning and dispute resolution across Canterbury.

Christchurch Office

Canterbury Legal Building
Level 2, Durham Street South
Christchurch Central 8011, New Zealand

Office Hours

Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm

Parking & Access

Client parking nearby. Wheelchair accessible building.

Contact

Phone: +64 3 377 0792

Personal

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Canterbury Legal is a Christchurch-based law firm providing legal services in property law, business and commercial law, personal legal planning, trusts, estates, incorporated societies, and dispute resolution throughout Canterbury and New Zealand.

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