COMMERCIAL

We build strong long standing relationships with our clients and work collaboratively with them to ensure they have the most comprehensive support and advice in their commercial matters.

Our experienced team assist in a variety of commercial matters including:

  • Business Structuring
  • Trusts
  • Purchase/supply contracts (goods and/or services)
  • General commercial contract drafting, advice and negotiation
  • Acquisitions and disposals of assets (going concern businesses, plant and equipment, shares, units and real property)
  • Finance and security documentation
  • Competition law
  • Franchising
  • Liquor Licensing including new applications, transfers/variations, compliance issues
Testimonials
“Everyone I have dealt with, from reception through to the different solicitors from various departments have been extremely personable and professional. Work has always been completed in a very timely manner and communication has always been made very easy. I have gained a lot of useful new knowledge in areas which had been previously foreign to me as the solicitors have been happy to answer any and all questions I’ve asked on any subject. This newly acquired knowledge has already been pivotal for my success in other business interactions.“
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Drew Duggan
Director WellFit Personal Training
OUR COMMERCIAL TEAM
Tim Osborn

Solicitor Director Commercial & Corporate

Tim Osborn holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business from the University of Newcastle and has been qualified as a solicitor since 2004.

Tim was previously employed as Associate in charge of the business and corporate team at a large Newcastle law firm where he concentrated on commercial transaction work and commercial litigation before founding Osborn Law in January 2011.

Tim regularly advises clients and their financial and accounting advisors on:

  • All manner of supply/procurement contracts in the building, mining and hospitality sectors
  • Software and other Intellectual Property and asset licensing
  • mergers, acquisitions and disposals
  • Corporations Act issues
  • Business and asset structuring (including asset protection)
  • Distribution and agency arrangements
  • Franchising
  • Commercial property
  • Commercial and residential lending (and security)

He further assists clients in making certain they have adequate tools in place to ensure their dealings with customers and suppliers do not expose them to undue business risk. This includes advising on and preparing credit application forms, general terms of trade, director’s guarantees and providing advice on general commercial debt recovery methods.

Tim prides himself on providing accurate, relevant, timely, and above all, practical advice to his clients.

Tim is an Honorary Commander in the Hunter Defence Support Network (HDSN) which was formed in 2015 as a single-purpose community support and advocacy group focused on improving the lifestyle of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families whilst posted to the Hunter Region.

He is a member of the Camp Quality Newcastle MotoCyc committee responsible for organising the annual fundraiser motorbike ride through country NSW combining his passion for motorbike riding and supporting great local charities.

Tim is also a former Director on the Board of NUSport (2008-2018), an incorporated body of the University of Newcastle which is responsible for the development of sport and fitness through services, facilities and activities, along with being a member of their Finance and Infrastructure Committees.

When not in the office, Tim loves spending time with his family, being outside and being active. Tim is a keen dirt bike rider and four wheel driver, and enjoys the bush and camping.

Laura Bennett

Senior Associate Commercial & Property

Laura Bennett has more than 14 years of experience in the legal profession. Following her completion of a Bachelor of Laws at Newcastle University she took up a full time paralegal position before being admitted as a solicitor in 2008.

She has particular expertise in commercial contract negotiations and drafting. She has an exceptional set of drafting skills and a “can do” approach to client service.

Laura’s experience in commercial and property law includes:

  •  Drafting and advising on supply agreements and other service contracts
  •  Drafting trading terms
  •  Negotiating and drafting commercial and retail leases and licence agreements
  •  Drafting and advising on shareholder and unitholder agreements, share transactions and business sale and purchase agreements
  • Corporate structuring and mergers and acquisitions
  • Regularly running large commercial and residential land sale and purchase transactions
  • Residential and strata subdivisions and consolidations
  • Drafting and advising on loan, mortgage and other security and guarantee documents
  • Advising on limited recourse borrowing arrangements and bare trust acquisitions and roll overs
Lana Black

Senior Associate Commercial & Estate Planning

Lana Black is a Senior Associate at Osborn Law.

With a Masters in Wills and Estates and over a decade’s experience specialising in this area, Lana heads up our Wills and Estates team.

Lana’s practice is primarily focused on estate planning and commercial structuring arrangements, along with deceased estates.

Lana is passionate about providing practical advice to clients and looks to ensure her clients’ affairs are appropriately structured both in their lifetimes and after their death.

Lana believes effective estate planning is as much about preserving relationships among family members, as it is about transitioning wealth. Lana enjoys getting to know her clients on a personal level – understanding their family, their asset structure, business needs and their priorities. There is no onesizefitsall approach to this area and the strategies we use very much depend on the priorities of clients and the risks they are comfortable/uncomfortable with.

Lana also has extensive experience in the administration of deceased estates, including advising both executors and beneficiaries in a wide variety of estate matters such as family provision claims; questions of capacity; questions of informal wills; taxation; duties and responsibilities of executors/administrators; and general administration of estates.

Stemming from her background in wills and estates, Lana is responsible for dealing with the establishment, amendment and vesting of trusts for Osborn Law clients. Lana is also experienced in advising clients in relation to associated asset protection and structuring and works closely with Osborn Law’s commercial team when looking at clients’ commercial structuring arrangements and business succession planning.

Lana is a Committee Member for the Bean Counters Ball, an annual fundraiser held to support underprivileged youth and their education pathways. Lana is also regularly involved in other charity initiatives including managing Osborn Law’s involvement with Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s Wills Week and coordinating our Red Nose Day fundraising.

Lana is a member of Newcastle Law Society, Hunter Young Professionals and Hunter Business Women’s Network.

Zoe Butler

Solicitor Commercial & Corporate

Zoe graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) in 2019. Since being admitted as a solicitor, Zoe has gained a range of experience in corporate and commercial law acting for not-for-profit organisations and private, public and ASX listed companies.

Zoe has a keen interest in corporate and commercial law and has experience advising clients on:

  • Mergers and acquisitions including business and asset sales and sales of securities
  • Capital raising and corporate governance
  • Drafting and advising on structuring and ownership documents such as shareholder and unitholder agreements and business succession deeds
  • Drafting and advising on commerical contracts and loan and security documents
  • Commerical property including conveyancing, leasing and land development

Zoe always endeavours to assist clients in achieving a commercial outcome. She prides herself on her professional yet personable nature and values developing long-lasting relationships with her clients.

On her days off, Zoe enjoys keeping fit, spending time outdoors and hanging out with family and friends – nothing will keep her inside on a nice day!