5 Best Commercial Lawyers in Canberra That Tirelessly Safeguard Local Businesses
My uncle, who owns a couple of local businesses, always says that picking the wrong commercial lawyer is like leaving your kids with a lousy babysitter. You could go home to find everything a mess—or worse.
It doesn’t matter if you have a small shop or a large enterprise; you’ll need a trusted and reliable commercial lawyer to help establish and grow your business properly.
So, let’s walk through the top commercial lawyers in Canberra who could save you serious headaches in the long run.
How much do commercial lawyers charge in Canberra?
Commercial lawyers in Canberra typically charge $250 to $900 per hour. Associates charge lower fees, while hiring senior partners would be more costly.
Some firms offer fixed-fee packages for things like contract drafting or incorporations.
1. BDN Lawyers
Address: 1/1 Farrell Pl
Phone: +61 2 6230 1999
Business hours: Mon – Fri: 8:45 AM–5:15 PM
For over 160 years, BDN Lawyers has been successfully helping local ventures flourish. Their Canberra office is managed by Partner Lorraine White, who has spent over a decade handling all facets of commercial law.
One of her firm’s expertise is leasing services, which include conducting property searches and advising on lease duration. They also negotiate rent figures, which is great, especially for small companies that can use those added savings.
Selling or buying a business is another forte. This is typically for first-time buyers or those planning to unload their enterprises.
If negotiations or settlements don’t cut it, their commercial litigation team can definitely step in to resolve complex legal issues.
Unfortunately, like many long-established firms, we heard reports of clients who felt occasionally ignored.
Customer service was truly exceptional
“I would not hesitate to recommend BDN to anyone requiring legal services. I mainly dealt with Diane Savage. Her prompt responses, attention to detail, communication, and customer service in general were truly exceptional. I would absolutely retain BDN again for any future legal requirements.”
— Robert Cockburn, Google Review
Hands-on legal advice was comprehensive
“From all aspects, we received excellent service from this legal firm. Our request for assistance through the website was responded to promptly. Hands-on legal advice was sound and comprehensive. We were a little off target with our request. Subsequently, after some discussion, we were put back on track in a sensitive manner to achieve our objectives. We were consulted throughout the process and interactions.”
— Andrew Grant, Google Review
2. O’Connor Harris & Co.
Address: Level 6/161 London Ct
Phone: +61 2 6247 6077
Business hours: Mon – Fri: 9 AM–5 PM
O’Connor Harris & Co. is currently being led by John Harris, who has been practicing commercial law for more than four decades.
They’re known for resolving commercial disputes without jumping straight to expensive litigation. Their team will guide you toward the most practical path—ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that want cost-effective solutions.
Contracts are another highlight, and they handle a full range, including licensing and loan arrangements, as well as shareholder and partnership agreements.
To complement their commercial practice, the firm offers support in building and construction matters. This makes them a handy one-stop shop for businesses.
Just don’t always expect a speedy response from them. Word on the street is that they sometimes lack responsiveness, which can be a bit of a hassle.
Massive help in dealing with all the paperwork
“Hello, my name is Syed. It’s been a great pleasure to have Mr Imran Quisar from O Conner Harris as my solicitor for my new business. He has been a massive help in dealing with all the paperwork getting done. And was always available for me to help out in discussing all the stuff related to it. He has been extremely professional. I highly recommend his legal service.”
— Syed abdul khader, Google Review
Very professional, prompt, and patient
“Enrica has been amazing. Very professional, prompt, and patient. Cost-effective hands down.”
— Shree Vaka, Google Review
3. Tetlow Legal
Address: Derwent House, level 8/28 University Ave
Phone: +61 2 6140 3263
Business hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 AM–5 PM
Tetlow Legal has offered strategic and practical legal advice for over 40 years, supporting both individuals and companies.
Emma Bragg leads their Commercial and Property division. She has actually been recognized multiple times in Doyle’s Guide, an independent legal directory that ranks lawyers and law firms.
Her team’s forte is buying and selling businesses. They help clients negotiate terms and sort through inclusions and exclusions that can seal the deal.
Plus, they can help you venture into the world of franchising. You don’t need to worry about updating related contracts or complying with regulatory obligations—they’ll handle it for you.
Note that while they’re fantastic with their core areas, they don’t offer the same wide-ranging commercial coverage some other firms might provide.
Very thorough and efficient
“Very thorough and efficient. Easy to deal with. Attentive. All the things you want and need. Great experience.”
— Rhys Alexander SAIN, Google Review
Perfect mix of personable and professional
“Excellent experience. We had a complex sale, and Tetlow Legal was the perfect mix of personable and professional. They stayed on top of all the issues and communicated really clearly. Made a complex process really smooth.”
— Joel Thorpe, Google Review
4. McGilvray
Address: Level 10/197 London Ct
Phone: +61 2 6189 5820
Business hours: Mon – Fri: 8:30 AM–5:30 PM
Richard McGilvray has earned industry nods from publications like Lawyers Weekly. Unlike other offices that handle a wide range of services, his firm exclusively handles commercial law, with some services not offered elsewhere.
For example, they have the bandwidth to handle mergers and acquisitions involving large companies. They also collaborate closely with financial advisors to make sure everything’s on the up and up.
Their Corporate and Commercial team supports clients at every stage of the business lifecycle.
No worries about their courtroom experience, either. Their Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team appears regularly in ACAT and Magistrates/Supreme Courts.
The only consistent critique is that some clients felt they weren’t kept fully updated throughout the process.
Their advice was incredibly thorough and considered
“The team at McGilvray Law assisted me with a matter contesting a decision made by the ACT Revenue Commissioner. Not only were they fantastic to deal with, but their advice was incredibly thorough and considered. I can’t thank them enough for all their help.”
— Steph Simpson, Google Review
Would enthusiastically recommend them to anyone
“Marie and Jacinta are fantastic. From answering all the silly questions we had to providing timely and friendly advice, they’re the whole package. Very grateful to have worked with them and would enthusiastically recommend them to anyone!!”
— Hayden Merrell, Google Review
5. Boettcher Law
Address: 2/37 Canberra Ave, Forrest
Phone: +61 2 6232 0600
Business hours: Mon – Fri: 9 AM–5 PM
With a tagline like “Commercial Law, Done Right,” you could tell Boettcher Law knows what they want to deliver: straightforward business-focused help.
The firm’s Principal Lawyer, Fabian Hoffman, has experience across markets in Singapore and Germany—beneficial for those looking for both local and international commercial services.
His team covers key areas like company structuring and compliance. Startups that want to build a business on a stable legal foundation would find this useful.
Modern businesses that rely heavily on branding and digital assets could also benefit from their contracts and intellectual property services.
Sure, their international-level expertise could be pricey, but luckily, they offer a fixed-fee pricing model. Their clear scopes and upfront estimates mean you don’t get hit with surprise bills or endless hourly charges.
Has been nothing short of brilliant to deal with
“The team at Boettcher Law has been nothing short of brilliant to deal with. They have been my trusted partner when I needed legal services and advice. I can highly recommend Fabian Hoffmann and his team!”
— Hannelore Federspiel, Google Review
Helped us buy and sell numerous businesses
“Uwe and Fabian have helped us buy and sell numerous businesses throughout the years. They have always been available to answer questions and have even worked late into the evening when we were in a different time zone to make sure we had what we needed. Would highly recommend Boettcher Law.”
— Andrew Kehoe, Google Review