Business · Adelaide & South Australia
Corporate Lawyers in Adelaide
Zed Legal Australia provides corporate law services in Adelaide and across South Australia, advising companies, directors and shareholders on company formation and structuring, shareholders agreements, corporate governance, and director and shareholder disputes.
We advise companies, directors and shareholders on the legal structure that lets an ambitious business operate, raise capital and grow — without inviting avoidable disputes later. You deal directly with a senior lawyer, not a chain of intermediaries.
Corporate law governs how a company is owned, controlled and run. The decisions you make early — how the company is structured, who holds shares and on what terms, how directors make decisions — shape your tax position, your personal liability and your ability to bring in investors or sell the business down the track.
A company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) is a separate legal entity that can hold assets, enter contracts and incur liabilities in its own name. That separation is valuable, but it only protects you if the structure is set up and maintained properly. We help South Australian businesses get the foundations right and keep them right.
- Founders incorporating a new company or restructuring an existing one
- Co-owners who need a shareholders agreement before — or after — a disagreement
- Directors facing a governance question, conflict of interest or potential breach of duty
- Businesses bringing in an investor, issuing shares or planning a sale or succession
- Company formation and structuring, including holding company and trust arrangements
- Shareholders agreements, buy-sell provisions and share transfer restrictions
- Corporate governance, constitutions and director and officer duties
- Shareholder and director disputes, deadlock resolution and exit mechanisms
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Scope
A direct conversation about the business, the owners and what you are trying to achieve commercially — not just legally.
- 02
Advise
Clear written advice on the structure and documents you need, with the trade-offs spelled out in plain English.
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Draft
We prepare the constitution, shareholders agreement and resolutions, and explain every operative clause before you sign.
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Maintain
Ongoing support as the company changes — new shareholders, funding rounds, governance questions and disputes.
Do I need a shareholders agreement if I already have a company constitution?
In most cases, yes. A constitution sets out the basic rules required by the Corporations Act, but it is a public document and does not deal with the practical realities of co-ownership — funding obligations, deadlock, share transfers, tag-along and drag-along rights, or what happens when an owner exits. A shareholders agreement is a private contract between the owners that fills those gaps. It is far cheaper to agree these terms at the outset than to litigate them later.
What is the difference between a director and a shareholder?
A shareholder owns part of the company; a director runs it. The two roles are distinct, with different rights and duties. In small companies the same people often hold both roles, which is exactly why disputes can become complicated — a well-drafted shareholders agreement keeps the two capacities separate and clear.
Can Zed Legal help with a director or shareholder dispute?
Yes. We advise directors and shareholders on disputes including breaches of directors’ duties, oppression of minority shareholders, deadlock between equal owners, and the mechanisms available to resolve or exit. We aim to resolve matters commercially where possible and advise on litigation only where it is genuinely warranted.
Speak with Zed Legal
Tell us what you need help with and we will point you in the right direction. No obligation, no jargon.
The information on this page is general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice about your specific circumstances, please contact Zed Legal Australia.