The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is making significant strides toward implementing its new merger regime, with the release of draft merger assessment guidelines for public consultation. This marks an important milestone in the transition to a more transparent and...

Fifteen years ago, Craig Sanford found himself trapped in the endless cycle of long hours and high-pressure demands. Working over 60 hours a week, he missed watching his kids grow up, sacrificed family time, and set aside passions that once brought him joy. Amid the grind, one thought kept...

Sierra Legal is pleased to announce that Kate Landells has joined the firm as Special Counsel. Kate is a highly experienced corporate and commercial lawyer who specialises in mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, capital raising, takeovers, restructuring and general commercial law. To...

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has announced that addressing auditor misconduct will be a key enforcement priority for 2025. This marks a significant shift towards holding auditors accountable for their critical role in ensuring the integrity of financial reporting. It...

Sierra Legal’s founder, Craig Sanford, recently joined Sevan Tuna from Alexander Spencer CPA on the podcast, The Bottom Line. In the episode, you’ll hear Craig’s insights into preparing a business for sale from a legal perspective, how Sierra Legal operates differently from traditional law firms,...

As we wrap up 2024, Sierra Legal reflects on a year of significant achievements and growth. From supporting a diverse range of clients to expanding our team and innovating with technology, we’ve had an eventful and rewarding year.

Our clients frequently undertake M&A deals and enter commercial contracting arrangements with international counterparties.  The presence of cross-border parties can add further complexities to transactions and additional consideration points for commercial contracts.  Not only does attention need...

With the recent introduction of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Mergers and Acquisitions Reform) Bill 2024 (the Bill), significant),significant changes are on the horizon for Australian competition law. The Bill proposes a mandatory, suspensory merger control system, set to replace the current...

We recently sat down with Jocelyn Neumueller – Paralympian (Rio 2016), 6-time world champion across paracanoe and adaptive surfing, and lawyer at Sierra Legal. Earlier this month, she added to her accolades by winning the ISA Para Surfing World Championships in California. Read the Q&A below to...

What if a misstep in handling customer communications cost your business millions?  The recent Federal Court decision against Qantas, which resulted in a $100 million penalty for breaching the Australian Consumer Law (and an additional $20 million remedial undertaking), serves as a powerful...

M&A deals come and go. Some successfully complete, while others fall over at varying stages.  Failure to complete a deal, particularly once it has progressed to the final stages, can leave one or both deal sides feeling frustrated by the time and money lost. This doesn’t have to be the case, and we...

Looking to sell your business but not sure where to start? We have prepared a useful guide to walk you through the critical steps, from strategy to completion, ensuring you're prepared for a smooth and successful sale.

With the recent tabling of the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the Bill), privacy and data security matters continue to be front of mind for company executives. The Bill introduces a raft of new OAIC investigation and monitoring powers and broader penalties (including penalties...

In today’s fast-evolving professional world, remote work has transformed from a temporary solution into a core aspect of modern workplace strategy. As businesses adapt to more flexible and innovative approaches, the benefits of remote work are being widely embraced by organisations and employees,...

As Australia’s legal landscape continues to shift, we believe it is crucial to stay aligned with the needs of our clients and the evolving challenges they face.  That is why we have taken the opportunity to refresh Sierra Legal’s mission, vision and values.  This update reflects who we are today-a...

Is registering your retention of title right on the PPSR all it’s cracked up to be?  In this blog, we spotlight some of the limitations of registration, and outline additional strategies suppliers may consider implementing to manage credit risk.

Navigating commercial law can be complex, and misunderstandings are all too common. These misconceptions often lead to costly mistakes or missed opportunities. In this blog, we’ll debunk some of the most widespread myths to help you avoid potential pitfalls and make more informed decisions.

Navigating the Australian Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) landscape can be complex, especially with the regulatory oversight of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).  In this blog post, we'll delve into the FIRB approval process and highlight the key considerations for foreign investors...

The Federal Government is poised to revamp the ‘sophisticated investor’ regime.  This blog will explore the existing sophisticated investor test, analyse the proposed changes, and assess the potential implications of these alterations on the investment landscape for both investors and corporations....

The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (‘PPSA’) is set to undergo a significant transformation.  This blog delves into the PPSA, the proposed changes, and why businesses should pay attention and prepare for the impending changes.

Time is running out to ensure compliance with Australia's new Unfair Contract Terms (UCT) regime. Starting 9 November 2023, significant changes will take effect, impacting standard form small business contracts and consumer contracts. Read our blog for a concise breakdown of the updates and take...

Companies often encounter the need to transfer contracts, whether due to internal restructuring or commercial transactions. However, this process isn't as straightforward as a mere name change. Generally, contracts can be legally transferred using one of two methods: assignment or novation. Explore...

Discover the key considerations for contracting with legal entities in our latest blog. From identifying the right party to confirming their authority to contract, we cover it all. Learn about: Contracting with legal entities: Why it matters and how it protects your rights. Tips to navigate...

Changes to the unfair contract terms regime come into effect on 9 November 2023 which will broaden the scope of business contracts that will fall within the regime.  From this date, proposing, using, or relying on unfair contract terms in standard form contracts will be banned and penalties for...

Planning to sell your business? Discover how to maximise your business’s sale potential with our comprehensive blog - Thinking of selling your business?  Here’s how to maximise your sale potential From organising financial records to safeguarding intellectual property, we cover essential steps to...