Business Structures and Strategic Advice.

Legal Guidance on Choosing the Right Business Structure

Whether you are launching a new venture or restructuring an existing business, choosing the right structure is a critical step. We provide legal advice on sole traders, partnerships, companies, joint ventures, and other arrangements so you can make informed decisions that support long-term success.

Structuring for Long-Term Success

We help you plan a business structure that supports growth, funding, and flexibility. Our advice includes:

• Shareholder and partnership agreements

• Governance frameworks and decision-making processes

• Succession planning for future ownership or leadership changes

• Structuring to support expansion, investment, or exit

Our focus is on aligning your legal structure with your commercial goals and operating model, so it continues to support you as your business grows and evolves.

Risk Management and Structural Flexibility

As your business grows or changes direction, we provide legal support to help you:

• Reassess legal and compliance obligations or manage business restructuring

• Navigate structural changes such as mergers or new partnerships

• Manage risk and maintain good governance

We work with you to keep your structure effective, adaptable, and compliant as your business changes.

Where We Work

Our commercial law team is based in Wellington, Lower Hutt, and Masterton, and we advise businesses throughout New Zealand. Whether you are just starting out or planning for your next phase of growth, we provide practical legal guidance tailored to your needs.

Questions We Often Get Asked About Business Structure Legal Advice

What business structures can you advise on?

We guide you through sole traders, partnerships, companies (limited liability), trusts, joint ventures, and hybrid models. We compare how liability, governance, and compliance differ across each option.

Do I need legal advice to set up a company or partnership?

You can register a structure yourself, but legal guidance helps align it with your goals, governance framework, and future changes. We help you avoid structural traps and prepare proper agreements from the start.

How do I choose between a company, trust, or partnership?

We help you understand the advantages and limitations of each structure based on your risk appetite, funding needs, and future planning. Our advice is practical, clear, and specific to your business goals.

Can you review or update shareholder or partnership documents?

Yes. We review existing agreements, suggest updates, and help amend or replace clauses to reflect changing roles, dispute methods, and legal best practice.

What risks arise from choosing the wrong structure?

Using the wrong structure can create issues around liability, compliance, succession, or even tax consequences. We work alongside your accountant or tax adviser to assess your current setup and guide any legal changes needed to support growth and good governance.