Resources
Legal Resources for Australian Businesses
Practical guides and insights written by our team for directors and business owners navigating Australian law. Browse by topic below.
Director Liability & ATO Compliance
Director Liability in Australia: The Complete Resource
Every source of personal liability for Australian directors mapped in one place: insolvent trading, directors duties, ATO director penalty notices, WHS officer duties and ACL penalties.
Director Liability & ATO Compliance Hub
The full resource centre. Director penalty notices, lockdown DPNs, superannuation guarantee charge and the ATO enforcement toolkit, written against the primary sources and the case law.
Australian Director Duties: The Law, The Cases and The Consequences
A comprehensive guide to the duties directors owe under the Corporations Act, the penalties for breach and how to manage risk.
Director Penalty Notices: What the Law Actually Says
The flagship DPN guide. Standard vs lockdown notices, the 21 day rule, service traps, the statutory defences and the deciding cases.
Lockdown DPNs: When Liability Cannot Be Remitted
Why lodging late converts a remittable penalty into a permanent personal debt and the lodgement discipline that prevents it.
Superannuation Guarantee Charge: The Director's Personal Exposure
The strictest corner of the regime. SGC due dates, the lockdown rule for super and what payday super changes from 1 July 2026.
ATO Debt Enforcement in 2026: Garnishees, Disclosure and Winding Up
The full ATO enforcement toolkit in escalation order, from payment plans through garnishees and credit bureau disclosure to winding up.
Responding to a DPN: The First 21 Days
A day by day playbook for the 21 day window. What each remission option requires and the mistakes that close options early.
Commercial Law
What Is a Lawyer Actually For?
AI, smart contracts and the clock that always wins: understanding the real value a commercial lawyer provides to your business.
Unfair Contract Terms: What Australian Small Businesses Need to Know
The expanded unfair contract terms regime now covers small businesses. Learn what terms are at risk and how to protect your contracts.
Shareholder Agreements in Australia: What Every Private Company Needs
Why a shareholder agreement is essential, what it should cover and the risks of relying on the Corporations Act alone.
Franchise Agreement Pitfalls: What Australian Franchisees Should Know
Common traps in franchise agreements and how to negotiate better terms under the Franchising Code of Conduct.
Litigation & Disputes
Statutory Demands under the Corporations Act: What You Need to Know
How statutory demands work, the 21-day deadline and the consequences of failing to respond, including urgent injunctions and applications to set aside.
Shareholder Disputes and Oppression Remedies under the Corporations Act
When shareholders fall out, the Corporations Act provides oppression remedies. This guide explains the legal tests and available relief.
Can Creditors Sue Directors? A Guide to Creditor Rights Against Directors in Australia
Creditors may have direct claims against directors for insolvent trading, misleading conduct and more. This article maps out the available causes of action.
Debt Recovery in Queensland: The Process from Demand to Enforcement
A step-by-step guide to recovering debts in Queensland, from letters of demand through to judgment enforcement.
Civil Penalties under Corporations Act
An overview of the civil penalty provisions in the Corporations Act and how ASIC enforces them against directors and officers.
Employment Law
Unfair Dismissal Checker
A free interactive tool to assess whether an employee may have a viable unfair dismissal claim under the Fair Work Act, including eligibility thresholds and key considerations.
Fair Work Underpayments and Penalties: What Employers Actually Face
The penalties for underpaying employees have increased dramatically. This guide covers what employers need to know about compliance and enforcement.
Unfair Dismissal in Australia: What the Fair Work Commission Actually Considers
A practical guide to the unfair dismissal process, including the factors the Fair Work Commission weighs and common employer mistakes.
Non-Compete and Restraint of Trade Clauses in Australian Employment
When are restraint clauses enforceable? This article analyses the legal tests courts apply and how to draft restraints that hold up.
Starting & Running a Business
Australian Director Duties: The Law, The Cases and The Consequences
Essential reading for new directors: understand your legal obligations before you take the chair.
Astrons General Counsel: Outsourced General Counsel for Business Owners
A dedicated general counsel service for business owners who need ongoing legal support without the cost of an in-house lawyer.
Shareholder Agreements in Australia: What Every Private Company Needs
Setting up a company with co-founders? A shareholder agreement protects everyone. Here is what it should include.
Disciplinary Investigations & Professional Misconduct
AHPRA Investigation: What Happens and What To Do at Each Stage
The staged process under the National Law: assessment, immediate action under s 156, investigation and tribunal referral, with timeframes and a first 48 hours checklist.
Lavercombe v LSC [2023]-[2026]: Six Years, Five Decisions and a Tiered Costs Order
A rare practitioner win in a six-year ASCR rule 33 saga. Why particulars matter, why agency cannot be assumed and how tiered indemnity/standard costs work in regulatory matters.
Disciplinary Law: Investigations, AHPRA, QCAT & Professional Misconduct
Astris Law defends professionals facing disciplinary investigations, AHPRA notifications, Health Ombudsman complaints and QCAT proceedings.
Regulatory & Compliance
Digital Assets Law in Australia: The Regulatory Map
The pillar hub for digital assets. How a single token can sit inside the financial services licence regime, the anti-money laundering regime and the tax rules at once, and which regimes touch what you do.
Cryptocurrency Regulation in Australia: What the Law Actually Says in 2026
The Digital Assets Framework Act 2026, AUSTRAC Tranche 2 for virtual asset service providers, stablecoin SVF licensing and the key Australian court decisions on crypto regulation.
Tranche 2 Starts in Three Weeks: What We Have Been Building
An announcement of the Tranche 2 work: 2,500+ pages of policy across twelve sector editions, the five lawful CDD pathways, the Privacy Act trap and the sectors AUSTRAC left without kits.
AUSTRAC Free Starter Kits: How Did They Rate?
We audited AUSTRAC's free AML/CTF starter kits against the legislation. Here is where they fall short and what you need to add.
Privacy Act Compliance for Australian Businesses: APPs, Data Breaches and Penalties
A practical guide to the Australian Privacy Principles, the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme and the penalties for non-compliance.
Reforms to the ASCR Following AML Tranche 2 Reforms
Our open submission to the Law Council of Australia on proposed reforms to the Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules following AML/CTF Act changes.
Anti Money-Laundering Practice Area
Overview of our AML/CTF compliance services including AUSTRAC registration, program development, enforcement defence and Tranche 2 readiness.
Need advice on a specific issue?
These resources provide general guidance. For advice tailored to your situation, get in touch with our team.
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