Commercial Lease Lawyers in Sydney
Advice on commercial leases from a boutique Sydney firm with 35+ years in property law.
A commercial lease usually commits you for longer, and for more money, than almost any other contract your business signs. Cassab & Associates Solicitors advises Sydney tenants and landlords on commercial and retail leases: reviewing terms before you sign, negotiating changes, and resolving disputes when a lease goes wrong. We're a boutique firm based in Bankstown, and the solicitor you meet is the solicitor running your matter.
Lease reviews before you sign, with the risks explained in plain English
Advice on NSW Retail Leases Act obligations for retail premises
Acting for tenants and landlords across Sydney for 35+ years
A boutique firm: one solicitor handles your matter end to end
What our commercial lease lawyers help with
-
Most lease problems are visible in the document before signing, they're just written in language designed to be skimmed past. We review the whole lease and flag the terms that cost tenants money: rent review mechanisms, outgoings and how they're apportioned, make-good obligations at the end of the term, personal guarantees, demolition and relocation clauses, and permitted use restrictions that can quietly block a future sale of your business.
-
Landlords expect negotiation. We prepare a schedule of requested amendments and negotiate directly with the landlord's solicitor or agent, so you know exactly what you're agreeing to before commitment, not after.
-
If your premises fall under the Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW), specific rules apply: disclosure statements, minimum five-year terms in many cases, restrictions on certain outgoings, and a dedicated dispute pathway through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. We advise on whether the Act applies to your lease and what it changes for you.
-
Selling a business usually means assigning its lease. We handle assignments and landlord consent, subleases, option exercises and renewals, and disputes over rent reviews, repairs, bonds and make-good claims.
How it works
Step 1: Send us the lease or heads of agreement
Your dedicated conveyancer will thoroughly review your contract of sale, conduct necessary property searches, and identify any potential issues that need addressing before you proceed with the transaction.
Step 2: Get written advice you can act on
You receive clear written advice identifying the terms that need attention, what each one means for your business in dollars and obligations, and our recommended amendments.
Step 3: We negotiate and finalise
We negotiate the amendments, review the final version, and see the lease through execution and registration where required, so you can focus on the fit-out and the move.
Why businesses choose Cassab & Associates
35+ years practising property and commercial law in Sydney
More than 16,000 clients assisted across property, business and estate matters
A deliberately tight set of practice areas, so leasing work is everyday work
Direct access to your solicitor, not a call centre or rotating juniors
Based in Bankstown, acting for clients across Sydney
What does a commercial lease review cost?
Costs depend on the length and complexity of the lease and how much negotiation follows. We tell you our fees before we start, so there are no surprises in the invoice.
Client Success Stories
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Yes. A commercial lease binds you for the full term even if the business struggles, and terms like make-good obligations, rent reviews and personal guarantees carry real financial consequences. A review before signing means those terms can still be negotiated. After signing, your options narrow considerably.
-
It depends on the premises and its use. The Retail Leases Act 1994 (NSW) generally covers shops in retail shopping centres and premises used for prescribed retail businesses, with some exclusions such as very large premises. Whether it applies changes your disclosure rights, term and outgoings, so it's one of the first things we check.
-
A make-good clause sets out the condition you must return the premises in when the lease ends, which can range from a clean and tidy handover to stripping the fit-out back to a bare shell. Poorly negotiated make-good obligations can cost tenants tens of thousands of dollars at exit, so we look at this clause closely in every review.
-
The existing lease usually needs to be assigned to you with the landlord's consent, and the landlord can ask for financial and business credentials before consenting. We review the lease you're inheriting, manage the assignment, and advise on any guarantee the landlord asks you to give. This runs alongside the business purchase itself.
-
Yes. We prepare and review leases for landlords, advise on Retail Leases Act disclosure obligations, and act in disputes over arrears, repairs and make-good. Acting on both sides over the years means we know the pressure points in a negotiation regardless of which chair we're in.
Before you sign or grant a commercial lease in Sydney, talk to Cassab & Associates.
Call (02) 9793 2700 or send the lease through for a review.
About Cassab & Associates - Your Sydney Conveyancing Experts
At Cassab & Associates, we understand that property transactions represent significant financial and emotional investments. That's why we're committed to providing experienced conveyancing services with a personal touch throughout Sydney. As a boutique law firm, we focus on delivering tailored legal solutions that meet your specific property needs.
Our experienced team combines traditional conveyancing expertise with modern efficiency, making sure you receive the highest standard of service whilst benefiting from innovative approaches like our automated matter creation system.
Contact us today to experience the difference that 35+ years of Sydney property law expertise can make, or discover our other services.
Contact Information
Email: mjcassab@cassablegal.com.au
Phone: (02) 9793 2700
Limited Liability: LIABILITY LIMITED BY A SCHEME APPROVED UNDER PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS LEGISLATION.