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Practice Areas

Liquor Licensing and Gaming

Ryan Commercial Lawyers has the legal expertise and resources to perform all legal service required in relation to liquor licensing in Victoria and the other states and territories of Australia. 

 

We are a leading licensing firm in Victoria and have extensive experience in acting for hotel owners and operators, clubs, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, packaged liquor outlets, wineries and other licensed businesses such as bowling centres and indoor sports centres. We act for operators and property developers in applications for new liquor licences and variations to current licences. We also provide advice in relation to procedural requirements and compliance issues. 

 

Ryan Commercial Lawyers has extensive experience in acting for Licensees in relation to disciplinary proceedings commenced by Victoria Police for alleged breaches of liquor licences and/or the liquor legislation. 

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We also have the legal expertise and resources to perform all legal services required in relation to gaming including new applications and variations of current gaming arrangements. 

 

We handle transactions involving gaming venues including undertaking due diligence on behalf of our clients. 

 

Our clients include prominent hoteliers throughout Victoria as well as clubs and property developers. Often, in conjunction with gaming applications we utilise our expertise of Corporate and Commercial Law, Liquor Licensing and Planning Law to anticipate and meet the varied requirements of our clients. 

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Our firm is an associate member of the Australian Hotels Association (VIC)

Business Sales and Purchases

We act in the sale and purchase of the full range of licensed and non-licensed businesses including:

  • Hotels

  • Gaming Venues

  • Restaurants

  • Bottle Shops

  • Residential Hotels and Motels 

  • Supermarkets

  • Nightclubs and Bars

  • Retail and other businesses

 

Our extensive knowledge and long experience in the liquor industry offers our clients the edge in negotiating the issues which are unique to the sale and purchase of a licensed business. 

 

We regularly deal with the difficult issues including tenure, employee and other adjustments, GST, condition of premises on settlement, responsibility for notices and orders, due diligence and other conditions precedent. 

 

Whether you are selling your web-based start-up company or buying a chain of retail shops Ryan Commercial Lawyers has the experience to look after your legal needs. 

Property Transactions and Leasing

Ryan Commercial Lawyers has extensive experience and expertise in property matters, ensuring our clients are provided with the best possible opportunity for successful legal and commercial outcomes. 

 

Ryan Commercial Lawyers is committed to completing all property transactions within a timely and cost efficient framework while maintaining high standards of service and advice. 

 

Our real estate and commercial property expertise includes:

 

  • Commercial property sales and purchases

  • Commercial and domestic property developments

  • Liquor licensing issues and transactions involving liquor licences

  • Hotel and tourism developments

  • Retirement villages and aged care facilities

  • Commercial, retail and industrial leasing

  • Mortgages, guarantees and indemnities

  • Non-sale transfers (including spousal transfers and distributions from trusts)

  • Stamp duty advice

  • Adverse possession

 

We have extensive experience in leasing. We are familiar with the issues from the perspective of both landlords and tenants. 

 

We can assist you with:

  • Leases of hotel and other licensed premises

  • Leases of other retail premises including shopping centres

  • Leases of commercial offices, warehouse and industrial premises

  • Renewals of Lease, Transfers of Lease, Variations of Lease and Surrenders of Lease

  • Sub-lease and licence arrangements

  • Resolution of leasing disputes including retail leasing disputes. 

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Our thorough understanding of the complex legal and commercial issues related to property investment and management assists our clients in maximising their investments while avoiding the pitfalls associated with this sometimes litigious area. 

 

Ryan Commercial Lawyers also has extensive experience in relation to resolving disputes in relation to property law matters, including hearing before the Magistrates, County and Supreme Courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and attending mediations before the Small Business Commissioner. 

Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Ryan Commercial Lawyers can assist you to resolve legal disputes (both large and small). We are committed to ensuring the best commercial outcome for our clients and focus on resolving disputes as quickly and cost effectively as possible without necessarily resorting to litigation. Our lawyers are skilled in alternative dispute resolution techniques, particularly in mediation and arbitration. 

 

We understand and appreciate the costs associated with litigation and strive to ensure our fees are reasonable having regard to the value of the dispute. We work closely with clients to understand their objectives, advise them of their prospects of success and to assist them to develop a strategy to achieve the best possible outcome without losing of the commercial imperatives of our clients. 

 

The areas of litigation and alternative dispute resolution in which we practice include:

 

  • Contractual disputes (including the property and business transactions)

  • Property and lease disputes

  • Partnership, shareholders, company and joint venture disputes

  • Gaming and Liquor Licensing (including disciplinary proceedings and inquiries under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 and the Gambling Regulation Act 2003) 

  • Planning and environment

  • Wills and estates. 

 

Our lawyers have detailed knowledge and experience of the litigation process and we are proud of the results we are able to deliver for our clients. 

Planning and Environment

Ryan Commercial Lawyers is able to provide a full range of town planning services from the application stage through to complex appeals if required. We also have long term relationships with specialist town planners, town planning barristers and appropriate expert consultants where required. 

 

We are experienced with all enactments and regulations administered by metropolitan and regional councils in relation to planning issues. 

 

Our experience encompasses applications for Planning Permits relating to licensed or proposed licensed premises, commercial and residential developments, the approval of subdivisions and related issues, easements, and the removal or creation of restrictive covenants and proceedings taken by Municipal Councils against owners or occupiers of property. 

Commercial Arrangements

As part of our commercial practice we can assist you to document your Commercial Agreements including arrangements with suppliers and customers. 

 

These agreements are the cornerstone of extracting value from your business. I the meantime they provide you with a framework for your important business relationships. 

 

See Ryan Commercial Lawyers for all manner of agreements including:

  • Distribution and Supply Agreements

  • IP Licence Agreements

  • Management Agreements

  • Exclusivity Agreements

  • Confidentiality Agreements

  • Guarantees

Wills and Estate Planning

Ryan Commercial Lawyers has extensive experience in relation to simple and complex estate planning matters including Wills, Testamentary Trusts, Powers of Attorney and Medical Decision Appointments and binding superannuation nominations. 

 

We understand the importance of providing clients with detailed advice to ensure that their estates are distributed in accordance with their wishes. 

 

We can also help our clients with any aspects of their family circumstances which may result in claims being made against their estate. 

 

Ryan Commercial Lawyers also understands the stresses associated with administering deceased estates, and can provide assistance to clients in relation to one or more of the following:

 

  • Probate Applications

  • Applications for Letters of Administration 

  • Survivorship Applications

  • Transmission Applications

  • Estate Administration and Distribution 

 

Ryan Commercial Lawyers has experience in both bringing and defending estate claims made in the Supreme Court of Victoria. 

Sports Law

Ryan Commercial Lawyers has experience in assisting both major sporting organisations and athletes. 

 

Ryan Commercial Lawyers has been involved in all aspects of sports law and administration including:

 

  • All types of commercial arrangements in the sporting industry, including Memorandums of Understanding and Collective Bargaining Agreements between sports governing bodies and player associations. 

  • Athlete management and Sponsorship Agreements and Contracts

  • Commercial Agreements for the development, protection and exploitation of intellectual property rights. 

  • Acting on behalf of players in litigation and dispute resolution processes arising from sporting matters including tribunal hearings, sports anti-doping and illicit drug rules, regulations and policies. 

  • Advice on event and venue management including leases, club facilities and property development. 

 

We have acted on behalf of the Australian Cricketers Association and a number of high profile sports people. 

 

Our lawyers combine specialist knowledge with a strong interest and involvement in, and understanding of, the sports industry and the issues affecting it. 

 

Paul Ryan is President of the St Kilda Cricket Club and is an accredited Player Agent with the AFL Player’s Association. 

Ryan Commercial Lawyers

Your success, Our mission.

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