Webinar: The legal Issues Australian Businesses Can’t Afford to Ignore in 2026
Most business problems don’t start as problems. A clause nobody re-read. A lease signed when times were good. An employment arrangement nobody reviewed.
In 2026 those decisions are being tested harder than they have been for years – insolvencies are rising, the ATO is pursuing overdue debt more aggressively, Payday Super is now in force, unfair contract term penalties have never been higher, and more businesses are discovering their brand was never properly protected until a sale or dispute forces the issue.
The true state of a business only becomes clear when someone looks closely: a buyer, a regulator, or the other side of a dispute.
Five MST Lawyers principals will follow one established business and show how things left unattended don’t just create legal risk – they reduce what the business is actually worth. And what’s worth reviewing before small problems become bigger ones.
This is not a legal update. Plain English. One hour. Free.
WHAT YOU’LL GAIN
✔ Where to look before a buyer, regulator or dispute does it for you
✔ What buyers, regulators and lenders expect to see in order – and how to get there
✔ Practical steps worth taking now – before small gaps become bigger problems
TOPICS
Are your contracts and structures ready for a closer look?
As commercial pressure increases, businesses are relying more heavily on shareholder, supplier and customer agreements that may not have been reviewed for years. We’ll discuss where these arrangements commonly fall short, why outdated or poorly drafted agreements can affect leverage, value and future options, and how strong commercial foundations protect what you’ve built.
Presented by Raynia Theodore, Principal – Corporate Advisory and Franchising
The lease clauses costing businesses flexibility and money
Commercial premises are often one of a business’s largest commitments, yet many lease obligations only become visible when something changes: a renewal, a rent review, an exit, an assignment or a buyer reviewing the leases. We’ll explore the leasing issues catching businesses out right now, including make good obligations, rent review traps, permitted use and assignment restrictions, and the clauses that can quietly limit flexibility, relocation or sale.
Presented by Evelyn Marcou, Principal – Property and Leasing
The workplace risks employers can no longer ignore
Employment issues often start as everyday business decisions: how people are engaged, how pay is managed, how workplace risks are handled, and whether systems have kept pace as the business has changed. With Payday Super now requiring employers to pay superannuation contributions at the same time as wages, alongside wage compliance, worker classification, psychosocial hazards and the right to disconnect, employers are under increasing pressure to have the right systems in place. We’ll discuss where businesses are most exposed, the systems that need review, and the practical fixes that can reduce risk before an issue becomes a complaint, claim or investigation.
Presented by James Sanders, Principal – Employment Law
Your brand may be worth more than you think. Is it actually protected?
A brand is often one of a business’s most valuable assets, yet trade marks, ownership rights and confidential business information rarely get attention until something goes wrong. A competitor adopts a similar name. A key person leaves. A business sale reveals the brand was never properly protected.We’ll cover the trade mark and brand protection gaps catching businesses out, and the practical steps that help keep what you’ve built genuinely yours.
Presented by Louise Wolf, Principal – Commercial Law
Why commercial disputes are becoming harder to avoid and more expensive to get wrong
Customers, suppliers, franchisees, shareholders and business partners are operating under more pressure, and more commercial relationships are coming under strain as a result. We’ll discuss the early warning signs, the decisions that shape how a dispute plays out, and when formal action, including litigation, can be used strategically to manage risk, preserve leverage and work towards a commercial outcome.
Presented by Mark Skermer, Principal – Litigation and Dispute Resolution
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Designed for business owners, directors, managers and their advisors – whether you are running a business, planning for growth, restructure, succession or sale.
WHY ATTEND?
The businesses that navigate pressure best are not the ones with perfect records. They are the ones that identify issues early, understand where they are exposed, and address weaknesses before a buyer, regulator or dispute forces the issue.
If you’re responsible for the value, direction or future of a business, this session will give you a practical view of the issues we’re seeing across the market right now, and where to look in your own business before small gaps become bigger problems.
So that when your business is tested – and it will be – it holds up.
LINEUP
- Raynia Theodore – Principal, Corporate Advisory and Franchising
- Evelyn Marcou – Principal, Property and Leasing
- James Sanders – Principal, Employment Law
- Louise Wolf – Principal, Commercial Law
- Mark Skermer – Principal, Litigation and Dispute Resolution
About MST Lawyers
MST Lawyers has been advising businesses from Melbourne since 1959. We’re a commercially focused firm structured into specialist teams – each led by a Principal in their field – working across corporate and commercial, franchising, property and leasing, employment, intellectual property and trade marks, and dispute resolution.
Our approach is practical, not theoretical: clear, commercially sound advice that helps business owners make confident decisions. Great service, sensible solutions. We act for everyone from owner-run SMEs and franchise networks to national and international businesses.
MST Lawyers has been recognised in the Best Law Firms 2027 list for both Franchise Law and Property Law for the past 3 years. Among today’s presenters, Raynia Theodore, Evelyn Marcou and Louise Wolf have all been recognised by Best Lawyers 5 years in a row, and James Sanders was recently the 2026 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year finalist.
Learn more about MST Lawyers
For enquiries about this event please contact us