Please provide your details and a brief description of your legal matter, and our team will contact you to arrange an appointment.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Signing a commercial lease is one of the biggest financial commitments a business will make. Whether you’re a landlord leasing out premises or a tenant setting up shop, the fine print matters. At Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers, we help Melbourne businesses understand exactly what they’re agreeing to, negotiate fair terms, and sort out disputes when things don’t go to plan.
Our principal solicitor, Patricia Sheedy (Trish), is one of the few Accredited Property Law Specialists in Victoria. That means when you work with our firm, a genuine specialist guides your matter. As your commercial lease lawyer in Melbourne, we protect your interests from day one.
We act for both sides of the table across Melbourne and the wider City of Casey corridor. Every lease is different, so we take the time to understand your commercial goals before drafting or reviewing a single clause.
Our commercial lease services include:
A commercial lease isn’t a one-size-fits-all document. Warehouse tenants face different risks than office tenants, and a café lease raises issues a professional suite never will. We tailor every agreement to reflect the reality of the premises, the business, and the relationship between the parties. If you’re reviewing a lease the other side has drafted, we’ll flag anything unusual, one-sided, or potentially problematic before you put pen to paper.
If your premises fall under the Retail Leases Act 2003, specific obligations apply, including disclosure requirements, restrictions on certain costs, and minimum five-year terms. As a knowledgeable retail lease lawyer, we make sure landlords meet their statutory duties and tenants aren’t charged for things they legally shouldn’t be. Victoria regulates retail tenancies heavily, and small oversights can become expensive mistakes. We catch them early.
Even well-drafted leases can turn sour. Rent reviews go wrong. Repairs get argued over. Make-good obligations become a fight at the end of the term. When that happens, you need a commercial lease lawyer who can move quickly and think commercially.
Common lease disputes we handle include:
Where possible, we’ll resolve the matter through negotiation or mediation. Litigation is rarely the cheapest option, and we’ll tell you honestly when it’s worth pursuing and when it isn’t.
Whether someone has handed you a lease to sign tomorrow, you’re renegotiating an option, or you’re staring down a dispute with a tenant or landlord, don’t sign or settle anything without a proper review. A short conversation now can save a lot of stress (and money) later.
Get in touch with Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers to book an appointment with Trish and the team:
Our office has on-site parking and wheelchair-accessible entry, so dropping in is easy. Reach out today and get a commercial lease lawyer in Melbourne who’ll treat your matter like it matters, because it does.
We’re here to provide clear advice and practical guidance when you need most.
Whether you are starting a business, entering a contract or navigating a dispute, our commercial lawyers provide practical, straightforward advice to protect your interests and support your business goals.
5.0 Star Google Reviews
I cannot recommend this law firm highly enough. From my very first consultation, the team demonstrated exceptional professionalism, expertise, and genuine care for my situation. They took the time to explain every step of the legal process in clear and understandable terms, ensuring I felt informed and confident throughout.
What truly sets this firm apart is their dedication to achieving the best possible outcome for their clients. Their attention to detail, responsiveness, and commitment to excellence were evident in every interaction. Emails and phone calls were returned promptly, and I always felt that my matter was being handled with the utmost priority and care.
If you are looking for a law firm that combines outstanding legal expertise with exceptional client service, I would not hesitate to recommend them. They are truly a credit to the legal profession.
We had our wills, power of attorney and medical treatment decision makers documents finalised. The services were informative, friendly and clear from our first phone call to make the appointment, through to completion. The cost was reasonable for all three (x2 because there is two of us). I highly recommend Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers.
I have been using the team at Wollerman Shacklock for the last 12 months and cannot recommend them highly enough. Trish and her team have been a pleasure to deal with and made the whole experience as trouble free as I had hoped for from day one. They are exceptional at what they do and how they do it, if you are needing legal help you won’t be disappointed
We went to Wollerman Shacklock for conveyancing for our first home purchase. Trish and the team were exceptionally helpful throughout the process and very thorough. She ensured that we understood all areas, and thanks to her we had a good result. Great service.
We started to using service from Wollerman Shacklock in 2018. They helping us trough different contracts and house buying and sale. We couldn't be happy vith knowledge and customer service. Very high standards from get the best results for they customer. If you looking the best property lawyers not hesitate to contact them. We are very happy with Wollerman Shacklock.
Patricia and the team have provided my family and business with first class professional advice and would highly recommend their services. Knowledge with a personal touch is very much appreciated.
What a wonderfully efficient and friendly team they are at Wollerman. Buying my first propert was daunting, but made easefull and secure knowing they were overseeing the process. I mainly dealt with Eileen and Trish and they were delightful and professional to engage with. Highly recommended.
Where do I start!! What fantastic service from Trish, Jess and the team in organising and finalising my parents estate. At what is such a difficult time, they could not have been more helpful and professional but without the exorbitant fees that other Solicitors had quoted. Would definitely use them again. Thanks
Highly recommend Trish and staff at WS. Trish was extremely helpful and courteous, listened and understood my requirement, explored the possible scenarios to achieve the result I was after to my total satisfaction. Look no further than Wollerman Shacklock!!!
I needed to get a letter written by a solicitor in relation to my deceased husband’s final pay from his employer. Beth at Wollerman Shacklock lawyer was fantastic. Beth understands what I was asking for and began working on it that day. After I provided a certified copy of my husband’s death certificate it only took 1 day and the letter was ready. Very happy with this service, speed, compassion and professionalism. Highly recommended.
We needed a solicitor urgently at 4pm on a Friday afternoon. We rang every other firm in Berwick but no one else was willing to squeeze us in at short notice. Thank you so much!! Will definitely be coming back here in the future for our legal needs.
Very professional and helpful. Staff addressed all of our issues and addressed all our requirements, great outcome and very satisfied.
Would recommend them to anyone looking for solid legal services.
I had to urgently get papers signed I front of a lawyer. From the telephone call to presenting to the office. The lawyers were very accomodating, they witnessed me sign the papers and did not charge me. I appreciate their kindness and assistance.
I had a really positive experience dealing with Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers when they handled my late mother's estate.
They were really responsive and handled my matters professionally and promptly.
Kayla @ WS was a pleasure to deal with, very professional, knowledgeable, helpful and proactive in facilitating our settlement. We could not have asked for better and friendly service, and recommend Wolleman Shacklock to everyone, you wont be dissapointed!
The team at Wollerman & Shacklock Lawyers have been a tremendous help when it came to revising our Wills. They were incredibly competent, professional, and dedicated to offering top-notch service.
If you require help with estate planning, we highly advise contacting Wollerman & Shacklock Lawyers.
Absolutely fantastic service! The team made the whole conveyancing process smooth, stress-free, and fast. They were professional, friendly, and always kept me updated.
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience!
Have been using Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers in relation to my mother's will and estate. They have been super helpful and have made navigating through the processes very easy during this difficult time.
Anyone I have had contact with have been courteous and professional at all times.
Thank You.
Patricia, Rose & Oriana are very friendly & professional.
I was tardy in getting my wills finalised & they were patient & helped me get it all sorted.
Thank you!
Have always found Wollerman Shacklock Solicitors & staff, very professional, helpful & nothing is too much trouble, in our dealings with them for over 30yrs.
Highly recommend:)
We are so pleased to have our wills done with Wollerman. We find them warm, friendly and very, very professional.
We gladly recommend them to anyone needing their services.
Our family has been very happy with Wollerman Shacklock for over 30 years.
From property related matters and recently the settlement of an estate.
Highly recommended.
The team at Wollerman Shacklock Lawyers were fantastic to deal with. Always prompt, professional, helpful and friendly. Trish Sheedy was absolutely brilliant and expertly guided us to thoroughly dissect, understand and deal with a frustrating and difficult issue. Her insight, understanding and explanations were clear, concise and helpful and her attention to detail exceptional. We highly recommend Trish & her team for all things legal, especially within the commercial/industrial property law.
We have used Wollerman Shacklock for all our legal needs for more than 20 years, most recently for negotiating probate and estate settlement. Everyone is always friendly and professional and the team display a high degree of knowledge and compassion. I highly recommend their services.
We’re a small, deliberate firm based in Clyde North, servicing clients right across Melbourne. Choosing us means choosing genuine specialist knowledge without the corporate runaround.
Trish is one of roughly 75 Accredited Property Law Specialists in Victoria, giving you real depth of knowledge in lease and property matters.
We tell you what things cost upfront. No surprises, no drip-feed billing.
We tell you how it is, not what you want to hear. If a clause is a bad deal, we'll say so.
Equality, respect and integrity aren't wall art; they shape how every member of our team treats your matter.
We understand the Melbourne and City of Casey market, and we respond to most enquiries within one business day.
We’re also proud of the relationships we’ve built: 85% of our new work comes through referrals, and 75% of our clients come back when they need legal help again.
We make legal support straightforward, with clear advice and practical solutions across property, business and estate matters so you can move forward confidently.
Tell us your situation so we can understand your needs and give you the right direction from the start.
We review your matter and provide straightforward advice so you know where you stand.
We take care of the legal process from start to finish, focused on outcomes you can rely on.
Yes. A conveyancer isn’t legally qualified to give advice on commercial leases, and standard templates often favour whoever drafted them. A short review upfront can save tens of thousands in disputes later on.
The Retail Leases Act 2003 governs retail leases, which apply to most premises used for the sale of goods or services to the public. Commercial leases cover everything else, including warehouses, factories and most office premises. The legal protections differ significantly, which is why getting the classification right matters.
At Wollerman Shacklock, we quote fixed fees upfront for most lease work. You’ll know the cost before we start, so no surprise bills land when the job finishes.
Absolutely. We act for both. What we won’t do is act for both sides of the same transaction; that’s a conflict. Across our client base, we represent property owners, investors, small business tenants and national operators.
A make-good clause requires a tenant to restore the premises to their original state at the end of the lease, which can mean removing fit-out, repainting, replacing flooring, or repairing walls. The cost can be substantial after a long tenancy. We review make-good clauses carefully and often negotiate more practical alternatives, such as cash settlements or a reduced scope of works, before the lease is signed.
Lease assignment involves transferring your lease obligations to a new tenant, usually as part of a business sale. You need landlord consent, and the lease may impose conditions on who can take it over. Importantly, you may remain personally liable if the incoming tenant defaults, unless the landlord formally releases you. We review the assignment deed, advise on ongoing exposure, and make sure the process is documented correctly.
This depends entirely on the lease terms. Some leases require tenants to pay all outgoings such as rates, water, insurance, maintenance, while others limit this to specific costs. Many commercial leases describe outgoings broadly, which can lead to unexpected bills during the annual reconciliation. We identify and explain all outgoing provisions before you sign so there are no surprises.
Breaking a commercial lease before its end date can expose you to significant liability, including rent until the premises are re-let and the landlord’s re-letting costs. Options may include subletting (if the lease permits), negotiating a surrender with the landlord, or exercising any early termination clause. We review your lease and explain your realistic options, including the likely cost of each path.
Accredited Property Law Specialist
Accredited Property Law Specialist