Enterprise & business law
Enterprise and business law in Queensland sits close to the everyday commercial life of organisations, business owners, franchise networks, accommodation businesses and commercial clients. In Brisbane and across the state, it is broad by nature, but that breadth can look very different from one firm to another.
For some lawyers, this area offers variety: commercial agreements, business and asset acquisitions, terms and conditions, franchising, importing, advisory work and client contact. For others, it becomes a pathway into deeper corporate work, in-house roles or more specialised business law practice.
At Alex Correa Executive, we work with lawyers across general commercial law, franchising, body corporate and management rights, and related enterprise and business advisory work in Brisbane and the Queensland legal market. We act for firms from boutique and specialist practices through to national firms, and we take the time to understand not only what a role involves, but what it could mean for your career.
Commercial law is not always easy to read from a job title. The same title can offer broad advisory work in one firm, transactional depth in another, and a highly specialised client base somewhere else. Our role is to help you understand what sits behind the title before you make a move.
General commercial law
General commercial law can be a rewarding area for lawyers who enjoy working with Queensland businesses, understanding how transactions are structured, and helping clients make practical decisions.
The work may include commercial agreements, terms and conditions, business and asset acquisitions, plant and equipment transactions, importing arrangements, business advisory work and franchising. Some lawyers come into commercial law early. Others move towards it after gaining exposure through property, litigation or broader business law work.
Focus on the quality of the work, the training behind it, the level of client contact, and the kind of commercial judgement you are building. A smaller firm may offer earlier access to clients and a wider variety of matters. A larger firm may offer more complex transactions and a different level of technical depth.
We help you understand those trade-offs before you decide whether a role is the right next step.
Franchising
Franchising sits within commercial law, but it has its own texture. Some Queensland firms specialise heavily in franchising and act predominantly for franchisors. Others include franchising as part of a broader commercial practice, often acting for individuals buying into franchise businesses across sectors such as health and wellness, retail and fast food.
For lawyers, the appeal can be the mix of commercial drafting, regulatory awareness, client advisory work and business context. It is not always a narrow specialisation, but it is important to understand how much of the role is truly franchising work and how much sits within a broader commercial practice.
We can help you assess whether a franchising role will deepen a specialisation, broaden your commercial base, or support a longer-term pathway into corporate, enterprise or in-house work.
Body corporate & management rights
Body corporate and management rights work often sits across property, enterprise and business law, particularly in Queensland’s accommodation, property and management rights markets. It can involve the management, sale and regulation of accommodation and management rights businesses, as well as the commercial and regulatory issues that sit around them.
For lawyers exploring this specialisation, the opportunity often depends on how well their experience connects across property, regulation and business law.
We can help you work through where your experience fits, whether your background is more property-focused, more commercial, or already shaped by body corporate and management rights work.
For lawyers, enterprise and business law can open more than one path. A strong commercial background may support a move into corporate law, in-house legal work or a broader advisory role close to business decision-making. The path depends on the quality of transactions you have handled, the clients you have worked with, the training you have received and how clearly your experience is positioned.
We help lawyers make sense of that positioning, especially when they are considering whether to stay broad, specialise, step up into larger work, or move closer to the business.
Relevant case studies
1. General Counsel, Commercial — In-house, Primary Industries
The situation
We were exclusively briefed to source a General Counsel for this organisation ahead of the planned retirement of their long standing GC.
What almost got in the way
Salary and location added real constraints to a campaign aimed at people ready to step up into a head of legal position.
What mattered here
The person appointed was already known to us and on our database, and came to us after seeing the role advertised and promoted.
Where they ended up
They were appointed General Counsel, another example of how staying visible and connected with candidates over time pays off when the right role appears.
2. General Manager, Legal and Property, Commercial and Property Law — In-house, Sport
The situation
A professional sporting organisation contacted us to recruit a General Manager of Legal, a greenfields role and the first legal position the organisation had created.
What almost got in the way
They had initially tried to recruit the role themselves, before realising the position needed a specialist legal recruiter's input.
What mattered here
We advised on the background and experience the role actually required, then ran the full process on their behalf.
Where they ended up
A suitably qualified person was appointed. Sometimes the most valuable part of our work happens before the search even begins, in helping a client define what they actually need.
Frequently asked questions
Working with Alex Correa Executive is straightforward, honest and built on trust. We ask questions because we want to represent you properly, not to catch you out, and we will always tell you where we stand.
Can general commercial and business law lead into corporate law or in-house roles later?
Yes. General commercial law can be a genuine pathway into corporate law and in-house roles, particularly where you have built strong transactional experience, commercial judgement and direct client exposure.
If I start at a small firm, can I still move into a top tier or larger commercial practice later?
Yes, but the quality of the work and training will matter. A smaller firm can give you excellent breadth and earlier responsibility, but if you are aiming for a larger commercial or corporate practice later, we can help you understand what experience will strengthen that pathway.
Do I need to have started my career in commercial law to move into this area?
No. We regularly see lawyers move towards commercial law after gaining exposure through property, litigation or broader business advisory work. The key question is how transferable your experience is and how clearly it can be positioned.
Where should I look if I am interested in body corporate and management rights work?
In Queensland, body corporate and management rights work often sits across property, regulation and business law. The best pathway depends on whether your current experience is more property-focused, commercial, regulatory or already connected to accommodation and management rights businesses. We can help you understand where your experience fits and what kind of practice will support the work you want to build.
