It is a common question for business owners: do we really need a contract, or can we rely on trust?

For many business owners, succession planning is one of the most important – and often most delayed – decisions they will make.

A trade mark is a sign that distinguishes your goods or services from those of other businesses. At its simplest, it is what allows customers to recognise your brand in the marketplace.

If you are buying, selling, or investing in residential property in New Zealand, the bright-line test NZ is one of the first tax rules to check.

If you want to let someone else use your brand, software, copyright material, trade mark, or other valuable business asset, the answer is often yes.

If you are starting a new business, launching a product or rebranding an existing venture, one of the first questions to ask is: is this brand name safe to use?

The Supreme Court’s decision in Alalääkkölä v Palmer has significant implications for artists, designers and other creators whose work is protected by copyright.

These documents are great tools that serve as the foundation for sale and purchase negotiations and set the stage for the final agreement.

Do you need to change premises, sell your business or just in a situation where you need to get out of your commercial lease? Commercial Lease expert Bret Gower explains your options, and how you should approach your landlord.

Its important your business understands what The Commerce Act is, how it works and how to ensure you don’t get investigated by the Commerce Commission. Many small to medium business do run foul of the law – and we’re here to help you understand how to be compliant with this guide for small to medium business owners.

There is nothing worse than somebody else benefitting from your business’ success by riding on your coat-tails, infringing your infringing on your intellectual property and confusing customers that their products or services are the same as yours. The legal solution to these copycats is to make a claim against them of passing off and a breach of the Fair Trading Act 1986 (FTA).