Legal advice for the way your business operates.
A business agreement needs to work in practice, and a dispute needs more than a generic response. HRA assists owners, directors, shareholders and businesses with commercial contracts, governance arrangements, transactions and litigation.
Brief initial telephone discussion at no charge. A paid consultation is arranged where appropriate. Attorney follow-up is ordinarily within one working day.
Which issue brings you here?
Drafting, reviewing or negotiating terms
Drafting, review and negotiation of business agreements.
View serviceBuying, selling or restructuring an interest
Advice on company arrangements and governance responsibilities.
View serviceResponsibilities between owners
Clarifying responsibilities, money, decision-making and exit arrangements.
View serviceA disagreement or demand
Bringing, defending or resolving business disputes.
View serviceCommercial services
Commercial Contracts
Drafting, review and negotiation of business agreements.
Corporate Governance & Structuring
Advice on company arrangements and governance responsibilities.
Commercial Litigation
Bringing, defending or resolving business disputes.
Sale & Purchase of Businesses
Legal support for the terms and structure of a business transaction.
Partnership Agreements
Clarifying responsibilities, money, decision-making and exit arrangements.
Support from agreement to dispute
HRA can assist with preparing and reviewing agreements, identifying legal issues in a proposed transaction, clarifying arrangements between business participants, and bringing or defending appropriate proceedings. Where needed, the enquiry can also draw on the firm's property, employment or financial-distress practice.
Kelly Girnun has joined the commercial-law team. Hugh Raichlin and Jessica El-Hage also bring relevant commercial and litigation experience. The firm will determine the appropriate people and scope after assessing the enquiry.
A useful first discussion is specific
The agreement
What document or arrangement governs the position?
The decision
What are you being asked to sign, do or respond to?
The exposure
What dates, commitments or business consequences need attention?
Documents to have available
A draft or signed agreement, company and role details, key correspondence, relevant resolutions and a short chronology are useful starting points. Explain who you represent and what authority you have to instruct. Do not disclose confidential transaction documents through the general enquiry form.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not assume a standard template covers a negotiated deal, that one shareholder can automatically speak for the company, or that a letter of demand is the right response to every disagreement. Discuss objectives and risk before committing to a process.
Attorney authority
Hugh Raichlin
Principal Attorney & Accredited Mediator
Commercial and litigation experience across 40 years of legal practice.
View profileKelly Girnun
Attorney · Commercial Law
Kelly Girnun is part of HRA's commercial-law team. Contact the firm to discuss your business-law enquiry.
Discuss a commercial matterSelected reported matterNach Investments (Pty) Ltd v Knight Frank South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Supreme Court of Appeal · 16 March 2001 · [2001] ZASCA 13
DetailsHide
Nach Investments (Pty) Ltd v Knight Frank South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Supreme Court of Appeal · 16 March 2001 · [2001] ZASCA 13
Nach Investments (Pty) Ltd v Knight Frank South Africa (Pty) Ltd (54/1999) [2001] ZASCA 13 (16 March 2001)
Hugh Raichlin was the attorney of record for the successful Knight Frank party in a property-broker commission dispute. The Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the decision in Knight Frank's favour, finding that the offer it produced was the effective cause of the sale and that commission was payable.
Label: Property broker commission and effective cause. These are selected matters, not a prediction of the outcome of any future case. Advice and results depend on the facts, evidence and applicable law.
Frequently asked questions
Can you review a contract we have already drafted?
Can HRA act for both business partners?
Can a business dispute be mediated?
Can you help when the matter involves property or employees?
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Explain the agreement, decision or dispute, and the firm will assess the next step.
This website provides general information, not legal advice. Sending an enquiry does not by itself create an attorney-client relationship. Each matter is assessed on its own facts.