Recently published
- Articles
15 October 2026
In the 2026-27 Budget, the Australian Treasurer announced a suite of legislative, policy and practice reforms to Australia’s foreign investment framework, set out in its overview of reforms paper. The announcement follows a discussion paper released on 31 October 2025 where the Government sought stakeholder views on the proposed reforms.
- Guides & Reports
15 September 2026
15 September 2026
Inspired by the innovation and resilience we see across the ecosystem, this guide shares practical insights to help founders and startups better understand some of the legal issues that arise as businesses launch, scale and succeed.
- Articles
18 August 2026
18 August 2026
For a tech startup, IP is often the most valuable asset on the balance sheet – the code, brand, data and know-how that make the product defensible and investable. Getting the basics right early avoids expensive fixes during a funding round or exit.
- Articles
21 April 2026
21 April 2026
Whilst a spin-out from a university is an exciting opportunity for the founders, such transactions can be complex from a legal perspective, and involve multiple legal issues for the spin-out and its founders.
- Events
19 March 2026
19 March 2026
Startup & Angels Workshop | Preparing for an early-stage startup funding round: an Australian legal perspective
- Articles
7 November 2025
7 November 2025
In the recent decision of ASIC v Open4Sale Global Ltd (No 2) [2025] FCA 1038, the Federal Court ordered civil penalties totalling $2.8 million and disqualification orders against two company directors for making offers of shares on 101 occasions without complying with the disclosure obligations under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
- Articles
23 September 2025
23 September 2025
With most startups looking to manage cash flow while still offering competitive remuneration, an employee share option plan (ESOP) offers startups a method for attracting and retaining employees and other personnel by providing them with equity.
- Articles
23 June 2025
23 June 2025
The recent decision in Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Web3 Ventures Pty Ltd [2025] FCAFC 58 marks a significant development in the wave of enforcement-led regulation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
- Articles
22 October 2024
22 October 2024
The fintech and Web3 industries are in for a big 12 months as the Australian government seeks to tighten regulation for financial service providers.
- Articles
13 March 2024
13 March 2024
Australian directors must walk a tightrope to meet their duties as company officers. Our regime for directors’ duties is one of the strictest in the world, and in some cases, breaches can result in personal liability.
- Articles
13 March 2024
13 March 2024
On 8 November 2023, the Australian Investment Council (AIC) issued an updated suite of Open Source Seed Financing Documents, which were developed with a number of leading law firms in the early-stage investment sector in Australia, including Addisons.
- Articles
11 July 2022
11 July 2022
Whilst the commercial aspects are important, there are some simple things that start ups can do from a legal perspective to prepare for an early-stage funding round, which will put them in good (legal) stead to conduct an efficient and successful fundraising process.
- Articles
18 May 2022
18 May 2022
In the 2022-23 Victorian budget which was unveiled by Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas on 3 May 2022, it was announced that the Victorian government will be offering funding in exchange for a direct equity stake in high-growth and innovative Victorian businesses.