Commercial Law Firm & Fractional General Counsel for Defence, Cyber, Mining, Health & Advanced Manufacturing

DLC Legal is a Brisbane-based commercial law firm and outsourced legal services provider, trusted by Australian businesses that need senior legal expertise without the cost of a full-time hire. We embed with your leadership team as a virtual in-house legal partner, combining commercial contracts, procurement, cyber, privacy and governance expertise so you can win work, protect value and stay audit-ready.

Not every business has an in-house legal team, and even those that do often need extra capacity or specialist expertise at certain times. As a commercial law firm offering outsourced legal services across Australia, we provide legal support for small businesses and scaling companies in a model that adapts to you, whether you need a complete legal department or simply want to supplement your existing team during busy periods.

We pride ourselves on delivering simple, plain-language advice with quick turnaround on day-to-day issues. Our commercial contract lawyers understand business operations and priorities, so legal guidance is always practical and commercially focused.

In-House Legal Team

Comprehensive Support

Predictable Pricing

Immediate Scalability

DLC Legal offers a range of flexible legal service models, so you can choose the level of support that fits your business, from one-off documents to a fully embedded legal team.

Legal-as-a-Service

Comprehensive, fixed-fee commercial legal support across contracts, procurement, compliance and dispute matters, delivered without the overhead of hiring in-house.
Explore Legal-as-a-Service

Fractional General Counsel

Senior, embedded legal support on a subscription or project basis, covering complex contracts, cyber and privacy, government procurement, and cross-border operations.
Learn about Fractional General Counsel

MSP Support

Cyber-ready legal frameworks built specifically for MSPs, cyber firms and IT providers, covering MSAs, policy packages, and data breach response.
See MSP Support

Partner Program

Ongoing access to tailored legal documents and senior advisers with transparent, upfront costs and faster turnaround for businesses that work with us regularly.
Join the Partner Program

Legal Documents

Fixed-price, lawyer-drafted templates for standard business documents such as NDAs, services agreements, and shareholder agreements, ready to use without a full consultation.
Browse Legal Documents

Cyber‑ready legal foundations for growing businesses

We help cyber, IT and MSP‑driven businesses put the right legal guardrails under their technology, data and services so they can scale with confidence.

SMB1001‑aligned policy packages

Practical, right‑sized policies aligned with the ASD Essential Eight / SMB1001 style controls, giving you a defensible baseline for security, use of systems, access, and incident management across your business.

Privacy and data governance policy packs

Plain‑language privacy, data handling and data governance frameworks that align with Australian privacy laws and client expectations, ready to show to enterprise and government customers.

Cyber‑ready MSAs and supplier/customer agreements

Master services agreements and customer/supplier MSAs built for cyber, IT and managed services work – with clear scopes, SLAs, security, data and liability positions you can actually negotiate and live with.

Data breach response and incident governance packs

Practical incident response playbooks, decision trees and reporting templates so you know who does what, when, if something goes wrong – and can evidence governance when regulators or key customers ask.

AI use and responsible technology policies

AI use, acceptable use and responsible AI policies that let your team use modern tools safely, protect confidentiality and IP, and respond confidently to client questions about how you manage generative AI.

Ongoing cyber‑legal subscription support

A subscription model that gives SMEs on‑call access to cyber‑savvy lawyers for contract reviews, customer security questionnaires, policy updates and incident support – without needing their own in‑house counsel.

11Cyber‑ready legal foundations for growing businesses

We help cyber, IT and MSP‑driven businesses put the right legal guardrails under their technology, data and services so they can scale with confidence.

SMB1001‑aligned policy packages

Practical, right‑sized policies aligned with the ASD Essential Eight / SMB1001 style controls, giving you a defensible baseline for security, use of systems, access, and incident management across your business.

Privacy and data governance policy packs

Plain‑language privacy, data handling and data governance frameworks that align with Australian privacy laws and client expectations, ready to show to enterprise and government customers.

Cyber‑ready MSAs and supplier/customer agreements

Master services agreements and customer/supplier MSAs built for cyber, IT and managed services work – with clear scopes, SLAs, security, data and liability positions you can actually negotiate and live with.

Data breach response and incident governance packs

Practical incident response playbooks, decision trees and reporting templates so you know who does what, when, if something goes wrong – and can evidence governance when regulators or key customers ask.

AI use and responsible technology policies

AI use, acceptable use and responsible AI policies that let your team use modern tools safely, protect confidentiality and IP, and respond confidently to client questions about how you manage generative AI.

Ongoing cyber‑legal subscription support

A subscription model that gives SMEs on‑call access to cyber‑savvy lawyers for contract reviews, customer security questionnaires, policy updates and incident support – without needing their own in‑house counsel.

Our Services

DLC Legal offers a range of flexible legal service models, so you can choose the level of support that fits your business, from one-off documents to a fully embedded legal team

Legal-as-a-Service

Comprehensive, fixed-fee commercial legal support across contracts, procurement, compliance and dispute matters, delivered without the overhead of hiring in-house.
Explore Legal-as-a-Service

Fractional General Counsel

Senior, embedded legal support on a subscription or project basis, covering complex contracts, cyber and privacy, government procurement, and cross-border operations.
Learn about Fractional General Counsel

MSP Support

Cyber-ready legal frameworks built specifically for MSPs, cyber firms and IT providers, covering MSAs, policy packages, and data breach response.
See MSP Support

Partner Program

Ongoing access to tailored legal documents and senior advisers with transparent, upfront costs and faster turnaround for businesses that work with us regularly.
Join the Partner Program

Legal Documents

Fixed-price, lawyer-drafted templates for standard business documents such as NDAs, services agreements, and shareholder agreements, ready to use without a full consultation.
Browse Legal Documents

Our Approach

Our approach places your business at the centre of everything we do. Unlike traditional commercial law firms that operate at arm’s length, we become an integrated part of your team, available when and how you need us. This embedded model allows us to develop a deep understanding of your business context, leading to more relevant and practical legal solutions.

The subscription model provides complete transparency on costs, with a single monthly fee covering all your legal needs within the agreed scope. This eliminates the uncertainty of hourly billing and allows for more open communication without concerns about the “clock running.” Our clients appreciate knowing exactly what their commercial legal support will cost each month, making budgeting straightforward and predictable.

With no lock-in contracts, you retain complete flexibility to adjust or end our services with just 30 days’ notice. This reflects our confidence in the value we provide.

Areas of Expertise

As a commercial law firm serving businesses across Australia, our commercial contract lawyers cover the full spectrum of corporate, regulatory and dispute matters:

  • Corporate and Commercial
    • Corporate governance and compliance
    • Contract Law and commercial contracts
    • Review and negotiation of agreements
    • Procurement and tendering
    • Privacy and Data Protection Law
    • Corporate law advice and strategy
  • Critical Infrastructure and ICT Projects
    • Defence and Aviation
    • Mining
    • Construction
    • Cyber Security
    • Employment contracts and policies
    • Industrial relations guidance
    • Work Health and Safety (WHS) compliance
    • Performance management support
    • Workplace Law
  • Risk and Compliance
    • Regulatory compliance frameworks
    • Risk management strategies
    • Privacy and data protection
    • Consumer law compliance
    • Marketing material reviews
  • Dispute Management
    • Contract dispute resolution
    • Commercial negotiation support
    • Pre-litigation strategy
    • Assistance with claims and disputes
    • Litigation outsourcing management

How We Support Our Clients

DLC Legal supports your leadership team with clear, commercial legal advice for complex procurement, contracts and regulatory risk. As a commercial lawyer team based in Australia, we are dedicated, loyal and consistent in everything we do, providing a seamless and pragmatic approach to legal and commercial support services for business.

Our services are outcome-focused and flexible, our approach is tailored, with cost structures built to deliver value.

  • Creation, review, negotiation of contracts
  • Quality verbal and written advice
  • Support to all transactional matters
  • Proactive advice on relevant legislative changes and compliance checks
  • Automation of your most frequently used documents
  • Resolution of legal issues
Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Our Latest Reviews

I’m so grateful to Kirsten for the incredible advice and support she has given me while exploring a business purchase. She took the time to understand what I was trying to achieve and offered practical, creative ideas for structuring a deal, explaining the legal considerations in plain English. Her knowledge of business acquisitions and different deal structures really stood out. She could see possibilities I hadn’t considered and helped me understand how they might work, while being honest about the risks and what needed further investigation. I came away feeling clearer, more informed and supported. I highly recommend Kirsten to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, commercially minded lawyer who takes a thoughtful approach to putting a business deal together. Thank you, Kirsten!
Adriana Rio Da Silva
I was super grateful for Kirsten and Melanie helping me out after two other law firms had messed me around! They were honest, transparent and really understood my needs and came up with a solution so my business could still achieve the objectives needed in the timeframe ! Thankyou!
Brittany Birch
Janina was a pleasure to work with and quick to pick up the intricacies of my business, made a real difference helping turn things around quickly.
Dave Keys
In the fast-paced Managed Services industry, it's important to have partners who are as agile, responsive and dependable with our needs as we are with our clients. DLC Legal has been that partner for Cymax for several years. Kirsten and her team have consistently been responsive, professional and prompt, providing practical legal advice and support whenever required. Their ability to understand our business needs and deliver timely outcomes has made DLC Legal a trusted extension of our team. Over the years, I have also referred DLC Legal to a number of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) across Australia. Without exception, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Those organisations have consistently praised the professionalism, expertise and responsiveness of the DLC Legal team, reinforcing our own experience that they are a firm of the highest calibre. If you're looking for an exceptional legal partner, you've found one in DLC Legal.
Sean Dendle
Cymax
I sought the expertise of Kirsten and her team at DLC Legal for the purpose of negotiating my exiting a business and overseeing the share sale. Throughout the process, Kirsten has been incredible in her guidance, and persistence in negotiating the best possible outcome. Kirsten was able to draw on a team of valuable colleagues, who were able to consult and advise on a variety of issues with my case. I cannot thank Kirsten enough for all she has done, not only with this particular case, but with advice and education which I will use as I move forward with new projects. I highly recommend Kirsten and her team and will be returning to engage her legal services.
Lesa King
Kirsten is an outstanding lawyer and manager with over 20 years’ experience across transport, defence and related technology sectors. When engaged with my team, Kirsten became a trusted adviser to me who demonstrated her ability as a strategic thinker with highly developed analytic and communication skills. Kirsten managed a wide and diverse portfolio of complex head and supplier contracts, negotiating changes and dealing directly with senior management. She has proven leadership capability with technical and contracts teams, direct management, and at strategic executive levels. Kirsten has the drive and passion to do what is necessary to meet challenging deadlines and workloads, committed to outcomes and bringing her team with her. Kirsten is a true professional in her field - reliable, insightful, knowledgeable and a complete pleasure to work with. I have no hesitation recommending Kirsten's outstanding performance, drive, knowledge and leadership skills.
Paul Evans
Kirsten has proven her ability to manage a cross-functional team and make sound decisions in a fast paced and dynamic environment. She demonstrated an aptitude for stakeholder management liaising with and obtaining agreement of a high number of stakeholders all with differing priorities and managed to do so in line with an aggressive schedule to release tender documents to market for a project with an expected value of $500M AUD. Managing both the commercial and legal aspects of the tender release Kirsten was able to achieve an on time and superior quality product. The evidence of this is now being realised as the project moves into final negotiations with little if any change required to the original documentation.
Warren Beeston

FAQs

  • How is DLC Legal different from a traditional commercial law firm?

    DLC Legal works on a fixed monthly subscription with no lock-in contracts, giving Brisbane and Queensland businesses ongoing access to commercial and contract law support rather than one-off, transaction-based advice. This model is designed for businesses that want a lawyer embedded in their planning, reviewing contracts, tenders, and compliance questions as they come up, rather than only engaging a lawyer once a dispute or deal is already underway.

  • When should a small business consider outsourcing legal services?

    Most small businesses reach a point where legal questions arise faster than they can be handled internally, or without dedicated in-house counsel. Common triggers include:

    • Signing or negotiating contracts worth more than you can afford to get wrong
    • Taking on your first employees or contractors
    • Tendering for government or large corporate work
    • Handling customer data that falls under Australian privacy obligations
    • Receiving a legal letter or dispute you’re unsure how to respond to

    A commercial lawyer who understands your industry can help you get ahead of these triggers rather than reacting to them after the fact.

  • What legal documents should every small business have in place?

    At a minimum, most Australian small businesses need:

    • A client or services agreement setting out scope, payment and liability
    • Terms and conditions for your website or online sales
    • A privacy policy that reflects how you actually collect and use data
    • Employment contracts and contractor agreements
    • A shareholders or partnership agreement if there is more than one owner

    The right documents depend on your industry, risk profile, and whether you deal with government or corporate clients, which is why a review by a commercial contract lawyer is worth doing before problems arise, not after.

  • How much does a commercial contract lawyer cost on a subscription model?

    DLC Legal’s subscription model provides a single, predictable monthly fee scoped to your business’s ongoing legal needs, so you can budget for legal support without the uncertainty of hourly billing rates. What’s included is agreed upfront based on the size of your business, the volume of contract and compliance work you expect, and your industry. Exact pricing is discussed during an initial connection call, once we understand your specific scope of support.