Joe Lazzara

Joe is a highly experienced commercial lawyer having acted in a wide range of property & commercial related matters.

His expertise covers all areas of franchise law, business acquisitions/sales & structuring (including preparing partnership-type arrangements), estate planning, business succession, estate administration, and all aspects of property law, including acquisition and sales, property development and preparation of co-ownership and joint venture arrangements.

Joe has extensive experience in the franchise industry spanning more than 16 years. He specialises in the preparation of franchise documentation, advice to existing and potential franchisors (including multiple well-known national brands), litigation and mediation support for franchising disputes and advice on Consumer Law and trade practices.

He assists businesses in their establishment and ongoing management issues, from legal compliance through to supply-chain issues and succession planning, with his team preparing Wills and other estate related documentation, from simple Wills to complex testamentary and protective trust arrangements, often working closely with his clients, financial planners and accountants.

Joe was a committee member of the Western Australian Chapter of the Franchising Council of Australia for more than 12 years, stepping down in August 2018.

Recent experience includes:

• Acted on the acquisition and subsequent re-branding to “Auto Masters” of the existing South Australian automotive service and repair franchise chain formerly known as Profix Service Centre, from preparation of initial business sale agreement, to preparation of new/replacement franchise agreements for existing franchisees.

• Acted for a high net worth individual’s private entities on the development of “The Baynton Apartments” at Karratha WA, a 5-tower residential property project, and on the development of “Indian Ocean Suites” at Port Hedland WA, a 7-tower mixed-use property project, advising on initial set up, titling, financing, leasing and selling of residential and mixed-use lots.

• Acted for the developer, AGEM Property, in the establishment of investor and funding arrangements, sales and strata-related matters for multiple commercial and industrial property developments in WA.