What We Do for Fast-Moving Brands, Founders & Creators.

Start smart. Build solid legal foundations from day one.

Early-stage structure and ownership decisions determine how your business grows, raises capital, and protects its value. The right legal documents here set clear rules, protect IP, and prevent costly disputes later.

At this stage I help you:

Choose and set up your legal structure
Company, trust, or partnership - each has different implications for tax, liability, and ownership. I’ll advise on the best option for your goals and coordinate the registrations.

Lock in founders, partners, and investors
When more than one person is involved, clarity is critical. I’ll prepare:

• Founders’ or Partnership Agreements

• Shareholders’ Agreements

• Loan or Convertible Note Agreements

• Option or Equity Vesting Schedules

These documents define ownership, roles, decision-making, and what happens if someone exits.

Protect your brand and IP
Before investing in packaging or marketing, confirm you own your name and creative assets. I’ll conduct trademark searches, handle applications, and draft IP Assignment or Licensing Agreements where needed.

Establish your key commercial contracts
Before you start trading or engaging clients, you’ll need clear, enforceable terms. I’ll prepare:

• Service or Client Agreements

• Supply or Manufacturing Agreements

• Collaboration or Joint Venture Agreements

• Independent Contractor Agreements

All tailored to your business model and risk profile - not generic templates.

Cover your online and consumer obligations
If you sell online or collect data, you must comply with Australian Consumer Law and privacy requirements. I’ll draft:

• Website Terms of Use

• Privacy Policies (including data-collection disclosures)

• Refund, Warranty, and Disclaimer Policies

Pressure-test your idea before launch
If your product or service touches regulated areas (health, food, wellness, supplements), I’ll identify compliance obligations and help you avoid claims or labelling risks before going to market.

Turn your idea into a business that’s legally sound and retail-ready.

Once you start making or selling a product or service, you move into regulated territory. Every sale, supplier, and label carries legal obligations. This stage is about protecting revenue, managing supply chain risk, and staying compliant with Australian law.

At this stage I help you:

Lock in your supply chain and production
Your product relies on others delivering - ingredients, packaging, manufacturing, or fulfilment. I’ll draft or review:

• Manufacturing Agreements

• Supply and Distribution Agreements

• Fulfilment and 3PL Contracts

• Non-Disclosure and Confidentiality Agreements

These protect your pricing, IP, and timelines while managing risk if something goes wrong.

Protect your product and IP ownership
If you’ve developed a unique formulation, process, or design, I’ll help ensure you retain the rights. This can include:

• Intellectual Property Assignments

• Licensing Agreements

• Confidential Information and Trade Secret Protections

Ensure your marketing and packaging comply
Your claims, labelling, and advertising must comply with ACCC, FSANZ, TGA, and Australian Consumer Law. I’ll review and advise on:

• Ingredient and nutrition statements

• Health or therapeutic claims

• Product labelling and disclaimers

• Influencer and social media compliance

Create clear terms for how you sell
Whether online, in-store, or through wholesale, your terms must protect you and meet consumer law. I’ll prepare:

• Product or Service Terms and Conditions

• Wholesale and Retail Agreements

• Refund, Warranty, and Liability Terms

• E-commerce and Subscription Terms

Manage risk before scaling
This is also where founders start hiring, testing, or licensing. I’ll help you put the right documents in place early:

• Employment or Contractor Agreements

• Consultancy or Advisory Agreements

• Licensing or White-Label Agreements

Grow your business without creating legal headaches.

As soon as you bring people into your business - employees, contractors, or partners - you’re creating obligations. Getting it wrong can lead to disputes, IP loss, or compliance issues that slow growth. Getting it right builds trust and protects the company you’re building.

At this stage I help you:

Hire with the right agreements
Every role needs clear terms on pay, confidentiality, and ownership of work. I’ll draft or review:

• Employment Agreements (full-time, part-time, casual)

• Independent Contractor Agreements

• Consultancy Agreements

• Intern or Freelancer Agreements

Each sets out duties, deliverables, and IP assignment so what’s created belongs to the business.

Protect your culture and compliance
As you scale, HR and compliance obligations expand. I’ll help implement:

• Workplace Policies and Procedures

• Confidentiality and Non-Compete Clauses

• Code of Conduct and Social Media Policies

• Workplace Health and Safety compliance

Clarify partnerships and co-founder arrangements
If you’re bringing on strategic partners or investors, clarity prevents conflict later. I’ll prepare or update:

• Shareholders’ Agreements

• Partnership or Joint Venture Agreements

• Vesting Schedules and Option Plans

• Buy-Sell or Exit Mechanisms

Secure ownership of your IP
When staff or contractors create content, design, or product formulas, ownership should rest with the business. I’ll ensure all contracts include enforceable IP assignment clauses and moral-rights waivers.

Handle disputes or exits properly
When relationships change, I’ll help manage:

• Termination Letters and Release Agreements

• Deeds of Settlement or Separation

• Confidential Dispute Resolution

Operate with confidence and stay compliant online.

Once you start taking payments, collecting data, or marketing digitally, you’re running an eCommerce business - even if it’s small. That means privacy, consumer law, and advertising rules now apply. I help you stay compliant while protecting your IP, content, and revenue streams.

At this stage I help you:

Protect your website and data use
Every online business collecting customer data must meet Australian Privacy Principles. I’ll draft:

• Website Terms of Use

• Privacy Policies (including cookies and data disclosures)

• E-commerce and Subscription Terms

• Refund, Warranty, and Returns Policies

These documents protect you legally while building trust with your customers.

Comply with advertising and marketing law
Digital ads, UGC, and influencer partnerships are regulated. I’ll review or prepare:

• Influencer and Ambassador Agreements

• Sponsored Content and UGC Release Forms

• Advertising and Competition Compliance (ACCC, AANA Code)

• Email Marketing and Spam Act compliance

Secure your content and IP
If you create digital assets - courses, videos, branding, or software - you own valuable IP. I’ll help you protect and monetise it through:

• Copyright and Trademark Registration

• Licensing and Content Use Agreements

• Terms for Digital Products or Membership Platforms

Protect against online disputes and liability
Online businesses face issues like chargebacks, content misuse, and platform disputes. I’ll advise on:

• Platform Terms and Seller Policies (Shopify, Amazon, Etsy)

• Dispute Response and Enforcement Letters

• Reputation and Defamation Management

Ensure global readiness
If you sell into other markets (US, UK, EU), I’ll flag and adapt for overseas requirements, including:

• Cross-border Privacy and GDPR compliance

• Import/export and product registration checks

Protect your ideas, content, and commercial partnerships.

If your business is built on content, ideas, or influence, your IP is your product. Whether you run an agency, produce content, or license creative work, you need clear contracts and strong IP protection. This ensures you get paid, control how your work is used, and safeguard your reputation.

At this stage I help you:

Protect your creative work and IP
Before you post, publish, or pitch, make sure your ideas belong to you. I’ll prepare or register:

• Copyright and Trademark Applications

• IP Assignment or Licensing Agreements

• Content Ownership and Moral Rights Clauses

• Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements

Structure your client and brand deals
Clear contracts mean no scope creep, faster payment, and fewer disputes. I’ll draft:

• Client Services Agreements

• Retainer and Project Contracts

• Influencer and Ambassador Agreements

• Brand Collaboration and Sponsorship Contracts

Set rules for content use and collaboration
If you work with freelancers, creators, or agencies, protect your IP and brand consistency. I’ll prepare:

• Contractor or Contributor Agreements

• Content Release and Usage Agreements

• White-Label and Co-Branded Campaign Terms

Monetise your IP safely
If you license your content, brand, or methods, you need strong commercial terms. I’ll help with:

• Licensing and Royalty Agreements

• Franchise or Brand Extension Terms

• Revenue Share and Affiliate Agreements

Protect your reputation and digital presence
When you work online, your name is your asset. I’ll assist with:

• Defamation and Reputation Management

• Social Media and Endorsement Disputes

• Domain and Trademark Enforcement

Protect your content. Own your value. Stay in control.

If your business is built around your face, voice, or IP, you need more than a contract from Google Docs. You need legal support that protects your time, brand, and boundaries — and keeps copycats and scope-creep in check.

What I help you do at this stage:

Custom Client Agreements
Coaching packages, retainer clients, digital product access, 1:1 sessions — whatever your offer, we’ll lock it in with terms that are clear and enforceable.

IP Ownership and Copyright Clauses
Your content is your asset. I’ll make sure your terms include IP protection, so you stay in control of how your work is used, shared, or licensed.

Digital Product and Online Course Legals
Selling templates, courses, or programs? You’ll need T&Cs that cover licensing, refunds, login access, and unauthorised distribution. I’ll make sure your terms hold up.

Influencer Agreements and Brand Collaborations
Whether you’re running UGC deals, sponsored posts, affiliate partnerships, or multi-month campaigns, I’ll help you lock in the deliverables, usage rights, payment terms, and legal protections.

Disclaimers and Compliance for Regulated Niches
If you touch on health, nutrition, fitness, or financial topics, you need the right disclaimers to stay compliant with the ACCC, TGA, or relevant regulators. I’ll write them properly so you’re covered.

One-Off Reviews and Plain-English Advice
If a brand sends you a contract, I’ll review it fast and flag the risks. No fluff. No unnecessary markups. Just clear advice in normal language.

Stay compliant, protect your brand, and avoid costly product risks.

When your product hits the shelf or sells online, everything from your label to your website copy becomes a legal statement. The right checks and documents protect you from regulatory breaches, consumer complaints, and copycats.

At this stage I help you:

Review and approve packaging before print
Your packaging and product claims must meet Australian Consumer Law and any industry-specific regulations. I’ll review and advise on:

• Ingredient lists and nutrition panels

• Health, therapeutic, or environmental claims

• Directions for use and storage

• Label layout and mandatory disclosures

Ensure compliance with regulators
I’ll identify and manage the rules that apply to your category, including:

• FSANZ (food standards and labelling)

• TGA (supplements, vitamins, therapeutic goods)

• ACCC (consumer law and product safety)

• DAFF (import/export and country of origin)

Protect your brand identity and IP
Your brand is your most valuable asset. I’ll secure and enforce your rights through:

• Trademark registration and portfolio management

• IP assignment and licensing agreements

• Trade dress and brand protection strategies

• Enforcement and cease-and-desist letters

Prepare compliant marketing and disclaimers
I’ll make sure your brand story is persuasive and legal. This includes:

• Website and social media disclaimers

• Influencer, testimonial, and UGC compliance

• Marketing claim substantiation and risk checks

Manage recalls, complaints, and enforcement
If a complaint or dispute arises, I’ll guide you through a compliant response process and help protect your brand reputation.

Protect your growth, negotiate from strength, and stay compliant as you expand.

When you move into retail or distribution, you take on new risks. Retailer contracts, logistics partners, and national supply chains all create legal and commercial exposure. This is where strong agreements and smart negotiation protect your margins and your brand.

At this stage I help you:

Negotiate retail and distribution agreements
The fine print in supply contracts can decide whether you make money or lose control of your product. I’ll review and negotiate:

• Retail Supply and Trading Terms

• Distributor and Agency Agreements

• Pricing, rebate, and territory clauses

• Exclusivity and minimum order terms

Manage logistics, fulfilment, and quality control
I’ll help you structure the operational side of scaling with:

• Warehousing and 3PL Agreements

• Shipping and Fulfilment Contracts

• Product Recall and Liability Procedures

• Service Level and Performance Agreements

Protect your wholesale and B2B relationships
Clear agreements reduce risk and disputes as you expand your customer base. I’ll prepare:

• Wholesale Terms and Conditions

• Sales Representative or Broker Agreements

• Credit and Payment Terms

• Warranty and Indemnity Clauses

Support export and international growth
If you’re scaling offshore, I’ll guide you through:

• Export documentation and compliance

• Overseas distribution and licensing structures

• Trademark protection in new markets

• Cross-border tax and import law coordination

Maintain compliance while growing fast
As your business scales, so do your obligations. I’ll help you keep consumer, labelling, and safety standards up to date as you enter new channels and categories.

Like having an in-house lawyer without the full-time cost.

Once you’re growing fast, one-off advice won’t cut it. You need a lawyer who understands your business, speaks your language, and is on-call when deals land or problems pop up.

I provide flexible, founder-friendly legal support that fits around your business - not the other way around.

What this looks like:

On-Call Legal Advice
Need help reviewing a contract, responding to a demand, or pressure-testing a new deal? I’m available when you need me on Slack, Zoom, or email - without the hourly rate shock.

Rolling Contract & Risk Reviews
Keep your legals up to date as you scale. I’ll regularly review your agreements, flag risks, and suggest upgrades so nothing gets stale or overlooked.

Deal & Fundraising Support
Getting ready to raise capital or bring on new partners? I’ll review term sheets, flag red flags, and help you negotiate clean, founder-friendly terms.

Team & IP Housekeeping
As your team grows, so does legal complexity. I’ll make sure your IP is locked down, your contractor agreements are current, and your employee terms are rock solid.

Retail & Distribution Advisory
If you’re expanding into wholesale or onboarding retailers, I’ll be your legal lead - reviewing contracts, setting terms, and protecting your downside.

Simple Monthly Billing
No surprises. No timers. Just a flat monthly fee for ongoing support, adjusted to match your level of need.

Access both legal and commercial support

Services are delivered through two distinct but complementary entities to maintain clarity and compliance.

Simson Legal is an incorporated legal practice regulated by the Queensland Law Society. All legal services are provided exclusively through this entity. This includes:

• Legal advice and representation

• Contract drafting and negotiation

• Intellectual property and trademark matters

• Regulatory and compliance advice

• Dispute resolution and settlements

Hugh Simson Consulting operates separately and provides non-legal advisory services. This includes:

• Commercial, operational, and strategic consulting

• Pricing and margin strategy

• Distribution and retail readiness

• Growth and channel planning

• Brand and business development support

This separation ensures that all legal work is performed under a regulated legal practice and billed by Simson Legal, while all commercial consulting engagements are billed independently by Hugh Simson Consulting. Clients receive a unified advisory experience with clear boundaries between legal and non-legal services.