Commercial Transactions
Our Expertise
We pride ourselves on our valued client relationships. Our clients know us for our responsiveness and our commitment to seeing their businesses succeed over the long term.
Carneys’ longevity is testament to the calibre of its solicitors, who see intricate knowledge of their clients’ businesses as imperative. Over 60 years, Carneys has guided hundred of businesses through the many stages of business growth, development and succession.
We assist fledgling start-ups and sophisticated enterprises alike. We seek to partner with our clients to assist with the critical transactions and watershed moments in the life of a company that can make or break a business.


Our Work
Advising the purchaser of a franchise pharmacy business, including the transfer of all related licenses and leases.
Shareholder Dispute
Advising the vendor of a construction business.
Shareholder Dispute
Drafting a shareholders agreement for a company running a successful group restaurants in Sydney.
Shareholder Dispute
Services
Corporate
Carneys corporate lawyers are experts in advising on corporate governance and the Corporations Act. Our lawyers draft shareholder agreements and other essential documents for private and public companies registered in Australia.
Carneys commercial litigation lawyers are preeminent experts in Corporations Act disputes.
Purchase and sale of business
Carneys commercial lawyers have extensive experience in acting for vendors and purchases of businesses in Australia. Carneys have acted in the sale of small and large businesses, from pharmacies to labour hire companies. We are renowned for our thorough approach and our ability to guide our clients through all aspects of the sale process.
Structuring
Carneys engage expert tax consultants where necessary to work alongside our team of commercial lawyers.
We have a broad network of contacts who we regularly engage to advise our clients’ on specific tax and structuring issues. In many commercial transactions an interdisciplinary approach is necessary to ensure that our clients are obtaining holistic commercial advice
Franchising
Franchising is a potentially lucrative but technical commercial arrangement. We advise franchisors and franchisees on the intricacies of franchise agreement and all related licenses and leases. We advise in respect of the disputes that arise as a function of poorly drafted agreements and unforeseen circumstances.
Liquor licencing
As an experienced liquor licensing firm, Carneys has deep expertise in acting in licensing applications, disputes and all related matters. Carneys property lawyers have expertise in hotel sales, purchases and leases which involve Liquor Licenses and Gaming Machine Entitlements.
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Master of Laws
London School of Economics and Political Science
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

- t. (02) 8226 5555
- e. acarney@carneys.com.au
Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London).
In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.
Arthur’s areas of practice include:
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
- Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
- Property Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Class Actions
- Insurance and Common Law Litigation
- Wills and Succession Act Disputes
- Mediation
- Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.
In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.
Nathan Wrench
PARTNER
Specialises in Property and Civil Dispute Matters. Experienced in Commercial Transactions
Nathan Wrench
Partner
Nathan is a solicitor in the Property practice group.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Science (Psychology)
University of New South Wales
Law Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 99315
College of Law
- strata disputes;
- contractual disputes;
- conveyancing;
- mortgage law (lenders and debtors);
- business law (purchase and sale of business);
- construction law;
- wills, probate and estate administration; and
- commercial litigation.
Stephen Titus
Special Counsel
Specialises in Commercial Litigation and Commercial Work
Stephen Titus
Partner
Stephen has been qualified for over 30 years and specializes in commercial litigation and commercial work.
QUALIFICATIONS
SAB 1978 –University of Sydney
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

Stephen’s practice includes a broad equity and commercial practice acting for Plaintiffs and Defendants in courts and tribunals where he often appears as advocate and otherwise engages very good counsel to act for clients.
Stephen’s areas of practice include:
- Building & Strata Disputes
- Representing solicitors & barristers in consumer and disciplinary allegations and complaints by the Law Society, Bar Association and Legal Services Commissioner and in Tribunal proceedings against practitioners
- Contractual Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Insolvency & Debt Recovery
- Supreme Court Equity Actions
- Probate, Wills & Succession Act Disputes
- Professional Negligence Actions
- Defamation
- Commercial Advice and Drafting
- Common Law and Insurance Claims
- Acting for Councils in Debt Recovery and advice on commercial arrangements and disputes
Stephen will think outside of the square and consider alternatives to litigation with cost effective strategies. His strengths include focusing on the issues and evidence required, gathering that evidence, working with appropriate counsel, considering settlement or getting the best result from the litigation. Stephen joined Carney Lawyers in 2002. In October 2004 he was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. He is a past Member of the Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee and Litigation Law and Practice Committee.
Stephen Titus
special counsel
Stephen has been qualified for over 30 years and specializes in commercial litigation and commercial work.
QUALIFICATIONS
SAB 1978 –University of Sydney
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

Stephen’s practice includes a broad equity and commercial practice acting for Plaintiffs and Defendants in courts and tribunals where he often appears as advocate and otherwise engages very good counsel to act for clients.
Stephen’s areas of practice include:
- Building & Strata Disputes
- Representing solicitors & barristers in consumer and disciplinary allegations and complaints by the Law Society, Bar Association and Legal Services Commissioner and in Tribunal proceedings against practitioners
- Contractual Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Insolvency & Debt Recovery
- Supreme Court Equity Actions
- Probate, Wills & Succession Act Disputes
- Professional Negligence Actions
- Defamation
- Commercial Advice and Drafting
- Common Law and Insurance Claims
- Acting for Councils in Debt Recovery and advice on commercial arrangements and disputes
Stephen will think outside of the square and consider alternatives to litigation with cost effective strategies. His strengths include focusing on the issues and evidence required, gathering that evidence, working with appropriate counsel, considering settlement or getting the best result from the litigation. Stephen joined Carney Lawyers in 2002. In October 2004 he was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. He is a past Member of the Law Society Dispute Resolution Committee and Litigation Law and Practice Committee.
Arthur Carney
PARTNER
Leader of the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws University of Sydney
Master of Laws
London School of Economics and Political Science
ACCREDITATIONS
Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation

- t. (02) 8226 5555
- e. acarney@carneys.com.au
Arthur leads the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team and has extensive experience in the New South Wales Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal Court and High Court. He was admitted to practice as a lawyer in 1977. In November 1984, he was admitted to the degree of Master of Laws by the London School of Economics and Political Science (University of London).
In September 1995 Arthur was certified as an Accredited Specialist in Commercial Litigation by the Law Society of New South Wales. There are 101 Accredited Specialists in the field of Commercial Litigation, selected from over 32,000 legal practitioners in New South Wales. He is the Chairman of the Law Society Specialist Accreditation Commercial Litigation Committee. This Committee sets and marks the examination and assessment process for lawyers seeking specialist accreditation in the field of commercial litigation.
Arthur’s areas of practice include:
- Contractual Disputes
- Corporations – Directors & Officers Duties and Liabilities
- Corporate Recovery & Insolvency
- Property Disputes
- Trade Practices
- Class Actions
- Insurance and Common Law Litigation
- Wills and Succession Act Disputes
- Mediation
- Arthur has extensive skills in the organisation and management of large and complex litigation.
In December 1998 Arthur was appointed as a District Court Arbitrator and in 2008 he was appointed by the Supreme Court of NSW to the panel of solicitors supervising Anton Piller Search Orders. He served on the Law Society of NSW Professional Conduct Committee for 10 years.
Nathan Wrench
PARTNER
Nathan is a solicitor in the Property practice group.
QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
University of New South Wales
Bachelor of Science (Psychology)
University of New South Wales
Law Society of New South Wales Practising Certificate no. 99315

Nathan acts for clients in a range of property and civil dispute matters including:
- strata disputes;
- contractual disputes;
- conveyancing;
- mortgage law (lenders and debtors);
- business law (purchase and sale of business);
- construction law;
- wills, probate and estate administration; and
- commercial litigation.