CIE Legal

Southbank, VIC

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About Us

CIE Legal was founded in 2009 by a group of lawyers who recognised a gap in the market for boutique firms to deliver the calibre of legal advice typically associated with large national firms, but with a more personalised and flexible approach. Starting from a converted bank in Malvern, Melbourne, the firm quickly built a reputation for blending big-firm expertise with small-firm service, enabling it to provide tailored legal solutions to major organisations. The firm initially gained significant recognition as the sole legal service provider to Nissan Australia, offering an in-house style model that leveraged CIE Legal’s flexible resources. This partnership marked a turning point, demonstrating how the firm could deliver comprehensive legal support across a wide range of commercial and corporate needs. Over time, CIE Legal expanded its team and capabilities, welcoming experienced partners from both private practice and senior in-house roles to strengthen its service offering, particularly in dispute resolution and commercial law. CIE Legal’s focus is on understanding the unique commercial realities of its clients, especially in the consumer product sector, where it provides advice tailored to each stage of the business lifecycle — from research and development through to retail and customer relations. The firm’s culture emphasises decency, collaboration, and a client-first approach, which is reflected in its initiatives to improve client experience, including the establishment of a Client Advisory Board and the adoption of innovative service delivery models. Having steadily grown, CIE Legal combines deep legal knowledge with practical commercial insight, supporting clients in areas such as Australian Consumer Law compliance, franchising, intellectual property, technology, and workplace law. The firm’s recent move to modern offices in Southbank further reflects its commitment to fostering an inspiring environment for collaboration and client engagement. Through continuous improvement and responsiveness to client feedback, CIE Legal remains focused on delivering exceptional legal services that align with the evolving needs of its clients.

Practice Areas

Commercial Law

Employment Law

Intellectual Property

Litigation & Disputes

Specialisations

Commercial Law

The commercial team at CIE Legal brings extensive experience in drafting and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts that underpin business operations across the consumer supply chain. Their work ensures clear articulation of roles and responsibilities, fostering effective and sustainable business relationships. Clients benefit from tailored advice on various agreements, including manufacturing and supply contracts, distribution arrangements, and franchise agreements, addressing the unique needs of sectors such as food and beverage, retail, and automotive. In addition to standard commercial contracts, the team offers guidance on agreements related to product development, research and development, logistics, and shareholder arrangements. Their expertise also extends to handling confidentiality issues, advertising and promotional contracts, and terms and conditions, supporting businesses in navigating complex commercial landscapes with confidence.

Intellectual Property

CIE Legal’s Disputes team provides experienced guidance across a broad spectrum of commercial and personal dispute matters, including Australian Consumer Law issues, contracts, commercial property, construction, and employment disputes. Their approach is pragmatic and direct, focusing on delivering clear advice that considers the financial and reputational implications of pursuing litigation. Whether navigating debt recovery, defamation claims, or insolvency challenges, they help clients make informed and commercially sound decisions. Where possible, the team promotes alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation, arbitration, and early settlement conferences to reduce cost and uncertainty. When litigation is necessary, CIE Legal’s team develops robust strategies to protect clients' interests effectively. Their expertise also covers complex areas such as intellectual property, technology and privacy disputes, franchising, regulatory enforcement, and estate disputes, providing comprehensive dispute resolution support.