The European market offers huge opportunities for software and connected devices—but new rules are coming that will affect all products sold to EU customers. The Cyber Resilience Act, which will fully apply in 2027, will require manufacturers, importers, and distributors to plan cybersecurity from the very start, build secure products, and manage vulnerabilities throughout the product lifecycle.

Even though the Act is not yet in force, companies should start preparing now. Product development and update cycles can be lengthy, and aligning design, risk management, and documentation with CRA requirements early helps avoid last-minute compliance challenges. This will also ensure smoother market entry, reduce the risk of costly redesigns, and give your company a head start with European customers before the regulation takes effect.

Entering the European market offers significant opportunity, but it also comes with an extensive regulatory landscape — even for businesses based outside the EU. Whether you offer SaaS, run an online platform, or sell physical products via a webshop, the EU imposes strict obligations aimed at protecting consumers, securing data, and maintaining digital trust. 

This article explains the core laws most likely to affect your business when supplying products or services to EU users. We highlight which rules may apply to you, common compliance challenges, and what early action you can take to avoid costly delays, penalties or reputational damage.

Effective corporate governance is the cornerstone of any successful and compliant Australian company. It’s the system for directing and controlling the business, balancing the powers of directors, and protecting the interests of shareholders. This framework is built on two pillars: the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and, crucially, the company’s own constitution.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview for directors and shareholders on the role of a company constitution in Australia. We will explore the difference between relying on the default replaceable rules and adopting a custom constitution, what key clauses you need, and how to legally amend this vital document.

In Australian corporate law, a Shareholder Agreement is a critical private contract that serves as a detailed blueprint for how a company is run and how the owners relate to one another. While the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and a company’s Constitution provide a basic legal framework, a Shareholder Agreement fills the crucial gaps, anticipating future challenges and providing clear, customised rules of engagement. It is an indispensable tool for protecting shareholder interests, ensuring stable governance, and preventing costly disputes.

Starting a business with partners is exciting, but what happens when you inevitably disagree? A Shareholder Agreement is the single most important document for protecting your investment and your business relationships.

A shareholder agreement is a private contract between a company’s shareholders that outlines their rights, responsibilities, and the rules for managing the company. Think of it as a “business pre-nup” that sets the ground rules before any problems arise, ensuring clarity and a fair process for all parties involved.

In the landscape of dispute resolution, the journey from adversarial litigation to collaborative mediation requires a fundamental shift in strategy, communication, and mindset. At the vanguard of this transition is a critical, yet often misunderstood, document: the position paper. Known interchangeably as a mediation statement, mediation brief, or background note, its function is singular and strategic: to serve as the primary tool for initiating a productive, facilitated negotiation. This document is fundamentally different from court pleadings, which are designed for adversarial adjudication. The position paper is the first deliberate move in a negotiation, intended to persuade, inform, and guide all parties toward a mutually acceptable settlement.