Commercial Litigation Lawyers Sydney
Aptum is a boutique commercial litigation firm acting for directors, business owners, executives and investors from Level 1, 60 Martin Place. We run the substantial commercial matters that need to move quickly and end well, in the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Federal Court and the state civil and administrative tribunals.
Three specialist practices, one office
Commercial litigation
Shareholder, contract, negligence, insolvency and property disputes with real commercial consequence.
ExploreTax disputes in Sydney
ATO audits, objections, director penalty notices, Part IVC appeals and state tax disputes.
ExploreEstates litigation in Sydney
Family provision claims, will validity challenges, executor, trustee and family trust disputes.
ExploreCommercial litigation in Sydney
Aptum's Sydney commercial litigation practice runs the matters that turn on complex facts, substantial value, or both. Our clients are directors, business owners, executives, investors, financial services providers, and other counterparties in commercial disputes with real commercial consequence.
We act across the standard commercial dispute categories: shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence, contract disputes, corporations law and directors' duties, insolvency litigation, class actions, financial services and securities matters, complex debt recovery, and property litigation. Our commercial services page has the full catalogue.
Where a matter can be resolved commercially, we build the case strong enough to settle on our clients' terms. Where a matter needs to run to trial, we run it.
Commercial litigation practice areas
Shareholder and Partnership Disputes
oppression claims, buyouts, deadlock resolution
Learn moreProfessional Negligence
claims against accountants, advisers, valuers and other professionals
Learn moreFinancial Services and Securities Litigation
ASIC, APRA, AFCA, Corporations Act and PDS matters
Learn moreCorporations Law and Directors Duty Disputes
director duty breach, oppression, insolvent trading
Learn moreComplex Debt Recovery
statutory demands, judgment enforcement, cross-border recovery
Learn moreProperty Litigation
commercial property, leasing, contract, development disputes
Learn moreArbitration
domestic and international commercial arbitration
Learn moreGovernment and Regulatory Litigation
judicial review, enforcement defence, regulatory investigations
Learn moreClass Action Disputes
claimant-side, respondent-side and funder-side
Learn moreEmployment Disputes
executive exits, restraint of trade, general protections claims
Learn moreSydney courts and tribunals where Aptum appears
Aptum's Sydney commercial team appears regularly in:
- Federal Court of Australia, Sydney Registry. Corporations Act civil penalty proceedings, ASIC and ACCC enforcement matters, competition and consumer law claims, financial services and securities litigation, cross-border commercial matters, and appeals from the Administrative Review Tribunal
- Supreme Court of New South Wales, Equity Division. commercial disputes with an equitable dimension, trust and estate matters, injunctions and freezing orders
- Supreme Court of New South Wales, Commercial List. high-value commercial contract disputes, shareholder disputes, and complex commercial matters requiring specialist case management
- NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT). retail leases, consumer, administrative matters
- Fair Work Commission. executive and senior professional employment matters
What Aptum brings to Sydney commercial matters
Nigel Evans
Nigel Evans, Aptum's Managing Director and Co-Founder, leads Aptum's commercial litigation practice. Before founding Aptum, Nigel spent 11 years at the commercial Victorian Bar. He is listed in Best Lawyers in Australia for Commercial Litigation (2026) and recognised by Doyle's Guide as a Leading Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Lawyer.
David Adason
Nigel is supported by David Adason, Aptum's Associate Director. David has practised commercial litigation exclusively across his career, including a period as Associate to a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia. Doyle's Guide has recognised David as a Rising Star in Commercial Litigation and Insolvency Law.
How Aptum runs a matter
Value conversation
A free, no-obligation first meeting where you set out the matter and Aptum tells you whether the claim is realistic on your facts, what the time limits are, and what the pathway looks like.
Pathways assessment
A costed engagement plan with stage-based budgets and a documented strategy aligned to the stages of your matter.
Execution
We run the matter. Pleadings, evidence, interlocutory steps, mediation, and hearing where the matter does not resolve. Regular reporting and a relentless focus on the essential.
Frequently asked questions
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Do I need a Sydney-based lawyer for a NSW commercial dispute?
Not always. Interstate representation is common in commercial matters, particularly in the Federal Court which sits nationally. But for matters heavily grounded in NSW law, or where regular local court appearances are required, having a Sydney presence is an advantage. Aptum's Level 1, 60 Martin Place office allows in-person meetings and same-day filing at the NSW registries.
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What is the difference between Aptum and a large national firm on a commercial matter?
Focus. Aptum runs commercial and tax litigation only. Large national firms run everything. Aptum's boutique structure means every matter is led by a senior lawyer with a documented strategy, without the layers of a large firm. Our Legal 500 top-percentile client satisfaction score reflects that approach.
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Does Aptum act for both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes?
Yes. Aptum acts for both sides in almost every commercial dispute category. The strategic thinking is largely the same regardless of side, and we take on the matters where we believe we can achieve a real commercial outcome.
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What courts does Aptum appear in for Sydney commercial matters?
Federal Court of Australia (Sydney Registry), Supreme Court of NSW (Equity Division and Commercial List), and the state tribunals where appropriate. Where the matter is in the Federal Court, we appear at the Sydney Registry as required regardless of where the client is based.
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How much does commercial litigation cost in Sydney?
It depends on the complexity, the forum, and how far the matter runs. Most matters resolve well before final hearing, which limits costs significantly. At the pathways assessment stage Aptum provides a stage-based cost forecast so clients know each stage before they commit.
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Do you offer litigation funding options?
Yes. Aptum has established relationships with Australian litigation funders and can put a funded structure in front of a client at the value conversation stage where the case has strong prospects and adequate quantum. Funded matters are structured to preserve the client's control.
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How long does a Sydney commercial dispute typically take?
For matters in the Supreme Court of NSW Commercial List, typical time from filing to substantive resolution is 12 to 18 months, with many matters settling at or before mediation. Federal Court commercial matters run on similar timeframes. Interlocutory relief (injunctions, freezing orders) can be obtained much faster where the facts warrant it.
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Can Aptum handle urgent injunctions in Sydney?
Yes. Aptum's Sydney office is set up to run urgent interlocutory applications, including freezing orders, injunctions restraining specific conduct, and search orders where the facts warrant it. We can move to court the same day where required.
Aptum Legal Sydney
Level 1, 60 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: (02) 7202 3404