Does the licence transfer when I buy a venue?

It can, but the transfer has to be approved. We make the transfer part of the sale, so completion and the licence line up.

Do I need a planning permit as well?

Often, yes. Liquor licensing and planning are separate approvals, and we coordinate the two.

Most document work (leases, agreements, structures) is quoted as a fixed fee from the outset. Debt recovery is staged: a fixed fee for the letter of demand and for a statutory demand, then a written estimate for any court step. Larger matters such as a business sale or a contested proceeding are scoped and estimated in writing before we start, and you are told early if anything changes.

Your liquor licence,
timed with the lease.

For restaurants, cafés, bars and bottle shops. We prepare liquor licence applications, transfers and variations, and coordinate them with your lease, planning permit and business purchase.

Book a free 15-minute call Call 03 8386 9502

Client reviews

Commercial law clients,
in their own words.

All 84 Google reviews

4.5★★★★★
Google rating from 84 client reviews
Every quote on this page is a public Google review, reproduced in the client’s own words. Read them all →
We engaged Joshi Lawyers for a business purchase and found them to be very professional, dedicated and helpful. Dinesh has a significant degree of knowledge in business and commercial law matters. We were advised about everything in detail and kept informed about our matter’s progress at each stage.
Anqi HuangBusiness purchase · Google review, 2017
Our first experience in Australia using any lawyer. All advice given was very fair and to the point. It was them who suggested the statutory demand process, which we used for a speedy recovery, and it worked.
GNS Group AustraliaDebt recovery · Google review, 2023
Dinesh solved my dispute in 4 months where the other lawyer I had prior took 12 months giving me no foresight on my case. Dinesh has a clear foresight in his cases and closes all objections with ease and makes you aware of your standing.
Dheeraj WadhwaniBusiness dispute · Google review, 2018
From business settlements to my recent land settlement, they have never failed to impress me. Thank you Dinesh and your team for taking the stress from us and dealing with all sorts of issues and disputes very professionally.
Aarti AroraBusiness owner and investor · Google review, 2017

Is this you?

When people come to us about liquor licensing.

Each of these is a good reason to call, and none of them is too early.

You are opening a restaurant and need the right liquor licence.
You are buying a venue and the licence has to transfer to you.
You want to extend trading hours or add an outdoor area.
An objection has been lodged against your application.

How we help

A licence, a lease and a permit all have to line up.

A liquor licence in Victoria is granted by the Victorian Liquor Commission and depends on the premises, the planning permit and the people running the business. If one is not in order, the opening date moves.

We advise on the right licence, prepare the application or transfer, deal with objections and conditions, and coordinate the timing with your lease and business purchase.

What we do

Advice on the right licence type
New licence applications
Transfers on the sale of a business
Variations to hours, areas and conditions
Planning permit coordination
Responses to objections and compliance issues

Book a free 15-minute call

What happens first

Your first week with us.

A matter should feel different from the first call. This is what you can expect before anything is signed or sent.

What it costs

The first call: what the real question is
Most commercial matters turn on one or two points. We find them first, so the work goes where it counts.
Within the week: a strategy and a written estimate
What a good outcome looks like, how we propose to reach it, and what it will cost, before any letter is sent.
Document work: delivered on a date, not a promise
Most leases and agreements are delivered within five business days of instructions. Debt recovery steps are quoted as fixed fees.
From then on: one senior lawyer, with your accountant
Structure, tax and succession decisions are made together, not in sequence, and you deal with the same lawyer throughout.

Your team

Who you will deal with.

Matters are run by the people below, not handed down.

Meet our people

Questions

Frequently asked questions

If your question is not here, it is a good reason for the free call.

Does the licence transfer when I buy a venue?
It can, but the transfer has to be approved. We make the transfer part of the sale, so completion and the licence line up.
Do I need a planning permit as well?
Often, yes. Liquor licensing and planning are separate approvals, and we coordinate the two.
What does it cost?
Most document work (leases, agreements, structures) is quoted as a fixed fee from the outset. Debt recovery is staged: a fixed fee for the letter of demand and for a statutory demand, then a written estimate for any court step. Larger matters such as a business sale or a contested proceeding are scoped and estimated in writing before we start, and you are told early if anything changes.