For businesses across Australia, legal protection is an essential yet often overlooked aspect of long-term success. Rise Legal, a commercial law firm specialising in business sales, franchising, and business protection, has been proudly serving clients nationwide with a proactive, strategic approach for over 13 years. Originally founded by Helen Kay and her husband Oliver Kay in 2012, the firm embodies family values, integrity, and a passion for helping businesses thrive.
Tell us about your business?
Rise Legal was set up with a clear vision—to help business owners protect what they’ve built. Too often, we see entrepreneurs and family-run businesses focusing on growth but neglecting the legal foundations that secure their future. Our Business Shield approach is a unique framework that protects clients across five key areas:
- Business Structure
- Intellectual Property (IP)
- Clients
- Business Partners
- Suppliers
We are more than just legal advisors—we are business protectors. My husband and I run the firm together, and we have built a team that shares our commitment to personalised, high-quality legal service. Our focus is always on making legal protection simple and accessible, ensuring businesses operate with confidence and security.
At Rise Legal, our motto is simple: Protect. Grow. Succeed. We’re excited to continue our journey, supporting more businesses through proactive legal strategies, and staying connected with the FBA community.
What has been your greatest success?
One of our proudest achievements is the impact we’ve had on small and medium-sized enterprises and franchise businesses across Australia. Many of our clients come to us feeling overwhelmed by legal issues/jargon, unsure of how to safeguard their business. Seeing those same clients grow and thrive—knowing they have the right contracts, structures, and protections in place—is incredibly rewarding.
We also take great pride in the thought leadership and innovation we bring to the legal industry. Whether it’s through publishing in Business Franchise Australia magazine, educating advisors on legal risks, or creating easy-to-understand e-guides and articles, we strive to make legal knowledge accessible to all business owners.
Why did you join FBA?
We are really keen to learn and grow from other people who are in business with their better halves and family members to share insights into how the different dynamics can play out at home and in the office. There is no escaping this business and no down time away from it when you live with your business partners and we want to surround ourselves with like-minded business owners who understand that!
What advice would you give to other family businesses?
Stay true to your core values. Business is about more than just making money—it’s about creating a legacy, supporting your team, and making a difference for your clients. Our approach at Rise Legal is to help businesses protect what matters most, and we encourage all family-run businesses to think proactively about legal protection.
A key piece of advice? Treat your team like family. The strength of any business lies in the people who drive it forward. We believe in a workplace culture that fosters collaboration, learning, and mutual respect. Whether it’s offering guidance to startups, supporting franchisors through regulatory changes, or ensuring tradespeople get paid for their work, we are committed to being a trusted legal partner for Australian businesses.
Support family business.
