Swaab

What Swaab does

Swaab is a privately held, partnership-structured law firm headquartered at Level 4, 20 Hunter Street, Sydney CBD, established in 1981 by Fredrick Swaab and now led by Managing Partner Mary Digiglio. The firm operates as a full-service legal practice spanning 18+ practice areas (Commercial, Commercial Finance, Construction & Infrastructure, Corporate, Cyber, Employment, Estate Planning & Wills, Family Law, Franchising, Insolvency, IP & Technology, Litigation, Planning & Environment, Property, Strata, Strata Remedial Construction, Contested Estates, Workplace Health & Safety) and 10 industry sector specializations (Financial Services, Healthcare, Healthcare & Allied Health, Hotels & Hospitality, Manufacturing & Industrials, Natural Resources, Private Clients & Family Businesses, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Wholesale, Services Professional & Non-professional). A distinguishing feature is its combined Commercial + Family Law offering under one roof, including accredited Family Law specialists.

The firm employs approximately 50+ lawyers and staff, structured across Partners, Special Counsel, Senior Associates, Associates, and Consultants, and serves entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates (including ASX-listed), high-net-worth individuals and families, government entities, and vertical-specific clients in hotels/hospitality, mining, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and financial services. Its core technology stack is described as standard legal practice technology, supported by a secure online Swaab Client Portal (access.swaab.com.au) for matter access and documentation. Revenue is generated entirely through professional fees on a quote-based engagement model following initial consultation; pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Swaab has been a member of the Meritas global alliance since 2009, providing access to 180+ vetted law firms in 80+ countries for cross-border mandates. The firm has accumulated continuous industry recognition from Doyle's Guide, Lawyers Weekly, BRW, ALPMA, ALB, Mondaq, and Chambers and Partners between 2023-2026. No external investment, PE, or VC ownership has been identified.

Name

Swaab

Legal name

Swaab

Website

https://swaab.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Swaab is a privately held Sydney-based full-service law firm, founded in 1981, offering commercial and family law across 18+ practice areas to entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates, high-net-worth individuals, and government clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Other Legal Services (54119)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Commercial Law (BPAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Commercial law services
• Family law services
• Corporate legal advisory
• Litigation and dispute resolution
• Property and real estate law

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Professional Fees: Revenue generated through legal professional fees for commercial and family law services including corporate transactions, litigation, property, employment, estate planning, and family law matters.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Swaab is a full-service Sydney law firm providing legal advisory and representation services across Commercial Law and Family Law practice areas. The firm serves entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporates (including ASX-listed companies), high-net-worth individuals, and government clients with expertise spanning corporate transactions, litigation, property, employment, estate planning, family law, insolvency, IP, cyber, and construction matters. Legal services are delivered through direct engagement with partners and accredited specialists at the Sydney CBD office, supplemented by international reach via the Meritas alliance.

Product overview

Swaab is an award-winning Sydney law firm established in 1981, offering a full-service legal practice with both Commercial and Family Law divisions. The firm operates as a unified legal services practice organized across 18 distinct legal practice areas (including Commercial Law, Family Law, Corporate, Litigation, Property, Construction, Employment, Insolvency, IP & Technology, Cyber Law, Estate Planning, and more) and 10 industry sector specializations (including Financial Services, Healthcare, Hotels & Hospitality, Manufacturing, Natural Resources, Property & Construction, Retail & Wholesale, and Technology & Media). The practice areas are delivered as integrated service offerings rather than separate product modules, allowing the firm to provide holistic legal solutions drawing on expertise across multiple disciplines. The firm also provides client-facing digital services including a secure online client portal for matter access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Law Full-service commercial legal advice for entrepreneurs, businesses, innovators, and government including business structuring, contracts, and commercial transactions.
• Commercial Finance Legal services for lenders, borrowers, arrangers and investors across financial transactions, including business investments, mortgage agreements, and PPSA matters.
• Construction & Infrastructure Strategic, commercial and practical advice throughout the entire construction project lifecycle including procurement planning, contract negotiation, and dispute resolution.
• Contested Estates Legal representation and advice for disputed estate matters and inheritance claims.
• Corporate Corporate transactional services including capital raising, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance.
• Cyber Law Legal guidance on cyber law matters including cyber intellectual property, cyber security, cyber privacy, eCommerce, and IT agreements.
• Employment Employment law advice covering Fair Work Act matters, enterprise agreements, employment contracts, terminations, and workplace disputes.
• Estate Planning & Wills Estate planning services including wills, powers of attorney, testamentary trusts, superannuation advice, and business succession planning.
• Family Law Accredited specialist family law services including divorce, separation, property settlements, parenting arrangements, and maintenance matters.
• Franchising Franchise establishment and advisory services including franchise agreements, disclosure documents, and ACCC compliance.
• Insolvency Insolvency services for practitioners, directors, shareholders, debtors and creditors including wind-up applications, voidable transaction claims, and external administration.
• IP & Technology Intellectual property and technology legal services including patents, trade marks, copyright, technology transfer, and IT implementation.
• Litigation Commercial litigation and dispute resolution services including alternative dispute resolution, corporations law proceedings, and property disputes.
• Planning & Environment Planning and environmental law services including development consents, Land and Environment Court proceedings, and pollution licensing.
• Property Property and real estate legal services including acquisitions, disposals, commercial leasing, subdivisions, and property development.
• Strata Strata and community law services covering development, advisory, disputes, and strata renewal or termination matters.
• Strata Remedial Construction Specialized remedial construction legal services for strata buildings including Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 compliance.
• Workplace Health & Safety WHS compliance services including policy development, SafeWork NSW matters, prosecutions defense, and crisis response.
• Natural Resources Legal services for the mining and natural resources sector covering planning approvals, financing, greenfield and brownfield projects.
• Healthcare & Allied Health Legal services for healthcare providers including private hospitals, clinics, practitioners, and allied health professionals.
• Hotels & Hospitality Legal services for hotel and hospitality operators covering liquor licensing, gaming laws, and compliance.
• Manufacturing & Industrials Legal services for manufacturers covering regulatory compliance, corporate setup, commercial contracts, and supply chain matters.
• Private Clients & Family Businesses Personalized legal advice for high net worth individuals and family businesses including wealth protection and succession planning.
• Property & Construction Integrated legal services for developers, investors, owners corporations, and builders across planning, real estate, construction and strata law.
• Retail & Wholesale Legal services for retailers and wholesalers covering supply chain, supplier contracts, employment, and eCommerce matters.
• Services Professional & Non-professional Legal services for the professional and non-professional services sector including structuring, contracts, and IP protection.
• Financial Services Legal services for financial institutions, alternative financiers, trustees, private lenders, and financial planning groups.
• Swaab Client Portal (Swaab Access) Secure online portal for clients to access their legal matters and documentation.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GvW Graf von WestphalenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Munich-based law firm that participated in a believed first-of-its-kind international trainee placement with Swaab. Charlotte Schnitzenbaumer was hosted for a three-month international placement in 2026.
• Meritas Law Firms WorldwidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Swaab has been a proud member of Meritas since 2009. Meritas is the premier global alliance of independent law firms founded in 1990, with 180+ member firms across 80+ countries. Each firm is subject to regular re-certification ensuring quality standards. Swaab benefits from access to trusted international legal expertise for cross-border client needs.
• DMAW LawyersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Meritas member firm based in Adelaide, part of the Meritas Australia & New Zealand regional group.
• Bennett & Philp LawyersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Meritas member firm, part of the Meritas Australia & New Zealand regional group.
• MadgwicksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Meritas member firm, part of the Meritas Australia & New Zealand regional group.
• Williams + Hughes LawyersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian Meritas member firm, part of the Meritas Australia & New Zealand regional group.
• Martelli McKeggminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand Meritas member firm, part of the Meritas Australia & New Zealand regional group.
• National Association of ManufacturersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership through Meritas network, providing connection to manufacturing industry clients.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Maddocks: Australian mid-tier law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Similar in scale, full-service offering, and focus on corporate, commercial, and government clients with comparable Doyle's Guide recognitions.
• HopgoodGanim Lawyers: Brisbane and Perth-based mid-tier Australian law firm of comparable size with full-service commercial practice. Comparable in mid-market positioning, sector specialisations, and partner-driven service model.
• Lander & Rogers: Sydney-headquartered full-service Australian law firm of comparable size, offering corporate, commercial, property, and family law services to SME and mid-market clients. Directly comparable in target market and service mix.
• Colin Biggers & Paisley: Mid-tier Australian law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth providing full-service commercial and family law. Comparable size, partnership structure, and Sydney-centric client base overlap.
• McCullough Robertson: Brisbane-headquartered mid-tier Australian full-service law firm with offices across multiple states. Comparable in size, full-service offering, and focus on corporate, commercial, and private clients.
• Holding Redlich: Australian full-service commercial law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth. Closely comparable to Swaab in mid-tier positioning, practice breadth, and target client mix of corporates, SMEs, and government entities.

Broad incumbents

• King & Wood Mallesons: Asia-Pacific's largest law firm with deep Australian presence, serving many of the same ASX-listed and corporate clients as Swaab. Broad incumbent competitor offering overlapping capabilities but at a significantly larger scale.
• Allens: Leading Australian commercial law firm with deep corporate, M&A, and capital markets practice. Larger incumbent competing for the same ASX-listed and corporate advisory mandates that Swaab targets.
• Clayton Utz: Major Australian commercial law firm and Big-6 player. Competes for the same corporate, M&A, and commercial transactions work as Swaab, but at much larger scale with full national and international reach.

Emerging players

• LegalVision: Australian legaltech and alternative legal services provider targeting SMEs and startups with fixed-fee, tech-enabled legal services. Represents an emerging competitive threat to mid-tier firms like Swaab serving the same SME customer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SwaabLaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SwaabLaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/swaablaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Swaab