Louis Shivarev - Reinvigorating commercial law with practical, human clarity

How did you start down this career path?

I didn’t grow up with a clear “lawyer” plan. I grew up in a traditional Asian family, so the expectations were pretty clear: you’re either a doctor or a lawyer. My brother’s the doctor, I’m the lawyer.

But beyond the stereotype, the truth is, as a young man, pressure was high, money was tight and I learned early that if I wanted a different future, I’d need to build it deliberately. That’s what pushed me towards business, strategy and eventually law.

I chose commercial law because it sits at the perfect intersection of people, money and decisions. It’s not theoretical. It’s where real risk in real life lives. It’s also where a good adviser can genuinely change the trajectory of a person or a business, whether that’s through a deal, a dispute, a restructure or simply helping someone make a decision with true confidence.

What shaped me early was my obsession with understanding how businesses actually work. From my mid-teens, I was reading business books constantly, not because it sounded impressive, but because I didn’t have people around me who could teach me how to think commercially. That habit never really left. These days, (admittedly) my reading list is shorter but the instinct is the same: learn, pressure test, stay sharp and stay practical.

And I’m also pretty honest about this: I’ve always had the end goal of politics in the back of my mind. I’ve admired leaders like Peter Costello and John Howard because they came from legal backgrounds and, as a result, understood the broader picture. Commercial law is a great training ground for that, because it forces you to think strategically, communicate clearly and stay accountable to outcomes.

What inspires you in your role/industry? Why?

I’m inspired by progress everyone can actually see. The best commercial work isn’t about winning an argument. It’s about helping people actually move forward in a safer and smarter way.

Part of that inspiration is the broader impact side of law. I’ve always been interested in leadership and public life, and that’s where the politics piece comes in for me. I’m drawn to the idea that if you work hard, build something solid and do things the right way, you can eventually give back in a bigger way.

Day-to-day though, what really keeps me engaged is watching clients build something real with my help. It’s genuinely satisfying seeing people grow from small beginnings into serious operators. I’m proud to say that I’ve worked with clients in earlier roles where they scaled from a growing group into a much larger footprint, and I’ve also seen clients transform quickly through sheer hustle and good decision-making. One example that sticks with me is a client in the automotive space. A few years ago, he was washing and detailing cars. Now he’s running multiple dealerships and turning over serious numbers. It’s hard not to respect that.

I also get motivated by the idea that the Australian legal profession can always strive to be better. There’s a lot of noise in law today. Too much clutter, too many egos, too much jargon. Clients don’t need (or want) that. They need calm, clarity and a plan from someone whom they can trust. I genuinely believe commercial law needs to be more human, more efficient and yet still technically excellent. That’s what my team and I live by and it’s what I’m proud to be part of.

What’s your approach to customer service that separates you from the rest?

As I said, together with my team, we treat responsiveness and human interaction as non-negotiables. If a client emails us, they shouldn’t be waiting three days for a call back. That’s not “premium service”. It’s basic respect.

I’ve worked in environments where client communication is treated as optional or where delays are normalised. We don’t operate that way and never will. Our clients are busy. When something matters to them, it matters in the moment. Even if we don’t have the final answer yet, we’ll acknowledge it, set expectations and keep them updated.

We also speak like real humans. If a client leaves a meeting confused, I’ve failed. I’d rather explain something plainly and make sure they understand the commercial trade-offs than hide behind legal language. Clients don’t come to us to ‘go through the motions’. They come for solutions. They come to us for defence. That’s what they get.

How do you innovate and stay ahead of industry trends?

I stay ahead by staying practical. Not ‘trendy’. I’m interested in anything that improves speed, clarity, quality and client experience, without compromising human judgement.

So, in our firm, we’ve invested in systems that reduce admin and improve consistency. We’ve implemented practice management software and communication tools that help with file notes, time capture and workflow, because admin shouldn’t swallow the whole workday. We’ve also built structured onboarding processes and reminders so enquiries never fall through the cracks and clients get a clear start from day one.

Sure, we adopt automation and AI but we use these tools carefully. They can be useful for admin, translation and drafting support, but we’re clear that legal judgement stays with the lawyer. We never compromise service for a shortcut. Used properly, these tools free up time for the work that matters most: strategy, analysis and client communication. That’s what we do.

What is the toughest challenge you’ve faced in your role? How did you overcome it?

The toughest challenge has honestly been scaling a boutique practice while keeping our very high standards consistent. Yep, it’s easy-ish to grow revenue. But it’s so much harder to grow without letting service slip.

Commercial clients, particularly top executives, want and need things quickly. The work is often complex. The stakes are high. At the same time, you’re also running a business, leading a team and maintaining superior standards.

You just can’t solve that by working longer hours forever.

So, I’ve addressed it by building a very strong structure: clear expectations internally and clear communication externally. Better systems to reduce admin. Better workflows so the client experience stays consistent. I also maintain a very high bar on who we bring into the team, because one weak link creates stress for everyone, including clients.

What are some of your goals for the next 5 years?

I want to keep building a commercial practice that’s known for three things: practical judgement, fast and clear communication, and human integrity.

Over the next five years, that means growing the team sustainably, improving systems so we’re not relying on one-person heroics and continuing to take on complex matters that test our capability and challenge our thinking. I want us to keep doing the work we’re proud of, but doing it with better structure and better leverage so quality stays high even as volume increases.

I also want to keep contributing to the Australian legal profession through committee work and consultation, because the industry improves when people who practise day to day have a voice in how the system evolves. I’m interested in lifting standards, especially around communication, commercial realism and how we keep the system accessible for clients without turning everything into a litigation battle.

Most importantly, I want to build the practice so it can run without me. I’m proud of the standards we’ve set, responsiveness, clarity, integrity and the willingness to find solutions instead of hiding behind jargon. Over the next few years, my goal is to embed those standards so deeply into the team’s habits and systems that the client experience doesn’t depend on any one person. It should feel the same whether it’s me or another lawyer on the matter.

As I said, I’ve always had politician life in mind. If I do move into politics one day, I want to know the practice will still deliver at the same level, keep the same values and keep raising the bar for what commercial law can look like.

Finally, I want to keep proving that commercial law can be commercially smart, technically sound and genuinely human.

TNS Lawyers is a boutique firm based in Melbourne.

We practise predominantly in commercial, corporate and property law and our goal is simple: deliver the outcomes our clients deserve, as soon as possible, while making the experience clearer and less stressful.

Louis Shivarev
Partner: TNS Lawyers

Address: Suite 6, Level 10, 343 Little Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel: (03) 9052 3214
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: https://www.tnslawyers.com.au/