Remarkable Regional Businesses – Episode 28

Guest: Lachlan Edwards

Business Name: OFRM Lawyers

Website: https://ofrm.com.au/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lachlan-edwards-ba0283198/

Topics Covered

/ Making Law Engaging and Practical for Business Owners

Lachlan Edwards shares his approach to making law more relatable for small business owners, breaking down complex legal concepts into understandable and practical advice. His goal? To be the lawyer who makes law not boring.

/ The Four Phases of Legal Business Support

Lachlan outlines a proactive legal framework for business success:

1. Setup – Choosing the right business structure (sole trader, company, trust).


2. Support – Creating infrastructure like contracts, guest waivers, and IP agreements.


3. Responsive – Handling employment issues, conflicts, and social media risks.


4. Exit – Facilitating clean and fair transitions with ownership agreements.

/ From Courtroom to Counsel: Inside a Regional Law Firm

OFRM is a multidisciplinary law firm serving individuals and businesses across regional Victoria. Lachlan describes the firm's structure, team collaboration, and the breadth of services offered — from wills and estates to family, property, and commercial law.

/ Beyond the Billable Hour: Value-Based Pricing

Lachlan explains OFRM’s shift away from traditional time-based billing. Instead, they’re adopting value-based pricing to align legal services with business outcomes, especially in commercial and conveyancing matters.

/ Building a Collaborative Legal Team

To avoid departmental silos, OFRM encourages cross-pollination between its legal teams through regular “lunch and learn” meetings. This creates a dynamic learning culture and stronger client service.

/ Governance vs. Operations: The Leadership Balancing Act

As a law firm director and board member at organisations like Bendigo Stadium and Bendigo UFS, Lachlan discusses the challenge of separating strategic governance from day-to-day operations — a vital skill for any business leader.

/ Law and Leadership Through Real-World Scenarios

In a light-hearted "Will Caleb Go to Jail?" segment, Lachlan guides the host through real-world scenarios involving partnerships, intellectual property, and employee misconduct — offering legal insight in an engaging, relatable format.

/ Unwritten Agreements and the Partnership Risk

A cautionary tale on the dangers of informal collaborations. Lachlan explains how lack of agreements in creative partnerships can lead to legal disputes — and how simple documents could prevent big headaches.

/ Employment Law: Social Media, Misconduct, and Legal Risk

Lachlan explores how businesses should handle controversial employee behavior online, the role of employment contracts and policies, and how anti-discrimination laws influence termination decisions.

/ Personal Journey: From Deniliquin to Law Director

Lachlan recounts his shift from journalism to law, his early days in community legal centres, and how living abroad helped him find clarity in his career. His story reflects the values of persistence, service, and local impact.

References

• OFRM – https://ofrm.com.au/


• Fair Work Legislation - https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/legislation


• Bendigo Stadium / Red Energy Arena - https://redenergyarena.com.au/


• Bendigo UFS - https://www.bendigoufs.com.au/


• Consumer Action Law Centre - https://consumeraction.org.au/