Ian Aldridge is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Progressive Legal, a NewLaw law firm he established in 2014 with the vision of making high-quality legal services more accessible and transparent for Australian businesses.
He adopts a very commercial approach to legal services which makes him very unique as a lawyer, an ability to communicate effectively with business owners and provide useful and practical advice to growing businesses in Australia.
With more than 20 years’ legal experience in Australia and the UK, Ian has advised thousands of businesses across a broad range of commercial legal matters.
Prior to founding Progressive Legal, Ian spent a decade practising in commercial litigation with small, medium and large law firms, developing extensive experience in dispute resolution, risk management and complex commercial matters.
Ian established Progressive Legal after returning from London and identifying a need for a more client-focused approach to legal services, combining practical advice, transparent pricing and tailored legal solutions for Australian businesses.
He conducted a large survey of Australian businesses and found three very common complaints from business owners about the provision of legal services.
1. Cost. Don't know, bill shock, hourly rates, who’s doing what work, etc. Â
- Communication. Legalese, sentence paragraphs, unknown words, not replying in a reasonable time, can’t get a hold of my lawyer, etc.
- Care. Most business owners felt like their lawyer didn’t actually care about their business. They didn’t respond to phone calls or emails, they didn’t get a good vibe from them, they didn’t remember what they had already told them about their business, they didn’t understand their business (or didn’t take the time to understand). It felt more like a transaction than a relationship.
He started Progressive Legal to do things different. To provide much better legal services to the Australian market. Amazing service, higher quality legal product, much better practical and legal advice and actually provide care for his clients. He is extremely passionate about small business in Australia. The engine room of the Australian economy, which employs over 65% of the workforce. They are helping themselves and helping others, taking risks and giving things a go – trying to make a difference.Â
He works closely with business owners to understand their objectives and provide strategic guidance throughout the business lifecycle, from establishing and protecting their businesses through to resolving commercial disputes and managing legal risks.
Ian’s practice areas include commercial law, intellectual property, trade marks, dispute resolution, workplace law and business structuring.
He has extensive experience in commercial litigation, advising on complex disputes, intellectual property matters, trade mark oppositions, trade mark disputes, copyright infringement, commercial agreements and workplace-related disputes.
His litigation background enables him to provide commercially focused advice with a strong emphasis on identifying and mitigating risks before they escalate.
He regularly appears on various podcasts for businesses.
Ian holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from Macquarie University.
He was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2005 and is a member of the Law Society of New South Wales and IPSANZ (Intellectual Property Society Australia and New Zealand).