Australia - Jurisdiction Review

GLMR

Firm overview

GLMR is the IP Boutique of choice for complex strategy advice in Australia. GLMR is a team of experienced, senior Patent and Trademark Attorneys who are passionate about providing personalized, value-added services in a broad range of technology areas. They assist both local and international clients by taking the time to understand their needs and provide advice in practical and cost-effective ways. The attorneys are IP Strategists for businesses not just prosecution attorneys.

A favorite of clients, GLMR are always there for you. A large software company commented: “you are an amazing ally that’s always there for us. Much appreciated!””. A large general practice law firm commented: "Insightful and professional intellectual property lawyers and attorneys. I highly recommend engaging GLMR not only due to their level of professionalism, knowledge and dedication to clients, but also due to their genuine interest and care for their clients and their matters.". A large accounting firm commented: "GLMR understands the unique intellectual property challenges their clients face. Their attorneys go above and beyond in providing tailored expert advice in relation to all your patent, design, and trademark needs. The personalized guidance and exceptional service provided by GLMR make them an invaluable partner."

GLMR provide a full range of services in relation to patent, design, and trademark rights in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific with specialist attorneys in Medical Devices, Software/Computing, Telecommunications, Control Systems, Robotics, Material Structures, Military and Engineering. As an independent firm, run the old-school way, GLMR’s mission is to put the client first. Every time. The GLMR attorneys get results where others tumble.

Madderns

Firm overview

Madderns is a leading, privately-owned Patent and Trade Mark Attorney firm that protects the intellectual property assets of innovative businesses, organisations and individuals. Headquartered in Adelaide but reaching across Australia and internationally, our experienced team of attorneys provides highly-specialised intellectual property services and advice to enable our clients to secure and defend their brands and technologies. As intellectual property specialists, we work closely with our local and international clients to identify their unique needs and protect their interests in Australia, New Zealand and other overseas markets. For more than 50 years, we have supported the varied needs of a diverse client base that ranges from global companies and overseas IP firms to small to medium enterprises and individual innovators. Whether it’s a patent, trade mark, a design or domain name, our experienced team, many having PhD qualifications in their field of expertise, is on-hand to provide strategic and commercially relevant advice to support you in protecting your intellectual property. At Madderns, we’re driven to help you succeed. We build long-term relationships to ensure the intellectual property assets of our clients are protected in their markets.

King & Wood Mallesons

Firm overview

King & Wood Mallesons (“KWM”) is a full service international law firm with one of the largest IP practices in China. KWM has consistently ranked by Managing Intellectual Property as Tier 1 in six practice areas of patent prosecution, patent disputes, trade mark prosecution, trade mark disputes, IP transactions and copyrights among Chinese firms. We are also highly ranked by other respected legal media.

KWM offers a market-leading IP dispute resolution and enforcement practice in China. We provide clients with seamless IP services spanning from judicial review of administrative decisions to civil litigation over patents, trademarks, copyrights (including computer software), domain names, and unfair competition (including trade secrets). We are dedicated to working closely with clients to develop, protect, and maximise their IP value. Clients turn to us for their bet-the-company IP litigation, and we have consistently delivered great results, including recording-setting damages awards. Our IP litigators have successfully represented domestic and overseas clients in numerous administrative review cases, trials, and arbitration proceedings. Many of the cases have been selected as top 10 IP litigation cases of the year and exemplary cases by China’s Supreme People’s Court.

With over 400 patents attorneys, patent agents and patent engineers, we cover the whole gamut of technical fields in patent preparation and prosecution in China and around the world. These technical areas include telecommunications, computer science, semiconductor, internet technology, electronics and power, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, chemicals, materials, automobiles, mechanicals and designs.

By working with some of the biggest and most ambitious brands, we understand that what clients want and can offer a holistic solution based on business and legal considerations. We have a global team of experienced attorneys to help protect clients’ trademarks and brands. We also help Chinese and international companies of different sizes to manage their copyright portfolios. Our clients come from various industries, including publishing, media, music, film and television, architectural design, artwork, industrial manufacturing, clothing and jewelry and the internet.

Our IP transactions team provides comprehensive and tailor-made IP services to support clients’ business planning, restructuring, technology upgrading, investment and financing, as well as mergers and acquisitions. In particular, we provide cradle-to-grave services, including pre-investment survey, transaction structure design, transaction document preparation, and integrated operations. Our team helps clients identify and mitigate risks arising from target IP assets. Our team also assists with the operation and transfer of IP assets, such as IP licensing, assignment, co-development, and IT outsourcing. Our team is adept at IP audit, patent portfolio management, technology brand planning, trademark portfolio management, and optimisation of IP ownership allocation. Our team advises enterprises on pre-IPO preparation, including disclosure of information on the nature of technological innovation, related-party transactions, and core personnel.

Bird & Bird

Firm overview

Over the last century we’ve been lucky enough to have played a part in protecting some of the world’s most ground-breaking inventions and high profile brands. You can trust us to know IP law inside out, to be curious, and to connect the dots to reach solutions others don’t.

We will provide you with a team, rich in real-world experience, comprising experts who have worked at the forefront of pioneering technologies. A substantial number of our lawyers hold qualifications in scientific or technical fields, meaning we are often called upon for our specialist knowledge and insight on large international mandates. We are respected for our creative and original solutions.

We offer both litigation and transactional support in relation to all IP rights, from small innovative projects to the largest, most complex and ground-breaking transactions and disputes.

Our approach has always been centred on client service, collaborating and innovating with our clients to create bespoke solutions that make their lives easier. This includes: our 'twobirds Pattern' product, a proprietary, in-house patent valuation and analysis tool, that allows us to landscape, analyse, and value patent portfolios in an automated and sophisticated way; and our innovative and dynamic Brand Protection Reporting Portal, which uses dynamic charts that give clients an up-to-date overview of their risk profile at any given time.

Talk to us to find out how our tools, experience and our genuine passion for IP can help you devise a strategy that will help to maintain your competitive edge, whilst protecting and optimising your IP in the best way possible.

Internationally Bird & Bird has over 400 IP lawyers, attorneys and legal professionals across our 29 offices, many of whom have known each other and worked together for years, meaning we're all on the same page and offer consistency and quality that runs through all levels of seniority. We are therefore ideally placed to devise and coordinate multi-jurisdictional litigation strategies and,in the future, to represent clients before the Unified Patent Court.

Office Locations: Australia, Belgium, China, Czech Republic & Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and United States of America

IP STARS Reviews

Argon IP

Argon IP was founded in 2017 by Hayden Barke. The firm expanded in 2024 with the arrival of IP Star Daneta Crump.

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird's IP team in Australia handles a range of IP matters including registration and disputes work. The key partners in the firm are Jane Owen, Lynne Lewis and Troy Gurnett. Owen is the main lawyer for patent disputes. Shehana Wijesena, Shariqa Mestroni and Rebecca Currey are practitioners to watch.

By George Legal

IP boutique By George Legal was founded in 2016 by Georgina O’Farrell. The practice has grown over the years with co-directors Joel Masterson and Natalia Blecher and a team of support staff.

Clayton Utz

Clayton Utz is one of the biggest law firms in Australia. The firm is recommended for IP disputes and trade mark protection work. The key IP partners in the firm are John Collins, Tim Webb, Chris McLeod, Simon Newcomb, Cameron Gascoyne, Ken Saurajen and David Benson.

Cotters

In July 2022, Cotters Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys merged with FPA Patent Attorneys and Davies Collison Cave. All three firms are owned by the ASX-listed IP company QANTM Intellectual Property. Patent Star Marcus Dalton left the firm in 2022.

FB Rice

FB Rice is a leading independent Australian IP firm which is highly recommended by market commentators for IP protection work. The firm has experienced patent specialists for technical areas such as biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, and medical device. It offers IP searching and watching services via a company known as Athena IP. It has a team for R&D tax advice. Medical device patent attorney Brett Lunn serves as the firm's managing partner.

FPA Patent Attorneys

FPA Patent Attorneys only deals with patent work. It is a top-tier firm for patent protection and portfolio management. The firm has patent attorneys across key fields such as biotechnology, computer technology and engineering. The team is also experienced in Patent Office proceedings and litigation support. Electrical engineering specialist John Dower serves as managing partner. The firm is owned by the ASX-listed IP company QANTM Intellectual Property. In July 2022, the practice of Cotters Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys was integrated into FPA Patent Attorneys and Davies Collison Cave.

GLMR

GLMR is a relatively new IP firm in the Australian market. The firm is led by patent attorneys Edward Genocchio, Simon Reynolds, Michelle Lee, and David Müller-Wiesner, who were former employees of Spruson & Ferguson.

Griffith Hack

Griffith Hack became a member of the IPH Group following IPH’s acquisition of Xenith IP in 2019. The firm expanded in 2020 with the integration of IP firm Watermark. Despite several changes in recent years, the firm has maintained its position as one of the leading boutiques in the Australian IP market for IP protection work.

The firm has a large team of experienced patent practitioners including Amanda Stark, Karen Sinclair, Nick Mountford, Greg Munt, and Rosie Stramandinoli. The soft IP team features trade mark attorneys and lawyers such as Derek Baigent, Kelly Stonier, Nicola Scheepers, Andrew Goatcher and Chris Sgourakis.

Herbert Smith Freehills

Herbert Smith Freehills is an international law firm with a strong IP practice in Australia. IP Star Sue Gilchrist leads its practice, which is best known for disputes work. The firm also has experienced lawyers for non-contentious IP matters, especially IP transactions.

IPH (company)

IPH is an ASX-listed IP services company based in Australia. The company owns AJ Park, Griffith Hack,  Pizzeys, ROBIC, Smart & Biggar, Bereskin & Parr and Spruson & Ferguson.

James & Wells

James & Wells is highly recommended in New Zealand, but the firm is now growing its practice in Australia. The firm has experienced patent attorneys such as Nick Mountford, Adam Luxton and Janelle Borham.

Jones Maxwell Smith & Davis (JMSD)

Australia-based IP boutique firms Foundry IP and Davis IP merged in 2025 to form Jones Maxwell Smith & Davis (JMSD).

Macpherson Kelley

Macpherson Kelley has a team that can advise on IP commercialisation, protection and enforcement in Australia. The firm is recognised for its soft IP practice. The IP department is led by Paul Kirton, who is supported by principals Belinda Sigismundi and Mark Metzeling. Georgette Georges is a notable junior lawyer in the department.

Madderns

Madderns is an independently owned patent and trade mark attorney firm which services clients across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. Chemistry patent specialist Jeff Holman is the firm's managing partner.

The firm has several domestic clients and patent attorneys in technical fields such as engineering, computer technology, life sciences and chemistry. It has trade mark clients in a range of sectors, including beverage and fashion. In addition to filing and prosecution work, the firm can also handle trade mark disputes.

McCullough Robertson

Australian law firm McCullough Robertson has a team of lawyers to advise on IP disputes, transactions and trade mark protection. Belinda Breakspear leads the firm’s IP practice. She is supported by partners Alex Hutchens, Matthew McMillan, Peter Stokes, and Tim Case.

Norton Rose Fulbright

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright is recommended for IP transactions and soft IP matters in Australia. Frances Drummond leads the IP practice. She is supported by life sciences lawyer Bernard O'Shea and IP litigator Jackie O'Brien. Another notable partner in the IP department is brands lawyer Georgina Hey.

Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick

Independent IP firm Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick is highly recommended for IP protection and portfolio management. Electronics patent attorney Ross McFarlane and litigator Chris Schlicht lead the firm. Veteran IP lawyer Greg Chambers, who is now a consultant, serves as chairman. The firm offers legal services, including litigation, through its sister firm Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick Lawyers. It has patent attorneys across key technical fields, including biotechnology, chemistry, mechanics, and electronics.

Edwin Patterson, Raffaele Calabrese, Saskia Jahn, Scott Whitmore, and Alyssa Telfer are among the experienced patent attorneys in the firm. Veteran biotech patent attorney Justin Dibbens is still with the firm but serves as a consultant. For disputes, the notable litigators are Malcolm Bell, Chris Schlicht and David Longmuir. Bell also handles patent filing and prosecution work. Michael O’Donnell leads its trade mark practice, with support from trade mark principals such as Russell Waters and Anita Brown.

In 2022, the firm strengthened its trade mark practice through the acquisition of New South Wales-based IP firm, Brand Haven.

Spruson & Ferguson

In September 2021, IPH announced that Shelston IP will operate under the Spruson & Ferguson brand in Australia. Shelston IP became part of the IPH group following the acquisition of Xenith IP in August 2019. The acquisition brought in other Xenith IP companies (Glasshouse Advisory, Griffith Hack and Watermark) under the IPH umbrella.

Before the integration of Shelston IP, Spruson & Ferguson already had strength in depth for IP protection and disputes work in Australia. Patent attorney Simon Potter is among the leaders in its patent protection practice. In December 2022, the firm appointed Potter as its new Managing Director in Australia. Other notable senior patent attorneys include Elizabeth Barrett, Daniel Sieveking, Edward Genocchio and Andrew Cale. Khajaque Kortian is in charge of its legal department.

Before the integration, Shelston IP had a strong reputation for patent protection work, with expertise in sectors such as life sciences, chemistry, and mechanical engineering. For patent protection matters, its key contacts were Allira Hudson-Gofers and Gareth Dixon. Other notable senior patent attorneys included Charles Tansey, Caroline Bommer, and Michael Christie.

Shelston IP also had a legal team, led by managing director Chris Bevitt, to advise on IP litigation and commercialisation. Michael Deacon, who deals with trade mark protection and commercial IP work, Mark Vincent, and Duncan Longstaff were the notable lawyers in its legal department.