The Legal 500

Allens’ practice is headed by respected litigator Philip Kerr, and includes trade mark expert Richard Hamer and Tim Golder. Specialist areas include biotech, health and IT.

Ashurst LLP’s ‘outstanding’ group includes numerous ‘experienced IP lawyers’ who are ‘legally and tactically astute; it is led by Lisa Ritson, a ‘skilled and tenacious litigator’. Also recommended are Ben Miller, ‘one of the leading up-and-coming patent practitioners in Australia’, and Mary Padbury, an ‘extremely capable and experienced team leader with significant international experience’. The group is representing Samsung in its high-profile dispute with Apple.

Herbert Smith Freehills provides an ‘excellent level of service overall’. Current mandates including acting for a technology company in a high-profile patent infringement case. Key team members include Sue Gilchrist, Kathryn Everett, Shaun McVicar and Julian Lincoln.

King & Wood Mallesons’ 12-partner practice includes Wayne McMaster, who is representing Hospira in a patent validity and infringement action against Aventis, and is a leader in the field of IP licensing’. Scott Bouvier is ‘pragmatic’, and Katrina Rathie has the ‘rare skill of combining legal excellence and commercial awareness’. Cheng Lim is also recommended.

Headed by John Collins, Clayton Utz’ recent highlights include representing Spotless in a case against Qantas Airways for alleged trade mark infringement. Mary Still and Chris McLeod are very well regarded, and Richard Hoad made partner in January 2012.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s clients include Foster’s Group, Gucci, Ferrari, and Johnson & Johnson, and the team is praised for its ‘willingness to meet in person’. It advised British American Tobacco on IP protection rights following the introduction of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act. Stephen Stern heads the practice, and the ‘outstanding’ Odette Gourley and Frances Wheelahan are also recommended.

Davies Collison Cave’s team is ‘commercially astute’, ‘strategically insightful’, and gives ‘quality advice’. It is currently representing Bayer in a patent infringement case filed against Generic Health and Lupin Australia. Ray Hind, Michael Wolnizer, and Chris Jordan are rated for ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘clear guidance’.

Gilbert + Tobin has a broad practice but is particularly strong in copyright matters. It acts for numerous music industry clients, and new wins included Samsung. The ‘highly knowledgeable and tenacious’ Michael Williams leads the team, which recently saw the return of Kate Harrison following a stint working for the Australian Government.

Minter Ellison provides a ‘very personalised’ service, and is ‘extremely trustworthy, always acting in the best interests of clients’. Lynne Peach recently represented Zurich in a trade mark infringement case against an Australian company trading as Zurich Securities. Group leader Charles Alexander and John Fairbairn are also recommended.

Baker & McKenzie’s key strength is trade mark matters, where clients include Abott Laboratories, Nokia, the Fox Group, and Hewlett-Packard. It is also strong in copyright, where instructions included SingTel Optus. The team is ‘consistently responsive’, and has ‘great understanding of clients’ businesses’. Richard Gough gives ‘practical advice and timely responses’, while Ross McLean and practice head Robert Arnold are also recommended.

Banki Haddock Fiora’s IP group benefits from additional firm expertise in IT, media, and privacy law. Peter Banki is widely recognised, as is Peter Knight, who is ‘effective and astute’.

DLA Piper Australia recently recruited David Richardson from DibbsBarker, Amanda Turnill, and Nicholas Tyacke from Clayton Utz, and Melinda Upton from Ashurst LLP. Highlights included advising Pharmacor in three separate patent proceedings in the Federal Court. Group head Anthony Willis is ‘pragmatic’ and ‘looks at the big picture’, while Judith Miller has ‘the ability to get to the nub of a problem quickly’.

Griffith Hack traditionally began as a patent attorney group, and currently has six partners. The team recently represented Actavis in patent infringement and revocation proceedings over the statin drug Rosuvastatin, and it is defending Samsung in an infringement claim brought by Apple. Wayne Condon heads the overall practice, with Russell Berry leading on non-contentious matters.

Norton Rose Australia ‘impresses with the quality of its work’, and gives ‘detailed responses’. Cameron Harvey is ‘particularly good’ as are Michael Park, Bernard O’Shea and Jackie O’Brien. The firm recently hired Frances Drummond from Herbert Smith Freehills, who has ‘many years of experience’ and adopts a ‘very commercial approach’. Key clients include GlaxoSmithKline.

IP boutique Simpsons Solicitors is relatively small, but ‘makes it its business to keep ahead of the curve’, and is regularly instructed on ‘business-critical and high-value IP matters’. Adam Simpson and special counsel Ian McDonald have a ‘deep understanding of their core areas of expertise’, and Jules Munro is also recommended.

Zaven Mardirossian is the star of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s practice, which recently advised Probiotec on the A$6m sale of its Milton brand and business to Rivadis. It also advised T2 on a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Schweppes for a packaged ice-tea drink.

Blueprint Law has a ‘deep level of knowledge’; it ‘provides very thorough advice’ and has ‘undoubted expertise in this field’. It is particularly strong in the technology space, and regularly advises on international and domestic brand protection. Group leader Gary Rogers impresses in copyright matters, and Karina Vasili is also recommended.

Henry Davis York is rated for its ‘high level of service’ and ‘detailed and accurate advice’; it also ‘gains a solid understanding of clients’ businesses’. Practice head Donna Short has ‘extensive experience and knowledge’.

Jones Day’s practice is led by Anthony Muratore and Lisa Taliadoros. The group is particularly strong in pharmaceutical patent litigation, acting for clients such as Pfizer, Sanofi, and Johnson & Johnson.

At Kelly & Co, Luke Dale is representing a number of major Australian wine companies in a trade mark opposition case against Delegat’s Wine Estate. Dale is ‘very prompt and thorough’, and practice head Rob Kennett is also highly recommended.

Maddocks ‘always considers the commercial aspects of instructions’, and group leader Peter Francis is ‘quick to grasp the issues’ and ‘able to deliver accurate legal advice’.

Niche firm Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick advises on various IP matters. Greg Chambers, and Graham Cowin are key names to note.

Piper Alderman provides a ‘consistently high level of service’. It is advising Bridgestone Australia on trade mark, domain name and other IP-related matters, while other clients include VOK Beverages and John Sands. Tim Clark and Tim O’Callaghan are the names to note.

TressCox ‘s team is lead by Sydney-based Jennifer Huby. It has a strong presence in the media and entertainment sector, and recently acted for BBC Worldwide Australia on a distribution deal with Roadshow.