The Legal 500

A J Park is considered to be ‘the best’ at working with patents. Major clients include GlaxoSmithKline, Microsoft and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. Alan Potter is considered ‘the best trade mark lawyer in New Zealand’ by clients. In April 2009, Michael Brown was appointed as a partner in the intellectual property department, while Keith Thompson departed.

Bell Gully’s three-partner intellectual
property practice provides an ‘excellent’ level of service. The intellectual property aspects of corporate sales form the majority of the practice’s work. A highlight was advising Danone in relation to the intellectual property aspects of its sale of Frucor to Suntory. The practice has also acted for InterCity Group regarding intellectual property disputes with Nakedbus, and advised Intellectual Property Development Corporation on trade mark infringement litigation regarding the HEFTY trademark. Colleen Cavanagh is ‘particularly good’.

Buddle Findlay’s John Glengarry is singled out as ‘particularly good’ and as having ‘superior expertise’. The practice acted on the intellectual property aspects of the bid for Frucor, worth over NZ$1.4bn, which included reviewing Frucor’s trade mark portfolio.

Matt Sumpter at Chapman Tripp is recommended by clients for intellectual property advice. The practice successfully acted for UBS protecting its trade mark through an injunction in May 2009. The practice was also successful in protecting Billabong’s trade mark, winning orders preventing the registration of a trade mark on beer bottles in November 2008. The practice filed eight anti-piracy proceedings for Microsoft in the same year.

Kensington Swan’s practice covers litigation, patent opposition, and trade mark and copyright protection. The intellectual property practice obtained a favourable settlement on behalf of Acorn Group following Griffins Foods’ application for an injunction to stop the company using the word ‘strings’ on fruit snacks. The practice also advised the Japan Karate Association in its successful filing of applications to register trade marks and copyrights. The practice advised Auckland Regional Council on registering a logo promoting the Auckland region.

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts acted on behalf of NZ Communications throughout the launch of its new brand, 2degrees. The practice also acted on behalf of Phil & Ted’s Most Excellent Buggy Company in its acquisition of the ‘Mountain Buggy’ brand; and for De Beers in its launch of the ‘Forever’ brand.

Simpson Grierson advised Mars on its $23bn acquisition of Wrigley’s, and also represented The Church of the Latter-day Saints in 2008 in its appeal to oppose a trade mark application by Robert Sintes. The practice is also advising Sony Music BMG in defence of claims brought by Ogilvy.