‘Premier’ specialist firm AJ Park houses a ‘deep bench of accomplished practitioners’ and has demonstrable experience across the full gamut of IP matters, including trade marks, patents, designs and copyrights, as well as IP commercialisation and strategies, plant variety rights, renewals and litigation. In the firm’s Auckland office, Amanda Griffiths, who heads the trade marks practice, is noted for her expertise in the FMCG, advertising and regulatory sectors, while other names to note include litigation group chief Paul Johns and Anton Blijlevens. In Wellington, commercial IP partner Penny Catley is a patent attorney who practises in both New Zealand and Australia, while Jonathan Aumonier-Ward is praised as one of the ‘finest trade mark attorneys in New Zealand’. Also in Wellington, Michael Brown spearheads the electronics and IT patent group, while Duncan De Geest leads the chemical biology practice. Mark Hargreaves left the firm in April 2022, followed by Matt Adams in June 2022.

Chapman Tripp expanded its IP offering with the launch of Chapman Tripp Patents in March 2021 – a specialist medical device technology offering focused on patent opposition proceedings, as well as managing global portfolios. Noted for its capability in contentious IP matters, the practice also counts trade mark oppositions, copyright litigation, anti-counterfeiting matters, border protection campaigns and IP commercialisation in its workload. In the firm’s Auckland office, litigator and patents director Matt Sumpter leads the practice and acts for a range domestic and multinational clients in IP disputes, while Kelly McFadzien focuses on IP-related transactions. Director and patent attorney in the Chapman Tripp Patents group, Ben Halberg, has experience in infringement and validity proceedings, freedom-to-operate matters, as well as patent prosecution work. Head of the national litigation group, Justin Graham and senior associate Tom Cleary are also key names to note.

Specialist TMT and IP firm Hudson Gavin Martin acts for a diverse range of clients, from start-ups to large New Zealand-based companies and multinational corporations, on the full spectrum of IP matters, often involving a multi-jurisdictional element. Jason Rudkin-Binks leads the ‘knowledgeable, decisive and collaborative’ team, and is noted for his expertise in brand strategy, development and protection, as well as IP commercialisation. Commercial litigator and patent attorney Tim Mahood is a key contact for IP disputes, while Simon Martin focuses on joint ventures and M&A in the technology and media sectors, and Edwin Lim advises on IP commercialisation. Other key members of the team include special counsels Sonya Hill and Caitlin Hadlee, who has a strong interest in copyright infringement matters, and senior solicitor Gemma Smith, who joined the team from James & Wells in January 2022.

Praised for its ‘deep expertise across all forms of IP’, Simpson Grierson’s practice stands out for the breadth of its capabilities across the sport, agriculture, pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, counting non-contentious and licensing matters, IP commercialisation and litigation in its workload. The team’s client roster includes major domestic sports organisations, such as the New Zealand Olympic Committee and New Zealand Rugby, as well as various multinational companies. ‘Outstanding’ IP litigator Richard Watts, who has demonstrable experience in trade mark strategy and prosecution work, in addition to IP-related disputes, jointly leads the practice alongside senior counsel Sarah Chapman, who handles the full range of non-contentious matters concerning trade marks. Senior associate Raymond Scott ‘consistently delivers an exceptional service’ when managing trade mark portfolios, working with clients throughout Australasia and Asia. Special counsel Anita Birkinshaw is another key member of the team.

Commended for its ‘strong trade mark expertise, both in New Zealand and Australia’, Buddle Findlay advises a host of local start-ups, international companies, public entities, and not-for-profit organisations on protection, portfolio management, commercialisation and transactional matters, as well as IP-related litigation. With demonstrable experience across the consumer goods, technology and public sectors, the Auckland-based team – jointly led by John Glengarry and Hamish Selby – has seen a rise in certification trade marks, as well as focusing increasingly on indigenous trade marks. Glengarry is a patent attorney in New Zealand and Australia who handles the management and development of trade mark portfolios, as well as fair trading, passing off, copyright issues and disputes. Selby provides ‘high quality advice’ on the full range of contentious, non-contentious and transactional IP work, while special counsel Sophie Thoreau is another key member of the team.

Counting public sector entities, start-ups, retail companies, food brands, as well as not-for-profit organisations among its key roster of clients, Duncan Cotterill’s practice remains one of the most active filers of New Zealand and Australian trade mark applications. In addition to prosecution work, the team counts IP-related transactions and litigation, commercialisation and licensing matters in its workload. In Wellington, Scott Moran, who focuses on the development and protection of trade mark portfolios, branding strategies and copyright issues, jointly leads the practice alongside Auckland-based Michael Moyes, who advises clients in the technology, retail and consumer goods sectors on the commercial aspects of IP-related transactions. Other key members of the team include senior associates Katy Stove and Edward Greig, who operate from the firm’s offices in Christchurch and Wellington, respectively.

Based in Auckland, founding directors Sue Irwin Ironside, who ‘provides commercially sound advice’, and ‘flawless’ Rachel McDonald ‘bring vast experience’ to boutique firm Ironside McDonald Intellectual Property. Counting local enterprises and international companies among its key roster of clients, the practice handles trade mark protection matters, design and copyright issues, as well as IP licensing agreements. Trade mark attorney Ingrid Seegars has experience in prosecution work, filing strategies and portfolio management in New Zealand, Australia and internationally, while trade mark consultant Solanda Chen - who has a strong network of clients in China - focuses on brand strategies.