The IP team at Dentons New Zealand provides end-to-end support, advising on everything from brand creation and protection to commercialisation, enforcement, and high-stakes litigation. The team is led by Jenni Rutter, a specialist in IP commercialisation with notable expertise in anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy. Patent attorney Andrew Baker focuses on agribusiness and healthcare, while Nadia Ormiston advises across trade marks and designs. Allira Hudson-Gofers departed the firm in 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team has very strong knowledge across the business in relation to IP in many jurisdictions. They have access to a global network to support as needed, which has been invaluable for obtaining global trade marks, especially within China. They are always prompt in replying and provide balanced advice to help make key business decisions.’
- ‘They have excellent response times and provide pragmatic, easy-to-understand advice that aligns with our risk appetite. The team is stable, knows us well, and is keen to continue learning about our brands and business.’
- ‘Jenni Rutter is amazing. We have approached her with a wide range of requests and questions, and she always provides clear options with pros and cons. She is happy to hop on a call to discuss matters when needed, and she genuinely cares about our business. She has even stepped outside her IP role to support us in other areas where needed.’
- ‘Jenni Rutter takes the time to truly understand her clients’ business, ensuring her advice is focused on practical and valuable areas of risk and protection.’
- ‘I have worked with Jenni Rutter for many years on various projects, and there is nobody else in New Zealand I would turn to for IP advice. She articulates complex subjects in clear terms, provides proactive guidance, and ensures our business has best practice IP measures in place.’
- ‘Jenni Rutter is a recognised expert in her field. She recently ran a webinar for all members of ILANZ (In-house Lawyers of New Zealand), which became one of the most successful sessions the organisation has ever held. Her relaxed delivery style and ability to translate complex IP issues into straightforward concepts set her apart. She is also willing to upskill those of us who are not IP experts so we can be more self-sufficient, while always providing a reliable safety net of expertise behind us.’
Key clients
- The Hourglass Limited and Watches of Switzerland Pte Ltd
- Danone Group
- PepsiCo
- AMP
- Cisco Technology, Inc.
- Kami Limited
- Barilla G.e.R Fratelli S.p.A.
- Avis Budget Group
- New Zealand Transport Agency
- Institute of Directors in NZ Inc
- IBC Japan Limited
- NZME Publishing Limited
- Serko Limited
- Snapper Services
Work highlights
Acting for IBC as the plaintiff in a dispute about ownership and infringement of copyright in an ERP software system created many years ago in the Philippines.
Acting for New Zealand’s leading metaverse business and helping it clear, develop and enforce its large local and global portfolio of trade marks.
Acted for the famous Italian pasta company Barilla in an opposition to a trade mark application for Barilla Dumpling.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Jenni Rutter
Other key lawyers
Andrew Baker; Nadia Ormiston