DEPARTMENT PROFILE

MinterEllisonRuddWatts

Intellectual Property

1 ranked lawyers

Band 2

New Zealand

Asia-Pacific 2022 View ranking table

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Ranked Lawyers

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What the team is known for

MinterEllisonRuddWatts is commended for its specialist expertise in IP commercialisation, brand protection and the IP aspects of major corporate transactions and company restructuring. Represents both domestic and overseas clients in IP litigation, and is adept and experienced in handling cross-border issues. Active on portfolio management mandates on behalf of international clients from the media, sports, retail and health sectors. Notable clients include Southern Cross Healthcare, Scholastic and ASOS.

Strengths

"The team is very proactive and gives me truly practical advice," comments a client, adding: "I feel like I can give them the most convoluted of fact patterns and they are able to hone in on the issues that are going to be game changers."

Another client notes: "Their client care is very strong and they are proactive and sympathetic to the business case."

Notable practitioners

Christopher Young maintains a non-contentious IP practice, advising clients on the management of trade mark portfolios and IP assets in transactional contexts. One client says: "He is very pragmatic, technically strong and empathetic to the practicalities of commercial decisions."

Department Information

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Overview

The MinterEllisonRuddWatts IP practice advises a wide range of clients across various industries on day-to-day and strategic IP issues.

The team provides strategic advice for brand and trade mark development and protection and full trade mark portfolio registration and management services for many local and international businesses.

They advisess on the creation, acquisition, licensing and franchising, commercialisation, protection, dispute resolution and enforcement of rights and have extensive experience in the IP aspects of corporate transactions. They work closely with others in the firm to advise on corporate structuring, capital raising, taxation, human resources, securitisation, transactions, compliance, dispute resolution and litigation.

The team has extensive experience with the Fair Trading Act, marketing, advertising, consumer protection, passing off, trade mark oppositions, dispute resolution and litigation. The team also advise on film and television production, acting for a range of major studios .

Advising Karen Murrell on its worldwide IP strategy and portfolio management work including managing its trade mark and other registered IP portfolio worldwide
Advising Scholastic on its New Zealand IP and trade mark portfolio work
Advising ASOS in relation to its New Zealand IP including brand strategy, disputes and trade mark registration
Advising Westpac all of its New Zealand IP advice and trade mark portfolio management