Intellectual Property | Asia-Pacific

Allens maintains an acclaimed practice with expertise across the full range of IP issues, including commercialisation, contentious and regulatory matters spanning trade mark and patent infringements, and transactional matters. The team's patent experience covers life sciences and technology matters, and the practice has a strong track record working with leading multinational corporations, particularly in the media and advertising sectors. The firm offers leading expertise in the areas of copyright, brand protection and anti-counterfeiting. Notable clients include Australian News Channel, Sony Music Publishing and CSL.

Gilbert + Tobin is notable for its breadth of skills, advising on transactional and contentious copyright, design, patent and trade mark issues. The team serves an impressive range of both local and global corporations, and is especially known for its prominence in the technology and media sectors, where it advises on gaming, software and online systems. It also possesses expertise in areas as diverse as mining and healthcare. The team is particularly well regarded for its ability to assist clients on IP litigation, and is notably active of late on appellate work. Gilbert + Tobin offers comprehensive skills on IP transactions including issues of royalty and distribution fee disputes, as well as advertising and regulatory compliance. Notable clients include REC Solar, State Street Global Advisors and Aristocrat Technologies.

Baker McKenzie has enviable cross-border capability and is frequently instructed by distinguished Australian brand owners and blue-chip multinationals. This well-regarded practice provides comprehensive coverage of all IP assets, with particular strength advising household-name corporates in respect of brand protection and anti-counterfeiting actions as well as franchising, site-blocking and other copyright, patent and passing-off matters. Baker McKenzie has strong capability in global trade mark portfolios and is able to service clients across a wide range of industries, including food and beverages, consumer goods, retail, healthcare, hospitality, media and technology. Notable clients include Rio Tinto, the Motion Picture Association and Australian Wool Innovation.

Clayton Utz offers broad-based IP expertise including trade mark and copyright protection, with frequent involvement in cases featuring an international element. The team handles complex patent matters for a diverse clientele, most notably in the pharmaceutical, technology and telecom sectors, and is active in both contentious and non-contentious matters, though particularly strong on disputes. The firm offers significant expertise in design infringement, passing off and misleading conduct cases. Notable clients include Novartis, Accent Group and Toyota.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has a well-established practice adept at handling contentious and non-contentious matters for global and domestic clients, dealing with both domestic and cross-border cases. The team has a strong focus on the protection of patents and trade marks, with extensive expertise in life sciences and pharmaceuticals as well as high technology and energy and natural resources. Corrs Chambers Westgarth has strong expertise in branding and trade mark portfolio management, particularly on behalf of prominent international companies, and has additional expertise in handling false or misleading advertising litigation. Notable clients include Caterpillar, Jinko Solar and Stockland.

MinterEllison advises across the full range of IP disputes, including high-profile copyright, trade mark and patent actions. It acts for a number of major corporates on IP protection and rebranding strategies. The team also has extensive experience in handling commercialisation matters and has a depth of expertise handling complex patent disputes, with a track record working with leading international clients from the pharmaceutical, telecommunications, media and technology sectors. MinterEllison's practice also includes a full registration service from a team of patent and trade mark attorneys. Notable clients include Stan Entertainment, Bristol Myers Squibb and Giorgio Armani.

Bird & Bird benefits from a strong global network and is able to advise multinationals hailing from a range of sectors, including life science, media, telecommunications and education. The firm boasts an impressive track record handling trade mark prosecution and patent litigation matters and is experienced in claims involving breach of copyright and confidential information within the media and technology sectors. The team has additional expertise in unfair competition and advertising. Notable clients include RockStar Games, Globaltech Corporation and KPMG Australia.

DLA Piper has an impressive team with a strong focus on transactional matters and contentious and non-contentious IP. It serves a clientele comprising major pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, as well as investors. The team draws on a strong global network that can provide jurisdictional expertise across multiple practice areas, and is able to assist multinational corporates with their brand management and enforcement strategy across the Asia-Pacific region. DLA Piper acts for major brands on global portfolio management, in addition to advertising and marketing issues. Notable clients include Pfizer, ResMed and Campari.

Jones Day fields this Australian branch of a global IP practice, which leverages the firm's wider international expertise in cross-border prosecution, licensing and litigation matters. It has a strong reputation for its handling of contentious patent matters, especially in the life sciences arena, where the team is singled out for its scientific knowledge and expertise. Its impressive client list comprises many well-known, international pharmaceutical companies which it assists with the protection of patents covering key high-value drugs and treatments. Jones Day also advises clients in the technology field on copyright, trade mark, breach of confidence and design matters. Notable clients include Sanofi, ToolGen and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Norton Rose Fulbright is recognised for its global, regional and domestic brand protection and IP portfolio management expertise as well as for its experienced litigation team. The team is experienced in handling the IP aspects of corporate and M&A transactions and is able to offer an integrated international practice, providing clients with a connected, cross-border service for multi-jurisdictional litigation and global trade mark portfolio management. Notable clients include McDonald’s Australia, TikTok and Star Scientific.

K&L Gates is recognised for its full-service, globally integrated IP practice that offers patent attorney service as part of the integrated team. It has experience in handling a number of Federal Court disputes involving patents, trade marks and registered design infringement claims. The team also offers expertise in trade mark rebranding, protection strategies and portfolio management. It possesses notable strength within the fashion industry, both locally and internationally, and is highly active in the domestic sports sector. Notable clients include Jellycat, Cricket Australia and the Australian Football League.

Gadens is a well-known national firm that frequently assists clients on trade mark matters, as well as offering additional expertise with regard to copyright and patent issues. The firm advises on contentious and non-contentious matters across a diverse range of industries such as technology, sports, healthcare and retail. Notable clients include Alauda Aeronautics, Lark Distilling and Mountain Trail.

Thomson Geer is known for its work in the field of trade marks and copyrights. It is also well regarded for its focus on the patent dispute space. The firm advises a broad range of clients. Clients include Konami Australia and the Department for Primary Industries and Regions.