I advise clients in a broad range of industries including FMCG, fashion/apparel, publishing, food and beverage, liquor, advertising and marketing, retail, TMT, aviation, automotive, banking and financial services, entertainment, agriculture/horticulture, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, building, forestry, education, health and ageing, transportation and energy.

I have significant expertise in brand strategy and managing trade mark portfolios both nationally and internationally including managing risks, launching new brands locally and internationally and strategies to commercialise, protect and enforce brands and counterfeits strategies. This is coupled with extensive experience with the Fair Trading Act, marketing, advertising, consumer protection, passing off and trade mark oppositions. My expertise in IP dispute resolution sees me co-ordinate litigation strategy and provide strategic and technical advice to clients.

I have extensive international networks including through the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the International Bar Association.

Career highlights

• IP strategy for SKYCITY Advising on all IP advisory work and the worldwide strategy for SKYCITY Entertainment Group Limited – a major New Zealand group and publicly listed company operating casinos, food and beverage and entertainment facilities in New Zealand and Australia.
• Major NZ bank Providing Westpac with its New Zealand IP advice, including brand strategy and trade mark portfolio management.
• Synlait Milk Limited Ongoing IP advisory work including worldwide brand strategy and management of its trade mark portfolio in New Zealand, Australia and worldwide, and other IP advisory work including commercial IP, patent, licensing, brand clearance and trade mark registration. We also advised on the IP aspects of Synlait Milk Limited’s acquisition of 100% shares in the New Zealand Dairy Company.
• Natural New Zealand lipsticks Handling the worldwide IP strategy, brand portfolio management and commercial and dispute work for Karen Murrell Enterprises Limited including managing its trade mark and other registered IP portfolio worldwide.
• Major online fashion retailer Advising ASOS plc in relation to its brand strategy and trade mark portfolio in New Zealand.
• S C Johnson is an example of some of the large multinationals we act for. We handled its acquisition of a local NZ IP based business / product that was then rolled out internationally by SC Johnson under its Raid brand. We also advise SC Johnson and assist with brand strategy for some of its brands in NZ and Australia.
• Advising the leading publisher Scholastic on its New Zealand IP and trade mark portfolio work.
• Small and medium enterprises iLabb is an example of the many SMEs we assist with worldwide IP and brand strategy for these local and export based businesses. iLabb is a very successful local apparel brand that has grown internationally.
• Film and Television Advising a number of major US and international studios on their film and television production in New Zealand including in relation to the IP, structural and grant requirements
• Management of Tourism Holdings Limited’s international IP portfolio and strategic IP advice worldwide. We assist with IP strategy, branding and management of their trade mark portfolio.

• Ranked as a leading Intellectual Property lawyer, Chambers Asia Pacific 2008 - 2019
• Ranked as a leading Intellectual Property lawyer, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2011 -2019
• IP Stars 2016 - 2019
• Winner, Client Choice Award Intellectual Property: Trademarks, New Zealand - Lexology 2013- 2019
• Recognised Individual - Prosecution and Strategy, World Trademark Review
• International Who’s Who Legal – Trademarks 2015 – 2019

• Member International Trademark Association (INTA)
• Chair INTA Trademarks East Asia & Pacific Famous Marks Subcommittee 2014-15
• Council Member – INTA’s Asia Pacific Global Advisory Council 2014 - 2019
• Member Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Member Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Member New Zealand Biotech Industry Organisation
• Member of Parallel Imports Committee and Internet Committee 2016-17, Imports Committee 2018-19

• International Bar Association