Intellectual Property - Victoria
Recent times have presented a mixed bag of activity across the Victorian intellectual property market. The larger firms and specialists all were grateful for the "death and taxes" consistency of large scale pharmaceutical litigation matters, the second and mid-tiers rejoiced in the price sensitivity of "softer" contentious IP matters and new media entities while smaller practices battened down the hatches on existing relationships.
Long before the GFC, Victoria proved to be the birthplace of many of Australia's leading patent and trademark Attorney firms. Not content with enviable filing practices, these specialist firms established legal arms to gain a greater presence in contentious matters. In doing so they focussed their attention towards securing top-tier talent and to date, have enjoyed remarkable success in doing so. The likes of Blake Dawson, Clayton Utz and Freehills all losing key senior practitioners to the specialists' growth efforts.
The result of these top-tier departures has been a levelling of the playing field where all manner of firms compete vigorously for their next instruction. Amongst the specialist firms Davies Collison Cave still reigns supreme but the GFC and a few key acquisitions has seen the gap between it and the rest of the market narrow considerably. In contrast, Griffith Hack has been able to continue its upward trend particularly largely due to the attraction of talent from Clayton Utz and Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Within the national law firms, Allens Arthur Robinson and Mallesons Stephen Jaques spar for market leadership. Mallesons rely heavily on a steady flow of work from Telstra and the ubiquitous presence of Wayne McMaster whereas Allens' strength lies in a suite of practitioners who cater to all areas of IP.
Blake Dawson has managed to withstand key departures and the managerial responsibilities placed upon Mary Padbury to continue to operate comfortably within the market's first tier. Not so Clayton Utz who are yet to regain ground lost due to the departures of key senior practitioners.
The potential gap left by the fight over harder IP matters has seemingly paved the way for those firms who target the "softer" IP matters such as copyright, designs and "new media". Enter the Victorian market's biggest mover, Middletons. Under the bullish direction of practice leader Tony Watson, the firm has established itself as not only a key provider within the mid-tier but also one that sits right on the heels of the top-tier. The imminent arrival of top-tier talent will only strengthen the firm further. Although it already operates in the upper echelons of the market, another firm on the rise is Corrs Chambers Westgarth. The redoubtable Stephen Stern is now joined by a bank of talented younger partners with capabilities across biotechnology and patent matters.
Leading Lawyers - Victoria
Preeminent
Russell Berry – Griffith Hack
Wayne Condon – Griffith Hack
Tim Golder – Allens Arthur Robinson
Richard Hamer – Allens Arthur Robinson
Richard Jarvis – Davies Collison Cave
Wayne McMaster – Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Ian Pascarl – Davies Collison Cave
Stephen Stern – Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Leading
Malcolm Bell – Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick
Peter Chalk – Blake Dawson
Greg Chambers – Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick
Robert Cooper – Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Rodney De Boos – Davies Collison Cave
Grant Fisher – Blake Dawson
John Hannebery – Davies Collison Cave
Cameron Harvey – Norton Rose
Natalie Hickey – Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Christine Lowe – Davies Collison Cave
Sarah Matheson – Allens Arthur Robinson
Shaun McVicar – Freehills
Sally Nicholson – Griffith Hack
Mary Padbury – Blake Dawson
Matthew Swinn – Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Tony Watson – Middletons
Recommended
Tim Allen – Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Kate Marshall – Middletons
Scott Buchanan – DLA Phillips Fox
Philip Catania – Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Michael Dodge – Arnold Bloch Leibler
Belinda Findlay – Blake Dawson
Peter Francis – Francis Abourzik Lightowlers
Chris Jordan – Davies Collison Cave
Brett Lewis – Davies Collison Cave
Chris McLeod – Clayton Utz
Jenny Petering – FB Rice & Co
Graham Phillips – Herbert Geer
David Smith – Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Campbell Thompson - Freehills
A further and more detailed list of leading intellectual property law firms can be fonud under each of our state based listings.
Please click through to see the our listing of Victoria's leading intellectual property law firms...>>
Please click through to see the our listing of Australia's leading women lawyers practising within the area of intellectual property...>>
Please click through to see the our listing of Australia's leading Rising Stars in the area of intellectual property...>> |
