Since moving into private practice in 1986 I have been a partner at top-tier firms in Sydney, Melbourne, London and Hong Kong. While based in London (1990 – 2002) my work involved numerous projects throughout Europe and the Middle East, while my year in Hong Kong included projects throughout Asia. After spending 12 years in London I returned to Sydney and established my own firm.












Page Tools
Printer Version
Send To Email

News Registration
Enter your email address to receive updates!

My Experience


My professional career

During 1984 and 1985 I worked in London for ICL (now Fujitsu) in the Strategy and Technology division where I was involved in analysing computer software applications for use by senior management, in particular financial planning and project management tools.

Since moving into private practice in 1986 I have been a partner at top-tier firms in Sydney, Melbourne, London and Hong Kong. While based in London (1990 - 2002) my practice included numerous projects throughout Europe and the Middle East, while a year in Hong Kong included projects throughout Asia. After 12 years in London I returned to Sydney and established my own firm.

My Practice

My practice is based on negotiating and drafting commercial contracts, with a particular focus on the complementary (and converging) technology-rich industry sectors: IT and ICT, telecoms, e-commerce, biotech/pharmaceutical, and entertainment/multi-media. The projects that I have worked on include:

  • Information Technology: procurement of IT / ICT systems and services; outsourcing / offshoring; PPP/PFI managed service projects; Basel II and IFRS compliance; CRM, ERP (SAP R/3), SaaS, and EDA projects; technology transfer and licensing; consultancy contracts; consortia and teaming arrangements; contract management.
  • Telecoms: Managed networks; VoIP; 3G product development and licensing.
  • E-commerce: ASP and ISP contracts; B2B, B2C and P2P solutions; e-banking; privacy and data protection compliance; anti-spam advice and enforcement.
  • Biotech / pharma / bio-informatics: Clinical trials; R&D; database licensing; knowledge management; marketing and distribution arrangements; licensing-in and licensing-out.
  • Entertainment / multi-media: rights management; product endorsement; sponsorship; merchandising; event management; pooling arrangements.
  • Intellectual Property: brand creation and registration; franchising and merchandising; IP protection, commercialisation and enforcement; anti-trust and competition law compliance; IP audits and valuation.
  • Corporate transactions: Company and business acquisitions and disposals; trade sales; capital raising, debt and equity funding, IPO's; stock exchange listings; joint ventures and strategic alliances.


Qualifications

  • Master of Business Law (MBL), Sydney University Law School (2008)
  • Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Sydney University Law School (1983)
  • Post-graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law (Dip IPL), London University (1985)


Professional associations

  • International Trademark Association (INTA)
    • Publications Board (1995 – present)
    • Panel of Neutrals (2006 - 2008)
  • Licensing Executives Society (LES)
    • IT/e-Commerce Committee (1997 – present)
  • World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
    • Arbitration and mediation panel member (2005 - present)

Academic publications
  • Author of Halsbury's Laws of England: "Trade Marks, Trade Names and Designs" (Australian Edition), 1990, Butterworths
  • Co-author of "A User's Guide to Trade Marks and Passing Off" 1995 (1st Ed) and 1998 (2nd Ed), Butterworths
  • Co-author and Co-editor of "The Community Trade Mark", 1996-2007, INTA
  • Tutor at Bristol University on the post-graduate IP courses (1997-2001)
  • Judge on the Secrets of Australian ICT Innovation competition, DCITA, 2004 - 2008
  • Regular speaker and author on IP and IT-related subjects


Independent listings

  • The Legal 500 “Who’s Who in the Law”
  • Legal Business “Legal Experts” for Intellectual Property
  • Managing Intellectual Property “Patent Law Experts”
  • Law Business Research “International Who’s Who of Internet and E-Commerce Lawyers”
  • “The Insider’s Guide to Legal Services” for Brands & Trade Marks, as well as Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology

Admitted to practise in 

  • Supreme Court of NSW: July 1986
  • Supreme Court of Victoria: September 1989
  • High Court of England & Wales: February 1991


My personal interests

  • Scuba diving (PADI Open Water qualification, 1987)
  • Rugby (Qualified rugby union referee, Sydney badge, 1987)
  • Cricket (NSW schoolboys and Australian U19 squad 1979; The Flycatchers, a wanderers team that is privileged to play on the finest village greens in the south of England, 1991 - 2002)
  • Theatre
  • Australian shiraz and French burgundy
  • My wife and 3 children

Obviously, in no order of importance.