John Fairbairn - Clayton Utz

John Fairbairn is a litigation (trial) lawyer and specialist in intellectual property and technology law. John Fairbairn has significant experience in copyright, patents, trade marks, designs and breach of confidence matters as well as passing off and analogous actions under the Trade Practices Act. This includes seeking or defending urgent injunction applications and Anton Piller (search and seizure) orders.

John Fairbairn is particularly experienced in matters involving the pharmaceutical, computing, mining, broadcasting and advertising industries. With a science background, John Fairbairn is able to quickly understand complex technological and scientific issues. In addition, John Fairbairn advises clients on strategies for protecting IP assets such as brand protection and strategies to minimise the risks of disputes. John Fairbairn recently acted for the software distributors in the Kazaa file sharing copyright proceedings (Universal Music v Sharman) and lectures on intellectual property at the University of New South Wales.

Ben Miller - Blake Dawson

Ben Miller is a ranked as a ‘leading individual’ in intellectual property by Chambers Global 2008 and Best Lawyers International 2008: Australia. Ben Miller is considered the “go-to patents lawyer” in the Sydney office, clients reported in Chambers Global 2008. Ben Miller and his team act for a variety of clients with intellectual property and technology assets, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, medical device manufacturers, biomedical research organisations, food companies and manufacturers of household and consumer products.

Ben Miller’s practise includes drafting and negotiating technology transfer agreements, research collaboration, technology licensing and commercialisation agreements, particularly in the life sciences and biotechnology fields. Ben Miller advises pharmaceutical companies on regulatory matters including the conduct of clinical trials in Australia and he drafts and negotiates clinical trial agreements. Ben Miller also conducts IP due diligence for spin-offs and private and public equity raisings and other commercial IP transactions.

A substantial part of Ben Millers practice involves patent infringement and revocation litigation in the Federal Court of Australia and appeals from decisions of the Commissioner of Patents. Ben Miller also provides strategic advice on the use, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights.

Grant Fisher - Blake Dawson

Grant Fisher is a registered patent attorney and lawyer practising in the field of intellectual property for over 17 years. Grant Fisher is the practice leader of the Intellectual Property, Competition and Technology group. Grant Fisher has a degree in science with a major in chemistry. Grant Fisher’s practice focuses on patent oppositions, infringement and revocation proceedings before the Federal Court of Australia, particularly in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical fields. Grant Fisher frequently provides strategic advice on freedom to operate, patent revocation and enforcement to major biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

Grant Fisher has dealt with patent cases across a wide range of technologies, including stents, PDEV inhibitors, plant genetics, TNF inhibitors, signalling proteins and growth factors, vitamins, regulators of tissue growth, DNA polymerase, small molecules, including inhibitors and antagonists, gene sequences, sperm preservation, safety apparatus, refrigeration apparatus, water irrigation apparatus and packaging technology.

Jackie O’Brien - Allens Arthur Robinson

Jackie O’Brien of Allens Arthur Robinson is an intellectual property lawyer who applies her high level legal expertise to disputes impacting clients in a variety of industries including entertainment, eCommerce, clothing, pharmaceutical and luxury goods. Jackie O’Brien has advised from the perspective of manufacturers and retailers or distributors.

As well as her ability and flexibility in advising a range of industries, Jackie O’Brien provides her clients with succinct, practical and insightful advice that does not compromise the quality of advice or risk management. Jackie O’Brien also advises on brand protection, registration, and maintenance for some of the world’s highest profile companies and counts News Corp, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Matt Groening Productions amongst her clients.

Jackie O’Brien has developed anti-piracy programs for a number of clients using copyright and trade mark rights in combination with working with Australian Customs. Jackie O’Brien has also handled a number of domain name disputes and undertakes clearance work for advertising and promotional campaigns. Jackie O’Brien has also advised extensively in relation to comparative advertising specifically in sectors experiencing rapid growth and competition. Jackie O’Brien has also had considerable experience advising in relation to co-branded products and services and the legal issues surrounding product placement and promotion. Jackie O’Brien is included in An International Who’s Who of Trademark Lawyers and is constantly recognised as a leader in her field in Chambers Global.

Senior Associate Intellectual Property - Blake Dawson - Non Contentious

We are seeking an experience General IP Senior Associate who possesses a blend of exceptional technical skills, standout ability to develop strong client relationships and a driving ambition to progress with the firm. Our client is one of the few Australian law firms which provides a complete range of contentious and non-contentious fully integrated specialist intellectual property service. As part of the Melbourne Intellectual Property and Competition (IPC) team the successful candidate will be experienced in, and provide the best strategic advice to, local and international companies operating in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, publishing, food, media, financial services, airline, life sciences, chemistry, electronics, computer engineering, mining and engineering sectors. With a number of the firms partners consistently ranked as being among the best in their respective fields of expertise, the IPC team offers opportunities no other firm can match. For a confidential discussion, please contact STUART ABLETHORPE in our MELBOURNE office on 9623 6777, quoting Ref No. 3B/43786

Senior Associate Intellectual Property - National Top Tier Firm - Non Contentious

We are seeking an experience General IP Senior Associate who possesses a blend of exceptional technical skills, standout ability to develop strong client relationships and a driving ambition to progress with the firm. Our client is one of the few Australian law firms which provides a complete range of contentious and non-contentious fully integrated specialist intellectual property service. As part of the Melbourne Intellectual Property and Competition (IPC) team the successful candidate will be experienced in, and provide the best strategic advice to, local and international companies operating in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, publishing, food, media, financial services, airline, life sciences, chemistry, electronics, computer engineering, mining and engineering sectors. With a number of the firms partners consistently ranked as being among the best in their respective fields of expertise, the IPC team offers opportunities no other firm can match.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Stuart Ablethorpe in our Melbourne office on 9623 6777, quoting Ref No. 3B/43786

IP and Technology - Melbourne

Make The Move That Will Make Your Career! Working with some of the brightest, most experienced people in the industry, you will join a friendly and award-winning team as part of a firm that places strong emphasis on career development and are fully committed to enabling their staff be the best at what they do, whatever their role.

The IP and Technology Group combines the benefits of a specialised Intellectual Property, Technology and Communications (including telecoms) practice with the resources of one of the largest law firms in Australia and works with local and international companies operating in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, publishing, food, media, financial services, airline, life sciences, chemistry, electronics, computer engineering, mining and engineering sectors:

Your work include:
* IP transactional work (trade marks, patents, design rights, advertising and marketing properties, copyright and unfair competition);
* IP litigation (particularly patent, trade mark, copyright and confidential information litigation); pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and healthcare (patent litigation, licensing and transactional work across the sector);
* IP portfolio management.

Background & Experience:

* Qualified solicitor with a minimum of ideally five years post qualification experience
* Previous experience in an Intellectual Property environment particularly in a top or mid-tier firm
* Strong academics

On offer

* Competitive salary
* Bonus incentives
* New, modern and well resource office environment
* Private health care
* Fully equipped gym
* Social Club
* Relocation assistance
* Financial assistance and study leave for educational/training relevant to the role

Whether you are looking to expand or consolidate your career, you can expect to work with teams of talented individuals in a modern and friendly environment. For more information about this outstanding opportunity, please contact Ivan Pignataro at First Law on + 61 3 9607 8417 or via email at ivan@firstint.com or apply online with confidence.

Director of Finance - Start Up Division of Global Pharmaceutical

Reporting directly to the CFO, the newly appointed Director of Finance (FP&A) will manage all BPA activities of the new Business Unit on a global basis, with overall responsibility in helping setting targets, analyzing performance, proposing corrective actions, preventing unforeseen hurdles and helping to actively to manage risk-benefit of key initiatives. The Director of Finance will play a key role in the achievement of overall targets, optimizing business plans, risk management and trade-offs between short- and long-term growth. They will support key customers and represent the division within the larger organization.

Applicants for the role of Director of Finance (FP&A) will offer:
• MBA/ CPA preferred
• 10 years of financial management experience in a major pharmaceutical
• An ability to success in a start up environment essential
• An excellent manager with informal business skills

Our client is a start up division of a Global Pharmaceutical firm. The division provides technology support and expertise across research and development and is enjoying increased funding year on year. The Director of Finance (FP&A) will receive a base salary to $195,000 + Bonus + Equity.

Minter Ellison IP

Minter Ellison covers patents, trade marks and copyright matters throughout Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Minter Ellison acts for clients such as Armani, BMW, the Victoria Department of Justice and SingTel Optus.

Minter Ellison’s IP group focuses on the pharmaceutical, life sciences, new media and the fast moving consumer goods industries, and recently secured instructions to manage the Australian portfolio of Geoffrey Inc, owner of the family of Toys ‘R’ Us brands.

IP Partners and Special Counsel at Minter Ellison
Charles Alexander
Adam Bannister
Oliver Barrett
Peter Bartlett
Linda Berry
Margaret Brown
Geraldine Farrell
James Flowers
Mitzi Gilligan
Kent Grey
David Inglis
Peter Kearney
Anthony Lloyd
Paul McGinness
Graham Nagle
Richard Pash
Ron Pila
Josh Simons
John Witheriff
Paul Zawa

Blake Dawson IP

Blake Dawson’s Intellectual Property team comprises the foremost legal experts in this field in Australia. Blake Dawson’s award winning team provides a complete range of contentious and non-contentious specialist intellectual property services. Blake Dawson is one of the few Australian law firms which provide a completely integrated full service intellectual property offering. Their team is able to register, commercialise and enforce any intellectual property (IP) right. Blake Dawson’s technical skills in IP to provide the best strategic advice to local and international companies operating in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, publishing, food, media, financial services, airline, life sciences, chemistry, electronics, computer engineering, mining and engineering sectors.

Chambers Global, 2007 stated that Blake Dawson’s “team has a strong practice across the board”, while Chambers Global, 2006 commented that “Clients get a lot of attention, no stone is left unturned”. Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2006/2007 also noted Blake Dawson’s strong client base: “The firm acts for a long list of companies, including many globally famous brands, as well as government bodies, life sciences organisations and research institutes”. In the Managing Intellectual Property World IP Survey, 2006 the Blake Dawson IP practice received recognition in all categories: patent prosecution, patent contentious, trade mark/copyright contentious, and trade mark prosecution. They have a first-tier ranking in IP, IT and Communications and Media from Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2006/2007 and in PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook, 2006. Blake Dawson’s life sciences practice has received particular accolades. They are judged to be a leader in Life Sciences (all categories) in PLC Cross-border Handbooks, 2006/2007. Interviewees for Chambers Global, 2007 singled out the life sciences sector as an area of “overwhelming strength” for our practice.

Blake Dawson is one of only three Australian firms listed in the top 20 IP practices in the Global Intellectual Property Super League Tables, 2006. Three of the firm’s IP partners were named in the Legal Media Group Guide to the World’s Leading Trade Mark Law Practitioners, 2007.
Our perspective

Blake Dawson’s Intellectual Property practice offers Australian and international clients a full range of intellectual property services, including:
* Advising on identification, protection and management of patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeders’ rights, and related services such as drafting, filing, prosecution, opposition and strategic portfolio management
* Negotiating and drafting a full range of IP agreements, including agreements regarding commercialisation, research and development, licensing, distribution, franchising, sponsorship, joint venture and international technology transfer
* Advising on copyright, confidential information, passing off and unfair competition
* Enforcing all IP rights, including conducting IP litigation and alternative dispute resolution and developing anti-counterfeiting strategies.
* Advising on marketing, advertising and promotions and on sponsorship and merchandising agreements
* Advising on food, pharmaceutical, therapeutic goods and agricultural and veterinary chemicals regulation.

Blake Dawson’s recent Intellectual Property experience includes:

* World’s first vaccine against cervical cancer - Blake Dawson acted for CSL Limited in the Federal Court of Australia in a dispute concerning the world’s first vaccine against cervical cancer. The dispute was satisfactorily resolved. CSL subsequently successfully applied to the PBAC and federal government to annually vaccinate all Australian females aged 12 and to conduct catch up vaccinations over a two year period.
* Gambro v Fresenius - Blake Dawson acted for Gambro in its long running patent litigation against Fresenius Medical Care relating to haemodialysis systems and disposables in Australia. We represented Gambro in victories on infringement and validity in the Federal Court at first instance and before the Full Court on appeal. We also successfully defended Fresenius’s application for special leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia. Blake Dawson is currently acting for Gambro in the damages phase of the case.
* Conor Med Systems Inc v Angiotech & UBC - Blake Dawson acted for Conor who sought revocation of patents held by Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc and the University of British Columbia over taxol-coated stents in the Federal Court. This was the first case to consider whether the inclusion of an additional patentee, who has no entitlement to the claimed invention, renders the patent liable to be revoked under section 138(3)(a) of the Patents Act 1990.

IP Partners at Blake Dawson

Peter Chalk
David Clark
Belinda Findlay
Grant Fisher
Ben Miller
Mary Padbury
Lisa Ritson

Senior Associates at Blake Dawson

Annika Barrett
Anita Cade
Karen Gettens
Natalie Hazel
Joanna Lawrence
Nik Ramchand
Kellech Smith
Melinda Upton