Intellectual Property Lawyer

• Former Assistant Commissioner of Patents, Trade Marks, and Designs at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand.
• Principal of Zone Law
• Principal consultant for Zone IP and Trade Mark Zone.
• Member of NZ Law Society, IPSANZ, INTA, ECTA, FICPI, INTA, MARQUES and AIPPI

IP Superpower – Trade Marks prosecution and disputes

There are two main influencers in the world: those who build and those who destroy. Intellectual property is all about building and creating. It’s about being excited by the possibilities of what your business can create.

Our clients are innovative, passionate business builders and leaders who back themselves, who stake a claim to new ways of doing things, new innovations, and creations. They are not afraid to hitch their wagon to a star that no one else has yet discovered. It’s our job to take them there.

At Zone, we look beyond the traditional view to a cooperative and commercial approach to business, to meet the changing demands of the new globalised market.

I’m passionate about leading an IP law firm that is motivated to achieve successful outcomes for your business.

Now, more than ever, it is vital to have an agile, innovative approach to developing your business assets. Especially for your Intellectual Property.

• Intellectual Property Lawyer and Patent Attorney
• Member of NZ Law Society, NZIPA, IPSANZ, APAA and ADLS

Identifying your IP opportunities and solutions across other areas of law

Anyone can be in your corner when things are going well. It’s when challenges and obstacles arrive at your doorstep that you need courageous leadership to step up to the plate, make difficult decisions and still retain your reputation and your humanity. Intellectual property law requires a patient, intuitive approach that can see through the fog of competing demands to pick out the best path for you and your business.

Our clients are innovative business builders and leaders, applying good quality commercial thinking to solve real-life business problems. It’s our job to help them achieve their goals, avoid problems and plan for their future.

At Zone, our approach to your IP challenges is always to think – ‘How can we make this better so that you come out of it well?’ We’re known for integrity, and for clear, frank advice– telling you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear.

I love helping people succeed, using commercial strategy and common sense to achieve pragmatic commercial solutions in line with your client objectives. What’s your biggest problem, what’s your biggest asset? We can help solve one and protect the other.

As our world faces an uncertain future, it’s those innovative businesses who will show us the opportunities that we need to rebuild. Actively managing your IP portfolio and creating a realistic business strategy across multiple areas of the law for your IP protection ensures your ideas are developed on a solid, protected foundation.

• Chief Operating Officer
• Marketing and Business Manager
• Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA)

Strategic IP that takes advantage of emerging trends

The world is moving fast. It’s tough for business leaders to keep on top of everything happening in their business and accurately predict the next opportunities and obstacles. Moreover, with the business world in flux from pandemics and increased globalisation, it has never been more important to keep a strategic eye on the bigger picture, reading emerging trends to become a solution-based market leader.

Relationships and business are intertwined. My role is about relationships – internal, external, domestic, international. Our work directly impacts our clients as they build their business, and build relationships with their clients, their peers and industry partners.

We are your in-house IP Team, working with you to protect your brand in NZ and around the world. We provide the solutions you need to create brand credibility so that your professionalism and business acumen is elevated in your industry.

I love watching our clients develop, fuelled by their drive and passion in their area of expertise. Knowing these people are depending on us to help them build a strong foundation for their business inspires our whole team to keep innovating and pushing for excellence.

Intellectual property is a massive competitive advantage for your business when it’s set up and structured in the right way. The more we educate people about the value of their ideas and intangible assets, the better they stand out in the business world.

• Senior Consultant at Zone Law
• Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney
• Australian Trade Mark Attorney
• Trade Marks Attorney (NZ)
• PGBus, Admin – Marketing
• Member of NZ Group of APAA; IPSANZ, NZIPA
• Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA)

Protecting your ideas for a smooth market entry

Action leads to traction – especially when you plan to enter new overseas markets. Before taking those first steps to export, you need to be clear about what you want to protect and where. That’s why it’s vital to have a proactive approach to your intellectual property.

It’s a privilege to support our clients and to learn about their businesses, and an honour to play a small role in helping them succeed and reach their goals. Our work helps protects our clients’ brands whether that’s a new business name, a product name, or a long-established mark they’ve built their reputation on. That means we get the job done when it matters most.

We partner with you to understand your business goals and give clear advice about how best to meet those goals in an IP context. Educating our clients means they understand the opportunities and the risks, and are empowered to take bigger and bolder decisions. When it’s time to act, you’re confident to push ahead – knowing your most important assets are protected.

It’s interesting and rewarding to work with such a diverse range of clients – from startups making their first steps in branding, to large companies managing extensive portfolios.

My role is to make the process clear, practical and free of jargon. Our clients can focus on growing their business, knowing that we are keeping an eye on their brand.