WRAYS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Management & Strategic Services
Job Titles:
- Commercial & Technology, Dispute Resolution
- Special Counsel
I have over 30 years experience advising and acting in complex commercial litigation, including intellectual property matters. For the past 25 years, I have advised a diverse range of clients in a wide variety of disputes, almost all of which have involved IP rights.
Disputes in which I have advised and acted have included patents, registered designs, trade marks and copyright issues, and disputes involving allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. Often a dispute will involve several of those areas. In addition to matters involving registered or ‘pure' intellectual property rights, I also have significant experience in general contractual disputes and have advised and acted for clients in matters involving allegations of breach of confidence and the misuse of trade secrets/confidential information.
I develop and implement strategies designed to achieve commercially-oriented solutions to the variety of challenges that clients face.
I also advise clients on how they can mitigate potential issues before they occur. Every intellectual property challenge, and the context in which it arises, is different. My approach to addressing the issues is therefore always tailored to the circumstances. I work with my clients to gain a full understanding of their business and desired commercial outcome. I draw upon the full range of dispute resolution tools, from negotiated settlements to full scale litigation and everything in between. I think laterally to develop creative strategies to assist clients in a difficult position.
I assist all manner of clients, from large multinational corporations through to small private firms, and seek to resolve their contentious intellectual property issues, particularly those relating to patents, designs and confidential information. I've assisted clients with complex disputes concerning the ownership, validity and infringement of important intellectual property rights. I have extensive experience with advising and representing clients during negotiations, as well as litigating matters in court and before IP Australia.
Job Titles:
- Patents
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Chemical
With over 17 years' experience as a registered patent attorney, I have vast experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications.
I am a pleasant, quiet and creative fellow who has always had a love of language and technology. I am very lucky to have been able to combine those loves in my work for over twenty two years in the patent attorney profession.
Job Titles:
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - International
Job Titles:
- Technical Assistant
- Patents
I am a Technical Assistant working in the Life Sciences team at Wrays. I graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science), with First Class Honours in Pharmacology, and a PhD in tumour biology and vascular/peptide targeting.
I have three years of postdoctoral research experience working alongside bioengineers, from BRITELab, UWA, on clinical trials in breast cancer, using a disruptive medical imaging technology, manufactured by the labs spin out commercial company, OncoRes Medical.
While completing my PhD, I acquired knowledge in the areas of research, commercialisation, innovation and venture capital investment through courses I completed from the Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI), Perth Biodesign for Medical Technology course and Brandon Capital/Medical Research Commercialisation Fund Internship Program.
Currently, I am undertaking a Masters in Intellectual Property from the University of Technology Sydney. As part of the Wrays team I am fortunate to be learning from leaders in the field, and to be a part of this elite circle. I hope to be able to serve future clients with in-depth analysis of various scientific technologies and developments to ensure they receive the most sophisticated and holistic advice in patent and trademark prosecution.
I am a Lawyer within Wrays' multi-disciplinary dispute resolution team
As a registered Trade Marks Attorney, I provide my clients with the advice and support needed to protect one of their most valuable assets - their brand.
I am a Registered Trade Marks Attorney and have been an integral part of the Sydney office since joining the firm in 2015. I've held a range of positions providing secretarial and paralegal support across all areas of IP, before taking the opportunity to join our trade marks practice in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Financial Officer / Sydney
I am a Fellow Chartered Accountant and member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
As Wrays CFO, I am a member of the management team and closely involved in strategic planning, as well as holding day-to-day responsibility for the firm's financial reporting and information technology.
I was Wrays Finance Manager for five years before being promoted to CFO. Prior to joining Wrays in January 2018, I was Financial Controller at a Sydney based company, a role which brought me to Australia from the UK.
Job Titles:
- Executive Chairman, Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Litigation
I have over 17 years' experience providing strategic intellectual property advice to pharma, biotech and life sciences clients. My broad expertise includes drafting and prosecution of matters in the fields of molecular and cell biology, immunology, pharmaceuticals, cell and gene therapy, medical devices and diagnostic technology.
I have extensive expertise running patent oppositions including responsibility for 5 concurrent patent oppositions making up the Australian component of the CRISPR gene editing global litigation. I also have particular expertise in securing extensions of term on pharmaceutical patents and advising on patent validity and infringement. I am also a litigation support expert having acted in revocation proceedings in the Federal Court, including to the blockbuster anti-PD-1 antibody, Keytruda.
Prior to entering the patent profession, I enjoyed a 15-year career in medical research, that included a PhD directed to antibody engineering and immunoglobulin polyreactivity. I have also engaged in breast cancer research, DNA vaccine development, as well as working for biotech start-ups in London, Switzerland and Sydney.
I am a recognised authority on gene-related patentable subject matter in both Australia and the US. I made submissions to a Senate Inquiry into the patentability of genes and biological material, and was involved in the Institute of Patent and Trademark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA) intervention application to the High Court appeal in D'Arcy v Myriad Genetics Inc. I also successfully acted for the Applicant in Arrowhead Research Corporation [2016] APO 70 - the first Patent Office decision to consider the Myriad decision. The Arrowhead decision set an important legal precedent in relation to the patentability of gene-based pharmaceutical inventions in Australia.
I am a Fellow and an elected council member of IPTA where I am the convenor of the Public Relations Committee, leading IPTA's political engagement (lobbying) strategy, particularly in relation to proposed changes to Australian patent legislation and innovation policy. I am also the convenor of the Finance and Secretariat Committee.
I am a former lecturer and course coordinator for the University of Technology Sydney's postgraduate law program and the Masters of Intellectual Property subject "Interpretation and Validity of Patent Specifications", which provides a pathway to registration for Australian patent attorneys. I also formerly taught the University of NSW course "Myths and Realities of Personalised Medicine: The Genetic Revolution".
I am a regular speaker on intellectual property, and have made numerous TV, radio and print media appearances regarding IP developments.
Qualifications
Australian Patent Attorney
New Zealand Patent Attorney
Interestingly, I worked for Wrays for 12 years before starting my own patent and trade mark firm, trading as Janet Stead & Associates, which I operated for 11 years before returning to Wrays in 2014.
Job Titles:
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Trade Marks
- Trade
Job Titles:
- Commercial & Technology
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Commercial
As the firm's Commercial National Practice Leader, I specialise in commercial and intellectual property law, drawing on more than 25 years' experience advising on all aspects of the management and commercialisation of IP.
Job Titles:
- Head of Business Development / Perth
As a Trade Marks Attorney, I provide my clients with the advice and support needed to protect their brands in Australia and throughout the world.
I am a Registered Trade Marks Attorney and as part of the trade mark team, I assist a range of clients in all aspects of trade marks prosecution and oppositions including trade mark filing, advice, strategies and prosecution throughout the world.
Since commencing in the trade mark industry over 15 years ago, I have held a range of roles, from secretarial to paralegal support, across all aspects of trade marks. These roles have given me a strong understanding of the support and advice required to manage and progress clients trade mark portfolios.
Job Titles:
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Formalities
I am an intellectual property lawyer and registered trade mark attorney - with nearly 20 years' experience in intellectual property protection, enforcement and commercialisation.
I assist clients on a daily basis with trade mark clearance and filing strategies, prosecution and enforcement, as well as with a broader range of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property related matters, including in copyright, designs, protection of confidential information, domain name disputes, passing off and consumer law, advertising, website and product labelling reviews. I have assisted clients in bringing their disputes before the Federal Court of Australia and State Supreme Courts, Australian Trade Marks Office and World Intellectual Property Organisation, as well as resolving them through alternative dispute resolution processes.
As a patent attorney for the past 20 years, I have advised a broad range of clients, including SMEs, universities, research organisations, ASX-listed companies and multinationals in connection with IP protection and management.
Prior to becoming a patent attorney, I completed a PhD in physical and inorganic chemistry, spending 10 years in research in Australia and the United Kingdom. My patent practice reflects my expertise in this field and spans a diverse range of chemical and engineering-related technologies including mineral processing, mining equipment and technology, oil & gas, water treatment, waste management and clean energy technologies. I have extensive experience in drafting patent specifications, patent prosecution, freedom to operate and infringement advice, and IP due diligence. I have also represented numerous clients before IP Australia in patent and trade mark oppositions.
As a patent attorney for the past 20 years, I have advised a broad range of clients, including SMEs, universities, research organisations, ASX-listed companies and multinationals in connection with IP protection and management. Regardless of their size, it's important for me to understand each client's business to ensure that we develop and implement a tailored pragmatic IP strategy which supports their commercial goals. I relish working closely with my clients and building long-term relationships where I am considered a trusted adviser. One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is seeing how a well-implemented IP strategy enhances the value of my client's business.
I also enjoy sharing my passion and knowledge of IP with various industry groups via different mediums including podcasts, radio and television broadcasts and presenting seminars. I was on the Evaluation Panel for the WA Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation 2020 and 2021 Innovation Vouchers Program and a judge for the 2022 Business News 40under40 Awards. I am currently an IMNIS mentor for postgraduate students in STEM, and prior to this, I was a long-standing committee member and former WA regional chair of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to joining the team Wrays, I was aware of the organisation's strong reputation. As an independent IP firm, Wrays can offer a significant breadth of IP services, enabling a comprehensive and integrated approach to addressing our clients' specific needs. We value the expertise of our people and promote a collaborative, client-focused culture.
Qualifications
Australian Patent and Trade Marks Attorney
New Zealand Patent Attorney
Job Titles:
- IP Management & Strategy Consultant
Job Titles:
- Commercial & Technology, Trade Marks
- Lawyer
I am a lawyer and trade marks attorney working in both our commercial and brand protection teams.
Job Titles:
- Patents
- Senior Patent Consultant
I have been practising for over 18 years as a patent attorney, IP strategist and technology commercialisation specialist primarily in the Life Sciences, Pharma, MedTech and Biotechnology sectors. I am driven to help clients in all areas of protecting, maintaining and translating their IP to market.
I have enjoyed assisting numerous local and international clients from small biotech companies to big pharma and universities in all aspects of patent practice, drafting patents, oppositions, validity and patentability opinions, freedom-to-operate, patent landscape assessments, management of global IP portfolios, and providing strategic advice on IP commercialisation.
My experience includes roles in Universities and Medical Research Institutes where I managed and negotiated IP licensing/contract matters and spin-out creation with oversight on complete deal management including IP capture, preparing and filing for protection, maintaining IP rights, IP ownership, market position analysis, risk and commercial due diligence, managing regulatory processes and pitching projects for investment. I currently also hold a casual academic position with the Faculty of Law at the University of Technology Sydney teaching patent practice subjects required for registration as a patent attorney in Australia and New Zealand. I am the Subject Co-ordinator for Patent Law and Lead Lecturer for Patent Practice and I assist with teaching Interpretation and Validity of Patent Specifications.
I am a scientist at heart, and I love hearing about the latest technologies from my clients and helping them succeed in bringing those technologies to market. Prior to entering the patent attorney profession, I obtained a PhD in Immunology from the University of Toronto and completed postdoctoral work at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute. Much of my research focussed on receptors and signalling mechanisms of the TGF-beta superfamily in vasculature, immune cells, wound healing, cell migration/adhesion, inflammation and cancer. I have published and presented my research extensively in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences.
I have extensive experience acting in complex, often multi-jurisdictional, patent infringement and revocation proceedings and providing strategic, business-critical advice to some of the world's leading companies.
Job Titles:
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Engineering & Technology
Job Titles:
- Principal & National Practice Group Leader - Life Sciences