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)
  
  

• 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.