Intellectual Property - Victoria
Recent times have presented a mixed bag of activity across the Victorian intellectual property market. The larger firms and specialists all were grateful for the "death and taxes" consistency of large scale pharmaceutical litigation matters, the second and mid-tiers rejoiced in the price sensitivity of "softer" contentious IP matters and new media entities while smaller practices battened down the hatches on existing relationships.
Long before the GFC, Victoria proved to be the birthplace of many of Australia's leading patent and trademark Attorney firms. Not content with enviable filing practices, these specialist firms established legal arms to gain a greater presence in contentious matters. In doing so they focussed their attention towards securing top-tier talent and to date, have enjoyed remarkable success in doing so.
The result of these top-tier departures has been a levelling of the playing field where all manner of firms compete vigorously for their next instruction. Amongst the specialist firms Davies Collison Cave still reigns supreme but the GFC and a few key acquisitions has seen the gap between it and the rest of the market narrow considerably. In contrast, Griffith Hack has been able to continue its upward trend largely due to the attraction of talent from Clayton Utz and Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Within the national law firms, Allens Arthur Robinson and Mallesons Stephen Jaques spar for market leadership. Mallesons rely heavily on a steady flow of work from Telstra and the ubiquitous presence of Wayne McMaster whereas Allens' strength lies in a suite of practitioners who cater to all areas of IP.
Blake Dawson has managed to withstand key departures and the managerial responsibilities placed upon Mary Padbury to continue to operate comfortably within the market's first tier. Not so Clayton Utz who are yet to regain ground lost due to the departures of key senior practitioners.
The potential gap left by the fight over harder IP matters has seemingly paved the way for those firms who target the "softer" IP matters such as copyright, designs and "new media". Enter the Victorian market's biggest mover, Middletons. Under the bullish direction of practice leader Tony Watson, the firm has established itself as not only a key provider within the mid-tier but also one that sits right on the heels of the top-tier. The imminent arrival of top-tier talent will only strengthen the firm further. Although it already operates in the upper echelons of the market, another firm on the rise is Corrs Chambers Westgarth. The redoubtable Stephen Stern is now joined by a bank of talented younger partners with capabilities across biotechnology and patent matters.
Leading Firms - Victoria
First Tier
Allens Arthur Robinson
Blake Dawson
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Davies Collison Cave
Griffith Hack
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Second Tier
Freehills
Middletons
Third Tier
Clayton Utz
DLA Phillips Fox
Francis Abourzik Lightowlers
Herbert Geer
Holding Redlich
Minter Ellison
Norton Rose
Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick
Recommended
Arnold Bloch Liebler
Cornwall Stodart
FB Rice
Holding Redlich
HWL Ebsworth
Kliger Partners
Mason Sier Turnbull
Maddocks
Madgwicks
Piper Alderman
Russell Kennedy
Watermark IP
Leading Smaller Firms - Victoria
Leading
Choy Lawyers
EKM Legal
Marshalls & Dent
Media Arts Lawyers
Meerkin & Apel
Stephens Lawyers
Recommended
Kelly Hazel Quill
Nicholas Weston Lawyers
Omond & Co
Pointon Partners
Rotstein Lockwood Reddy
Shiff & Company
A further and more detailed list of leading intellectual property lawyers can be found under each of our state based listings.
Please click through to see the our listing of Victoria's leading intellectual property lawyers...>>
Please click through to see the our listing of Australia's leading women lawyers practising in the area of intellectual property...>>
Please click through to see the our listing of Australia's leading Rising Stars in the area of intellectual property...>> |
