An evaporation of mining related IP & TMT work and generally challenging economic conditions have resulted in sporadic and patchy work-flows for Queensland’s IP & TMT lawyers in recent times. Perhaps only the recent panel finalisation and subsequent flow of work from the Queensland Government has provided a positive note.
Despite difficult conditions there’s no shortage of aspirational entrances into the Queensland IP & TMT market. Starting with HWL Ebsworth’s launch into the market in 2013, fellow mid-tier firms DibbsBarker and Mills Oakley have also launched/expanded their presence in recent times. While the stated focus of each is somewhat different, in a market such as Queensland where IP & TMT practitioners generally need to have a broad skill set before they can elect to focus, any new entrant simply doubles down on an already competitive market.
It does raise the question as to just how viable and active the Queensland IP & TMT markets will be for larger firms in the medium to longer term. The view flowing from Southern states appears to be that Queensland punches well above its weight in IP matters at present but that this cannot be sustained. While TMT may see some incremental growth IP practices at larger firms may face some challenges.
Nonetheless there are bright signs within Queensland’s next generation of IP & TMT lawyers who now make up the majority of individuals in our rankings. The likes of Ben Coogan (Thomsons Geer), Malcolm McBratney (McCullough Robertson), Cameron Gascoyne (Clayton Utz), Amanda Ludlow (Ashurst), Michael Morris (Allens), Hayden Delaney (HopgoodGanim) and Kellie Stonier (Griffith Hack) all look set to cater well to the likely fiercely competitive Queensland IP & TMT markets in years to come.