The 2026 listing of leading New Zealand Intellectual Property Lawyers details solicitors practising in both of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law matters in the New Zealand legal market who have been identified by clients and peers for their expertise and abilities in these areas.
Preeminent
Jason Rudkin-Binks, Hudson Gavin Martin – Auckland
Ian Finch, James & Wells – Hamilton
Thomas Huthwaite, AJ Park – Wellington
Tim Mahood, Hudson Gavin Martin – Auckland
Jenni Rutter, Dentons – Auckland
Matt Sumpter, Chapman Tripp – Auckland
Richard Watts, Simpson Grierson – Auckland
Leading
Anton Blijlevens, AJ Park – Auckland
Sarah Chapman, Simpson Grierson – Auckland
Rachel Colley, CreateIP – Auckland
Joe Edwards, Russell McVeagh – Auckland
Mark Gavin, Anthony Harper – Auckland
Sue Ironside, Ironside McDonald Intellectual Property – Wellington
Paul Johns, Pearce IP – Auckland
David Moore, Henry Hughes IP – Wellington
Hamish Selby, Buddle Findlay – Auckland
Elena Szentiványi, Henry Hughes IP – Wellington
Christopher Young, MinterEllisonRuddWatts – Auckland
Recommended
Natasha Alley, Tompkins Wake – Hamilton
Sarah Barclay, AJ Park – Wellington
Helen Bellchambers, AJ Park – Wellington
Hadleigh Brown, AJ Park – Auckland
Kate Duckworth, Kate Duckworth Intellectual Property – Wellington
Hannah French, AJ Park – Wellington
Duncan de Geest, AJ Park – Wellington
Kate Giddens, AJ Park – Wellington
Tania Goatley, Tania Goatley Law – Auckland
Justin Graham, Chapman Tripp – Auckland
Amanda Griffiths, MoranLaw – Auckland
Caitlin Hadlee, Hudson Gavin Martin – Auckland
Natalie Harre, Leighton Cassidy Legal – Auckland
Jessica Miles, Bell Gully – Auckland
Scott Moran, MoranLaw – Auckland
Michael Moyes, Duncan Cotterill – Christchurch
Sally Paterson, Pearce IP – Auckland
James Robinson, AJ Park – Wellington
Brigette Shone, Russell McVeagh – Auckland
Jason Wach, James & Wells – Auckland
Jonathan Aumonier-Ward, Duncan Cotterill – Wellington
The 2026 rankings of leading Intellectual Property lawyers in New Zealand, identified by fellow New Zealand Intellectual Property & TMT Lawyers. Compiled via our independent, peer-review methodology — rankings cannot be purchased.
Previous editions
2020 edition published May 2020
Preeminent
Matt Adams, AJ Park - Wellington
Ian Finch, James & Wells - Hamilton
Alan Potter, Potter IP - Auckland
Alan Ringwood, Bell Gully - Auckland
Richard Watts, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Leading
Colleen Cavanagh, AJ Park - Auckland
Mark Gavin, Anthony Harper - Auckland
John Glengarry, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Narly Kalapuhana, Potter IP - Auckland
Tim Mahood, Hudson Gavin Martin - Auckland
Jason Rudkin-Binks, Hudson Gavin Martin
Matt Sumpter, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
Paul Sumpter, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
Lynell Tuffery Huria, AJ Park - Wellington
Recommended
Julie Ballance, In-Legal - Wellington
Anton Bijlevins, AJ Park - Auckland
Allan Bowie, Bowie Yorke - Auckland
Penny Catley, Baldwins - Wellington
Rachel Colley, Create IP - Auckland
Theodore Doucas, Zone Law - Auckland
Kate Duckworth, Catalyst IP - Wellington
Claire Foggo, Potter IP - Auckland
Tania Goatley, Bell Gully - Auckland
Mark Hargreaves, AJ Park - Wellington
Matthew Hayes, AJ Park - Wellington
Gus Hazell, James & Wells - Auckland
Wes Jones, Baldwins - Auckland
Simon Martin, Hudson Gavin Martin - Auckland
Jenni Rutter, Dentons - Auckland
Scott Yorke, Bowie Yorke - Auckland
2018 edition published June 2018
Preeminent
Earl Gray, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Alan Potter, Potter IP - Auckland
Richard Watts, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Leading
Matt Adams, AJ Park - Wellington
Anton Bijlevins, AJ Park - Auckland
Ian Finch, James & Wells - Hamilton
Mark Gavin, Anthony Harper - Auckland
John Glengarry, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
Matt Sumpter, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
Recommended
Julie Ballance, In-Legal - Wellington
Penny Catley, Baldwins - Wellington
Rachel Colley, Create IP - Auckland
Kate Duckworth, Catalyst IP - Wellington
Ian Gault, Bell Gully - Auckland
John Hackett, AJ Park - Auckland
Mark Hargreaves, AJ Park - Wellington
Gus Hazell, James & Wells - Auckland
Charlotte Henley, Kensington Swan - Wellington
Tim Jackson, Baldwins - Auckland
Narly Kalapuhana, Potter IP - Auckland
Wes Jones, Baldwins - Auckland
Greg Lynch, Catalyst IP - Wellington
Tim Mahood, Hudson Gavin Martin - Auckland
Simon Martin, Hudson Gavin Martin - Auckland
Kim McLeod, AJ Park - Auckland
Kate McHaffie, AJ Park - Wellington
Alan Ringwood, Bell Gully - Auckland
Jenni Rutter, Kensington Swan - Auckland
Rick Shera, Lowndes Jordan - Auckland
Ceri Wells, James & Wells - Hamilton
Dan Winfield, Duncan Cotterill - Wellington
2016 edition published March 2016
Preeminent
Mark Gavin, Hudson Gavin Martin - Auckland
Earl Gray, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Leading
Matt Adams, AJ Park - Wellington
John Glengarry, Buddle Findlay - Auckland
John Hackett, AJ Park - Auckland
Kate McHaffie, AJ Park - Wellington
Kim McLeod, AJ Park - Auckland
Alan Potter, Potter IP - Auckland
Paul Sumpter, Chapman Tripp - Auckland
Richard Watts, Simpson Grierson - Auckland
Recommended
Anton Bijlevins, AJ Park - Auckland
Damian Broadley, AJ Park - Wellington
Penny Catley, Baldwins - Wellington
Colleen Cavanagh, AJ Park - Auckland
Kate Duckworth, Catalyst IP - Wellington
Ian Finch, James & Wells - Hamilton
Gus Hazell, James & Wells - Auckland
Charlotte Henley, Kensington Swan - Wellington
Tim Jackson, Baldwins - Auckland
Wes Jones, Baldwins - Auckland
Greg Lynch, Catalyst IP - Wellington
Simon Martin, Hudson Gavin Martin
Jenni Rutter, Kensington Swan - Auckland
Rick Shera, Lowndes Jordan - Auckland
Matt Sumpter, Chapman Tripp - Auckland