Spruson & Ferguson

In September 2021, IPH announced that Shelston IP will operate under the Spruson & Ferguson brand in Australia. Shelston IP became part of the IPH group following the acquisition of Xenith IP in August 2019. The acquisition brought in other Xenith IP companies (Glasshouse Advisory, Griffith Hack and Watermark) under the IPH umbrella.

Before the integration of Shelston IP, Spruson & Ferguson already had strength in depth for IP protection and disputes work in Australia. Patent attorney Simon Potter is among the leaders in its patent protection practice. In December 2022, the firm appointed Potter as its new Managing Director in Australia. Other notable senior patent attorneys include Elizabeth Barrett, Daniel Sieveking, Edward Genocchio and Andrew Cale. Khajaque Kortian is in charge of its legal department. 

Before the integration, Shelston IP had a strong reputation for patent protection work, with expertise in sectors such as life sciences, chemistry, and mechanical engineering. For patent protection matters, its key contacts were Allira Hudson-Gofers and Gareth Dixon. Other notable senior patent attorneys included Charles Tansey, Caroline Bommer, and Michael Christie.

Shelston IP also had a legal team, led by managing director Chris Bevitt, to advise on IP litigation and commercialisation. Michael Deacon, who deals with trade mark protection and commercial IP work, Mark Vincent, and Duncan Longstaff were the notable lawyers in its legal department.

2023

"We appreciate their understanding of our business."

"We appreciate their thoroughness and reliability and their intelligent craft of claims, which provide broad coverage whilst differentiating my inventions from other methods known in the art. Great to work with."

"We particularly appreciate their quick response."

"We appreciate that they provide honest assessments; offer suggestions, when applicable, that may not be apparent to us; and proactively provide thoughtful, client-specific advice that takes into account both legal and business needs. Their thoughtful guidance on the front-end is second to none and often proves invaluable to the ultimate success of a matter. Their value proposition is made by presenting creative cost-sensitive options that take into account the specific needs of a given matter. My main contact is Michael Deacon, and my comments fully apply to him without limitation."

"We appreciate their responsiveness, efficiency, clarity and value."

2021 client testimonials

A medical device sector client said they used Spruson & Ferguson because the firm is "operationally organised, professionally transparent and technically efficient, with a national and international footprint". The client also noted that "the practitioners are knowledgeable, dedicated, accessible and punctual" and commended their "personable, supportive and flexible approach".

2020 client testimonials

A client said: “I was referred to the firm many years ago and have used them ever since. [They are] excellent and highly responsive.”

2019 client testimonials

A client said the firm provided “excellent advice on a patent and complex licensing” matter, describing it as a “proactive, well-regarded law firm in Australia”.

Spruson & Ferguson

Patent case studies show patent protection and disputes work in a range of technical fields. In August 2021, patent and trade mark attorney David Kennedy was appointed as the managing director of Spruson & Ferguson (Australia). Mike Zammit joined as a principal in its chemical/life sciences practice in 2020. Russell Davies, who joined its engineering/ICT department as managing director in 2020, left the firm in September 2021. 

Bernadette Hawkins, Heather O’Kane and Declan Mckeveney are among the patent practitioners who left the firm in 2020. Alana Hannah (née Gibson), who was recognised as a Rising Star in 2022, left the firm in 2023.

Shelston IP

Patent case studies show the firm handled patent filing and prosecution work for clients such as Asahi Breweries, Ascentage Pharma, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and University of New South Wales. The firm also advised on patent disputes involving clients like Fuchs Lubricants. In 2020, the firm hired Adrian Richards and David Hvasanov as senior associate and associate respectively and welcomed biotechnology patent attorney Michael Christie as a principal. Grant Shoebridge, Matthew Ford, Nicolas Lakatos, Jennifer Enmon, and Kieran Williams have left the firm. Paul Harrison has retired.  Serena White and Ean Blackwell are the patent practitioners to watch.

Tam Huynh left the firm in 2023.

Spruson & Ferguson

Case studies show the firm dealt with brand protection and enforcement work in several industries. Clients include Siemens, Honeywell International and Netflix. Head of trade marks Tracey Berger retired in 2020.

Shelston IP

Trade mark case studies show the firm acted for the Australian Rugby League Commission, Chanel, and Football Federation Australia in trade mark opposition proceedings. Trade marks principal Andrew Lockhart left the firm in 2020 while litigation leader Katrina Crooks left in May 2021. Trade mark specialist Sean McManis has also left the firm.