Australia

Firm overview

Founded over 60 years ago, FB Rice is Australia’s leading independent intellectual property firm. Beginning as a small Sydney practice, we have evolved to become a national firm with offices from the east to west coast of Australia, together with a well-established ASEAN hub which services our clients requiring IP services in South East Asia.

We employ the smartest scientists and engineers to ensure our clients have access to the requisite technology expertise. The breadth of our staff expertise is what sets us apart. Whether it is biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, medical devices, pharmaceuticals or software and communication technology, we make sure we have the right specialisation for our clients’ needs.

We enjoy a significant share of provisional patent filings in Australia and have seen significant growth in national phase filings. We are also one of the biggest filers of Australian patent oppositions for both our domestic and international client base, achieving numerous successful outcomes. Litigation support and due diligence also remains an important part of our service offering where we enjoy working alongside law firms in a range of matters.

Our trade marks team has expertise across numerous industries and includes large portfolios and local businesses – from start-up companies to those wishing to further establish themselves. We also offer a high level of strategic advice to clients requiring protection for their industrial designs.

Our Research and Development (R&D) tax consulting business assists organisations in navigating the Australian government's valuable R&D tax incentive program. This addition to the business demonstrates how we have evolved to address our clients’ needs from the beginning to the end of the IP cycle. Our searching capabilities are also an important part of this complete and full service offering, which we tailor for our clients’ needs.

We work with a broad range of clients; including universities and research institutes, government agencies and research co-operatives. At a corporate level, our client base includes both local and international organisations, maximising their investment in fast moving consumer goods, communications technology and resources. We also have strong relationships with a range of associate legal firms.

Being privately owned, we are focused on providing the best possible intellectual property service, with flexibility in service and pricing arrangements. At every point of protecting our clients' intellectual property we maintain a strategic and holistic approach, reading the commercial environment and making sure we maximise the value of their assets. Our local engagement has been the basis upon which we have built the success of the firm today, and we are committed to keeping this foundation in place whilst also operating across multi-jurisdictional contexts that the global economy demands.

We believe our strong firm culture is an integral part of how we approach our clients’ work. We care about our staff and believe in gender equality as evidenced by our inspiring team of female leaders. We also support marriage equality and diversity, and we strive to create a really terrific work environment for our staff. 

Remaining privately owned has meant we are able to maintain our strong client-focussed culture within a competitive market. We support the community through our commitment to providing pro bono services and charitable donations to a range of causes including The Northcott Institute, the Children’s Hospital Westmead, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Hope2Day Ltd and The Smith Family.

Network Memberships: AIPLA, AIPPI, FICPI, INTA, APAA, IPTA, CIPA, IPSANZ, LESANZ, RACI.

Firm overview

HIP – AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION

Halfords IP (HIP) is a boutique IP firm based in Sydney, Australia, with some of the most experienced Attorneys in Australia and New Zealand.

HIP has an enviable reputation for excellence as one of the country’s leading specialist firms for providing strategic, commercially focused and practical advice.

HIP represents clients of all sizes and capabilities, from individuals and start-ups through to multinational entities.

EXPERT TEAM – KEY CONTACTS

Patents/Designs

Electrical/ICT - Anthony Cowle - anthony.cowle@halfords.com.au
Mechanical – Chris Atichian – chris.atichian@halfords.com.au
Chemical/Materials – Dan Berger – dan.berger@halfords.com.au

Trade Marks

Aparna Watal – aparna.watal@halfords.com.au

AWARDS:

Consistently ranked as one of Australia’s leading IP firms, its practitioners are consistently recognised for numerous Awards.

Client testimonials (independently obtained) include:
• "They are professional, attentive, always available at short notice, responsive, courteous, easy to deal with, and knowledgeable."
• "They are easily approachable, very knowledgeable and make the IP system easy to navigate. "
• "We value their technical expertise."
• "I have worked with the same partner at Halfords IP (and at other firms before then) for many years and know that he is a safe pair of hands, has an extensive knowledge of the industry and field and a great reputation."
• "The team is responsive, and we value their good pricing and dependability."
• "It seems that their docketing system is very reliable. They always provide us with the progress of the cases in a timely manner."
• "They have good knowledge on national patent law and produce clearly worded reporting letters."
• "We value their competence and promptness."
• "We appreciate the reliable answers and advice."
• "They are professional and communicative."
• "They are prompt and accurate."
• "They are responsive, and I know the people well and trust the advice."
• "They are very attentive and responsive."

ASSOCIATIONS:

IPTA, INSANZ, FICPI, AIPPI, APAA, INTA

Firm overview

Madderns is a leading, privately-owned Patent and Trade Mark Attorney firm that protects the intellectual property assets of innovative businesses, organisations and individuals. Headquartered in Adelaide but reaching across Australia and internationally, our experienced team of attorneys provides highly-specialised intellectual property services and advice to enable our clients to secure and defend their brands and technologies. As intellectual property specialists, we work closely with our local and international clients to identify their unique needs and protect their interests in Australia, New Zealand and other overseas markets. For more than 50 years, we have supported the varied needs of a diverse client base that ranges from global companies and overseas IP firms to small to medium enterprises and individual innovators. Whether it’s a patent, trade mark, a design or domain name, our experienced team, many having PhD qualifications in their field of expertise, is on-hand to provide strategic and commercially relevant advice to support you in protecting your intellectual property. At Madderns, we’re driven to help you succeed. We build long-term relationships to ensure the intellectual property assets of our clients are protected in their markets.

Firm overview

Over the last century we’ve been lucky enough to have played a part in protecting some of the world’s most ground-breaking inventions and high profile brands. You can trust us to know IP law inside out, to be curious, and to connect the dots to reach solutions others don’t.

We will provide you with a team, rich in real-world experience, comprising experts who have worked at the forefront of pioneering technologies. A substantial number of our lawyers hold qualifications in scientific or technical fields, meaning we are often called upon for our specialist knowledge and insight on large international mandates. We are respected for our creative and original solutions.

We offer both litigation and transactional support in relation to all IP rights, from small innovative projects to the largest, most complex and ground-breaking transactions and disputes.

Our approach has always been centred on client service, collaborating and innovating with our clients to create bespoke solutions that make their lives easier. This includes: our 'twobirds Pattern' product, a proprietary, in-house patent valuation and analysis tool, that allows us to landscape, analyse, and value patent portfolios in an automated and sophisticated way; and our innovative and dynamic Brand Protection Reporting Portal, which uses dynamic charts that give clients an up-to-date overview of their risk profile at any given time.

Talk to us to find out how our tools, experience and our genuine passion for IP can help you devise a strategy that will help to maintain your competitive edge, whilst protecting and optimising your IP in the best way possible.

Internationally Bird & Bird has over 400 IP lawyers, attorneys and legal professionals across our 29 offices, many of whom have known each other and worked together for years, meaning we're all on the same page and offer consistency and quality that runs through all levels of seniority. We are therefore ideally placed to devise and coordinate multi-jurisdictional litigation strategies and,in the future, to represent clients before the Unified Patent Court.

Office Locations: Australia, Belgium, China, Czech Republic & Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates and United States of America