The Patent 1000 focuses exclusively on patent practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive 'go-to' resource for those seeking world-class legal patent expertise.
Silver - Firms: prosecution
It has been seven years since Australian IP powerhouse Davies Collison Cave first set foot in Singapore. Now, its office is a vital gateway to the region and serves a myriad of multinational companies and domestic top filers with poise. Key figures Kian Hoe Khoo and Thomas Griffiths pace the group with verve. Drawing judiciously from his Cambridge days, biological engineer Khoo excels at drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the areas of molecular biology, protein engineering, immunotherapy, antibody therapeutics, vaccines and medical diagnostics. Computer scientist Griffiths has a passion for understanding how patrons intend to use their intellectual property and develops IP strategies to suit these needs. He has gained a wealth of experience in seeking patents and designs protection with medical devices, software and computer implemented inventions, as well as in litigation support. Together, the duo works closely to provide holistic IP support for entities in diverse disciplines.
Recommended - Firms: transactions
Gold - Firms: prosecution
Silver - Firms: litigation
Since its establishment in the 19th century, Davies Collison Cave (DCC) has been the go-to firm in Australia for precision prosecution. Its patent drafting practice consistently files among the highest number of originating applications across all technical disciplines. Once again topping the prosecution table, the outfit boasts a wide-ranging technical expertise that only a few can match. Its scientifically adept patent attorneys have been entrusted by a raft of household names, including Novartis, BAE Systems and Microsoft, CSL Limited, Telstra and CSIRO. Under the stewardship of managing principal David Webber, the 50-strong IP outfit is hallmarked by its superior technical ability and client care. Known as a nimble operator, he is as adroit at drafting patents as he is in providing infringement briefs and freedom-to-operate advice. Joining him as the IAM Patent 1000 ranked practitioners are a raft of star attorneys which includes Michael Caine, Ross Clark, Hannah Brown, Alex Tzanidis, Gavin Recchia and Alistair Smith. A guiding light in intellectual property, the organic chemistry and pharmaceutical group leader Caine currently serves as president of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia, where he has been a member since 2001. An electrical engineer by trade, Clark takes a special interest in green technology and is always passionate about devising the optimal IP strategies for his clientele. Physics doctorate holder Brown advises on a wide range of technologies, including information and communications technology, microelectronics and physics. With a technical background in biology, Tzanidis has been busy on developing commercially focused patent strategies for the global and domestic markets. Recchia is another biologist in the line-up. He has unrivalled expertise in matters relating to devices for use in medical treatment, diagnostics and molecular biology research, and lectures widely on biotechnology patenting issues. Cambridge graduate Smith draws judiciously on his UK and European drafting experience, and now heads up the medical devices practice. Although DCC is traditionally known for its prosecution offering, it is increasingly making incursions in the contentious space. The outfit has regularly been one of Australia's top filers of new IP cases in the Federal Court of Australia and has been instructed in a number of seminal Australian IP law disputes. Ian Pascarl, Chris Jordan and Paul Dewar are pillars of the IP dispute side. IP all-rounder Pascarl has a proven track record of success in numerous IP disputes throughout his career. Jordan has made frequent appearances before all levels of the Australian courts in a number of significant IP litigation matters. Last but not least, Dewar has a particular insight into pharmaceutical patent litigation and detailed understanding of the operation of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Recommended - Firms: prosecution
Australian IP powerhouse Davies Collison Cave recently extended its reach to New Zealand by opening an office in Wellington. The practice of molecular biology PhD Humphrey Foote is centred around protecting the rights of innovators in the agricultural, horticultural, pastoral, forestry, life science and biotechnology fields. Alongside him is Scott Sonneman, who takes good care of engineering and IT matters, putting his experience as a software developer and engineer to good use.
Davies Collison Cave (DCC) is one of Australia’s largest specialist IP firms. From the introduction of IP law in Australia, DCC has been protecting innovation; that is over 140 years of history in which the firm has been serving clients with passion and leadership.
We offer an extensive range of IP services, including expert advice on patents, trademarks, domain names, trade secrets, copyrights, privacy and data protection and design protection; preparing, filing and prosecuting patent and trademark applications; and litigation, licensing and related legal and commercial services. DCC offers these services in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Asia-Pacific.
We can proudly claim that no other Australian specialist IP legal practice has more highly credentialed or qualified practitioners. We are recognised as innovative leaders – by our clients, government, tertiary and legal institutions and professional organisations. Our people come from all areas of science, technology and law, and have industry experience and the technical and legal skills to understand our clients’ business and protect their interests.
DCC’s law practice, Davies Collison Cave Law (DCCL), boasts extensive expertise across all aspects of IP law and is one of the most successful IP law practices in Australia, particularly in relation to patent litigation. DCCL is led by 8 principals and supported by highly qualified and experienced managing associates, senior associates, associates, lawyers and consultants. The group conducts numerous patent oppositions, Federal Court appeals (from Patent Office decisions) and Federal Court revocation and infringement actions. The law group is particularly active in relation to pharmaceutical litigation, but is also involved with patent litigation in such diverse fields as telecommunications, medical devices and mining machinery. DCCL acts on behalf of numerous multinational corporations and successful listed Australian companies.
DCC’s patent practice has filed the most originating patent applications in Australia for a number of years and has a depth of technical expertise and legal experience that our competitors are unable to match. The practice is led by 23 principals and supported by a team of highly qualified and experienced senior associates, associates, attorneys and consultants located across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. The DCC patent practice handles extensive patent procurement programmes for large corporate organisations such as MasterCard, Novartis, BAE Systems, Pfizer and Microsoft, and successful Australian companies and institutions such as CSL Limited, Peter MacCallum, Telstra, Orica International, Wesfarmers and CSIRO.
Since July 2015, DCC’s patent practice in Singapore has doubled in size and established itself as a leading firm in an extremely active hub for innovation and IP protection. The firm is in the top five filers of patent applications and DCC proudly works with Singapore’s top universities and research institutions.
In addition to filing regionally for many of the world’s largest companies, our Hong Kong and Malaysia teams bring a wealth of experience and local knowledge to their markets.
In recent years, the team has been recognised by IAM as a top-ranking patent practice and is proud to be ranked in Australia for patent prosecution, litigation and transactional work.
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