Our Patents group works with innovative people to protect good ideas. We overlay traditional patent attorney drafting and prosecution skills with a business focus, whether building global patent portfolios for local clients, assisting offshore clients to get optimum patent protection in Australia and New Zealand, or ensuring that our clients are free to operate. Technical depth and expertise is a given. In addition, like our clients, we strive to be innovative, creative and out-of-the-box, not terms one would normally associate with patent attorneys but critical attributes in providing cost effective and commercially relevant advice. Combined with our dedicated IP Commercial and IP Litigation teams, this enables us to deliver to you ground breaking and innovative outcomes.

From creation to commercialisation, innovation must be given value. Whatever your business, obtaining prompt, perceptive advice about your intellectual property rights is crucial to forming strategic commercial decisions. Successfully exploiting and protecting your expertise and hard work begins by securing professional intellectual property services.

We operate in close association with Freehills, one of Australia's leading law firms. Working together with its expert team of intellectual property lawyers, we can assist you with the full range of intellectual property services.
Our services include:

Infringement/registrability searches and opinions

For trade marks, our dedicated search team can quickly and thoroughly conduct availability and infringement searches, and can usually provide preliminary results on a same day basis if required. We can advise on trade mark availability and provide opinions on trade mark registrability and infringement risks. We can also conduct patent searches and provide opinions on the patentability of (or other protection available for) inventions, and patent infringement risks.

Patent, trade mark and design applications

We have streamlined procedures for preparing, filing and prosecuting Australian patent, trade mark and design applications. Through our established network of foreign associates we can also attend to your global patent, trade mark and design needs.

Plant breeders rights (PBR)

We can prepare and file PBR applications and provide strategic advice for coordinating PBR and patent applications, if appropriate.

Opposition and non-use proceedings

We are experienced in prosecuting and defending patent and trade mark opposition proceedings and trade mark non-use actions. We place great importance on understanding our clients' commercial objectives so that appropriate strategies are formulated.

Intellectual property portfolio management

Intellectual property management refers to the body of proprietary new knowledge that is continually being developed by innovative enterprises. An active intellectual property management program consists of the systematic identification, capture and orderly growth of these intangible knowledge assets in a way that ensures value is added to the business.

We are experienced in all aspects of intellectual property management and will assist you to link your intellectual property assets with your business direction and develop an appropriate and cost-effective intellectual property strategy.

Using our state-of-the-art computer-based diary system, we manage the intellectual property portfolios of major domestic and foreign companies. We are also experienced in intellectual property portfolio audit and review.

Payment of patent annuities/trade mark renewals/extension of design registrations

We have streamlined procedures for paying patent annuities, renewing trade marks and extending design registrations. If required, these procedures can be tailored to suit individual clients' needs.

Status reports and watches

Our in-depth understanding of the contents of official and commercial databases covering patents, trade marks and designs enables us to provide prompt and accurate status reports. We can also conduct competitor surveys and monitor the progress of competitor applications.

Assignments

We are experienced in preparing and recording patent, trade mark and design assignments.

Associated legal services

Many of our clients, both local and overseas, use our services because we offer a close working relationship with the leading intellectual property lawyers in Australia. As a result of this relationship, we are often able to identify broader issues which may impact upon our clients' management of their intellectual property portfolios.

Our patent attorneys work closely with their colleagues in the associated legal practice of Freehills to provide a seamless transition to legal services, including technology transfer, marketing and licence agreements, due diligence reviews, conflict resolution and mediation, and intellectual property litigation. We can also give you advice on the intellectual property aspects of acquisitions, divestitures and joint venture arrangements.

Freehills Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys' work methodology, including our relationship with Freehills, our partnership approach to working with clients, and our use of advanced technology can all bring added benefits to your business.

Integrated solutions

Providing efficient, integrated service is vital in today's fast-paced business climate.

Through our association with Freehills, we provide comprehensive intellectual property services from the conceptualisation of a new idea and throughout the commercial life of your product or service.

Our attorneys also have access to an established network of international associates to help streamline your global patent, trade mark and design needs.

We work closely together to cover all strategic, registration, commercialisation and enforcement aspects of intellectual property. This allows us to deliver relevant, integrated, timely solutions to our clients.

Building productive partnerships

To achieve the best possible results, your patent and trade mark attorneys should understand not only the law relating to your intellectual property, but the way your business operates using that intellectual property. They need to understand your industry, how your ideas, brands and other intellectual capital have developed and how they are managed. They should build a partnership with you that continues throughout the development and commercialisation of your intellectual property. At Freehills Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys we do this for our clients every day.

Patent attorneys have science or engineering degrees, enabling them to advise on complex concepts and provide practical, cost-effective solutions to intellectual property issues. We'll work with you to achieve the solutions you require.

Using advanced technology

We recognise the importance of a firm that can work quickly and thoroughly. Our sophisticated electronic diary system monitors patents, designs and trade marks over an indefinite time period. This advanced technology streamlines administration and provides updated and instantaneous case schedules. Our in-depth understanding of the contents of official and commercial databases covering patents, trade marks and designs enables us to provide prompt and accurate status reports, searches, updates and competitor surveys.

Attorneys will typically charge an hourly rate for their time, plus any disbursements and official fees levied by the respective IP offices, to provide you with professional advice and to attend to your matter. Attorney charge-out rates conform with the advisory rates set by the relevant peak body, the Institute of Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys of Australia.

Because the time taken, and hence the cost, will vary depending on the complexity and detail of the matter to be handled, it is not very meaningful to quote standard charges out of context.

The best way to establish the potential cost for your situation is by contacting us directly and explaining your commercial requirements. We will then be able to provide you with a firm estimate of the anticipated expenses, likely time frames, and expected outcomes.

Need help?

If you need more detailed information regarding costs, please contact us for further assistance.

• Asia Pacific Legal 500, recommended ranking (top tier) in Australia, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• Asia Pacific Legal 500, Freehills 'unfailingly top-class' Intellectual Property team, 2006
• PLC Which Lawyer?, Lead Ranking (top tier) in Australia, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
• PLC Which Lawyer? Highly recommended ranking for Life sciences in, 2007
• PLC Which Lawyer?, Global Intellectual Property Super League 2006 – ranked 15
• Chambers Global 2007 described our Intellectual Property team:
  
• 'Unparalleled thoroughness' was deemed to be the signature of this outfit’s high quality work product
• an 'enviable depth of experience' was found to be strongly in evidence, especially with regard to patents.
• Chambers Global 2006 described our Intellectual Property team:
  
• ‘... dedicated, bright IP specialists; they are good communicators; and they've created the right culture’
• national and regional player with strength across the board, including ‘a strong patent prosecution group’
• 'the patent team came in for particular praise, with the firm dubbed ‘a first port of call for large pharma cases’.