Presenters

Natalie Shoolman, Principal & Head of Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Wrays
Natalie Shoolman is an experienced commercial litigator who specialises in intellectual property and technology litigation and the intersection between intellectual property and competition and consumer law. Natalie has been voted by her peers as one of Australia's Best Lawyers in Intellectual Property Law (Best Lawyers Australia 2019 - 2022), ranked by IAM Patent 1000 – Patent Litigation - Bronze (2021), recommended for patent litigation (2018) and recognised as a Rising Star (2020-2021) in Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars. She is considered to be one of Australia's leading "next generation" Intellectual Property lawyers (The Legal Asia-Pacific 500: 2017- 2019). With a First Class Honours degree in Science and a passion for innovation, Natalie has significant experience acting for and advising clients on all aspects of intellectual property law across a broad range of industries including pharmaceutical, biotechnology, software, telecommunications, government, clean energy, mining and FMCG. Natalie's practice includes patent infringement and revocation proceedings, patent oppositions, copyright, trade mark and design infringement, breach of confidence and consumer law disputes. Natalie has particular expertise in managing complex, multi-jurisdictional patent infringement and revocation proceedings and advising clients on ways to maximise the life of their patent portfolios.


Katrina Crooks, Principal, Head of Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers
Katrina is counted amongst Australia’s top IP litigation lawyers, with 25 years’ experience of obtaining successful outcomes for clients. Dual qualified as a lawyer and patent attorney, patent litigation is a core strength. However she has also dealt with hundreds of trade mark, copyright, confidential information and design matters over her career. With her clients’ commercial objectives always at the forefront, Katrina is praised for her legal excellence and strategic, commercial approach to dispute resolution. Katrina has a particular interest in the life sciences sector acting for numerous global leaders in pharmaceuticals, animal health, agri/food tech, nutraceuticals, medical devices and biotechnology. In addition to leading teams representing clients in major Federal Court litigation and appeals, she regularly advises on complex questions of IP infringement and validity, and patent strategy. Katrina also has a successful opposition practice in the Australian Patent Office, often appearing as counsel. Katrina also has a wealth of international experience, allowing her to assist clients with global IP strategy and to work seamlessly in cross jurisdictional teams when required. Katrina maintains a strong interest in intellectual property policy and education. She currently sits on the IP Committee of the Australian Law Council and the Trans-Tasman Committee of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand. She has guest lectured on IP topics at UTS Sydney and regularly writes on IP issues, including as author of the “Patents in New Zealand: A Comparison with Australian Patent Law” chapter of LexisNexis’ Lahore’s Patents, Trade Marks and Related Rights until 2021. Katrina is a also member of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia, Law Society of New South Wales and AIPPI.