Presenters

Julie Robb, Solicitor and Mediator, The Olive Rooms
Having practised at a major national firm for several years, Julie joined Banki Haddock Fiora from the Arts Law Centre of Australia, where she was Executive Director, in 1998. Julie heads the firm’s dispute resolution group. She is highly regarded for her commercial approach to resolving conflict and her expertise in intellectual property litigation. She is an NMAS accredited mediator and represents foreign and Australian companies and individuals, principally in the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Julie is a member of the Litigation Law and Practice Committee of the Law Society of New South Wales. She is a recognised practitioner in the World Trademark Review’s list of 1000 leading trade mark professionals, an IP Star in the Managing Intellectual Property Handbook and was a finalist in Lawyers’ Weekly Intellectual Property – Partners of 2017. Julie also co-ordinates the firm’s pro bono practice.


Sean McManis, Principal, Davies Collison Cave
After 24 years at Shelston IP, where he was head of the trade marks team, Sean has recently joined Davies Collison Cave, one of Australia's leading intellectual property practices. Sean is a solicitor and registered trade mark attorney, with qualifications both in science and law, and has more than 30 years experience in the field of trade marks. He has worked principally in Australia, but has also worked in the United Kingdom. His practice extends to all aspects of trade mark related work, with a particular focus on brand clearance, the resolution of trade mark disputes and the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Sean has represented a significant number of large multi-national companies in relation to the management and protection of their trade mark portfolios, and is well-recognised as a leading professional in the field of trade marks. Sean has been recognised in the WTR 1000: Ranked under Prosecution and Strategy, 2020 – 2022, IP Stars: Trade Mark Star, 2021 and Client Choice Awards Finalist: Best IP Specialist, 2020.