Presenters

Joanna Lawrence, Partner, Ashurst Australia
Joanna Lawrence is a Partner in the intellectual property team at Ashurst. Joanna's practice encompasses both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law, with a particular focus on trade marks, domain names, consumer protection law, copyright, design and food law. Joanna also has a strong interest in pro bono. In addition to assisting many of Ashurst's pro bono clients with trade mark and other IP matters, she is a member of the INTA Pro Bono Committee. Joanna is a regular presenter and chair at Legalwise intellectual property and food law seminars.


Dr Steven Stern CTA FIPTA ICC, Barrister-at-Law, Svenson Barristers and Adjunct Professor, Victoria Law School, Victoria University
Dr Steven Stern FIPTA CTA ICC BEc LLB (Mon) LLM PhD (Melb), a former Mallesons' Senior Associate, practises at the Victorian Bar specialising in litigation and other disputes relating to trade marks, patents, copyright and other intellectual property. Dr Stern is a Fellow of The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia. He is a Registered Trade Mark Attorney. From 2017 to 2023 Dr Stern was the Honorary Secretary of List S Svenson Barristers. Dr Stern presently is the Honorary Secretary of the Victorian Bar Council's Library Committee. He is an Adjunct Professor in the Victoria Law School and a Research Associate in the Institute of Sustainable Industries and Livable Cities at Victoria University; and a Supervising Practitioner in the Melbourne Law School Tax Clinic at The University of Melbourne. As Corporation Secretary/Principal Legal Officer at the Australian Wool Corporation, Dr Stern oversaw the patent and trade mark activities of what was for many decades Australia’s largest export industry. Subsequently, as University Secretary/University General Counsel at Victoria University, Dr Stern oversaw the patent and trade mark activities of an instittution which has developed a globally recognised excellence in the novel ways it undertakes scholarship, pure and applied research, invention, innovation, education and consultancy of international standing.