Presenters

Sonia Stewart, Barrister, 5 Wentworth Chambers
Sonia specialises in intellectual property law, with a strong focus on trade marks, branding and advertising. This includes obtaining injunctive relief to restrain competitor brand launches and advertising campaigns, over a career spanning more than two decades. Admitted in 2001 and called to the Bar in 2016, Sonia was formerly a Senior Associate in the Intellectual Property & Dispute Resolution Group at Mallesons (currently KWM). Sonia has also held senior in-house and executive roles for major brand owners of fast-moving consumer goods and in highly regulated industries. Sonia’s corporate experience enables her to advise clients in a concise and commercially relevant manner. Sonia is commended by clients and solicitors for her collaborative approach to working and the tenacity and clarity of her advocacy. She appears regularly, both led and unled, in litigation at trial and appellate level, representing a variety of clients, including in challenging areas such as tobacco, alcohol, gambling, food & beverages and pharmaceuticals. Sonia’s portfolio of clients includes global brands such as The a2 Milk Company, Pastificio Rana S.p.A (RANA pasta), PDP Fine Foods (WICKED SISTER Desserts), Cantarella Bros (ORO coffee), NPPA (PayID), Myriad Women’s Health (FORESIGHT Carrier Screening), NOVA Entertainment, Procter & Gamble, Juno Pharmaceuticals, ProductReview.com.au, Nestlé and Imperial Tobacco. Sonia appears primarily in the Federal Court of Australia and before IP Australia. Sonia has been recognised in the Doyles Guide for 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 as recommended Junior Counsel Intellectual Property (New South Wales) and as a Leading Junior TMT and IP, Legal 500 for 2026. Sonia also regularly presents at and chairs seminars on brands and trade marks.


Vineetha Veerakumar, Principal & Head of Trade Marks, Wrays IP
Vineetha is a senior trade mark practitioner with more than 15 years’ experience advising on strategic brand protection and enforcement. She works with clients to protect and maximise the value of their brands, advising across the full trade mark lifecycle — from clearance and registration through to opposition, non-use actions and enforcement. She manages complex portfolios for leading brands with particular experience in the technology, e-commerce, consumer goods, retail, entertainment and agrifoods sectors. She also advises on product launches and marketing compliance, ensuring legal risk is managed while supporting commercial objectives. Vineetha brings a strong international perspective, having served as IP Counsel in the United States for one of the world’s largest technology and e-commerce companies, where she advised on global brand strategy. Following Wrays joining the Rouse group, she works closely with colleagues across ASEAN as part of a globally integrated IP practice, providing strategic leadership on cross-border trade mark strategy and enforcement for clients operating in multiple markets.