Now in its 13th year, our Annual Trade Marks & Patents Symposium will provide you with valuable insights into the world of intellectual property. Expert speakers will explore the latest developments & trends in trademark and patent law, helping you navigate the complex landscape of intellectual property protection. Stay ahead of the curve and gain a competitive edge in the ever-changing business world. Register now and discover how to protect and maximise the value of your intellectual property. 

Presenters

Mr. Sergey Litvinov, Acting Project Officer, IP Australia
Sergey has a strong knowledge of trade marks practice and procedure at IP Australia, having extensive experience as an examiner and trainer of examiners. He currently works in the Quality, Practice, and Customers section as a project officer, contributing to the ongoing improvement of examination practice. Sergey is a qualified Australian Trade Marks Attorney and has previously worked in an in-house legal department of a primary and community health care organisation advising on trade mark matters.


Mr. Warwick Rothnie, Barrister, List G Barristers
Warwick Rothnie is a barrister practising in all aspects of intellectual property law and, generally, commercial law; appearing mainly in the federal courts and before IP Australia. Prior to coming to the Bar, he was a partner in the intellectual property and telecommunications group at (then) Mallesons Stephen Jaques. He is a contributing author to Lahore, Lindgren and Rothnie, Copyright and Designs and, since 2013, the specialist contributor to Lahore's Patents, Trade Marks and Related Rights on patent validity. Warwick is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne having taught Patents Law and, most recently, Design Law and Practice. He is one of WIPO's UDRP panelists and blogs at ipwars.com. His memberships include the Law Council of Australia's Intellectual Property Committee, IPSANZ, AIPPI Australia and the Copyright Society of Australia.


Ms. Natalie Hickey, Barrister, List G Barristers
Natalie Hickey is a commercial law barrister and intellectual property specialist. She has acted in many disputes over the years concerning marketing, brands, defamation, confidential information, the Internet and digital technology. Natalie holds a Masters degree in media and telecommunications law from the University of Melbourne. Natalie is recognized in various publications as a leading Intellectual Property junior counsel in Australia, including in Who’s Who Legal – Trademarks (2022).


Ms. Meagan Ryan, Senior Legal Counsel, Bega Cheese Limited
Meagan Ryan, Senior Legal Counsel (Commercial and Intellectual Property), Bega Group. Meagan is an intellectual property lawyer with a particular interest in trade marks. Working in-house at Bega Group she is fortunate to work with iconic brands such as VEGEMITE. Meagan has dual undergraduate degrees of Law and Biomedical Science from Bond University and a Master of Laws (Intellectual Property and Information Law) from King's College London. Meagan is a previous Co-Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Intellectual Property / Information Technology Committee.


Mr. Ben Mawby, Senior Associate, DLA Piper Australia
Ben is a Senior Associate with a demonstrated history of work across all forms of IP law. Skilled in Patent Litigation, Legal Advice, Commercial Litigation, Competition Law, Trade Marks Law, Designs Law and Copyright Law. Strong professional skills with a Masters of Intellectual Property Law from University of Melbourne.


Dr Mark Summerfield, IP and Technology Consultant, Melbourne Law School
Dr Mark Summerfield is a registered Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney, specialising in patent law and practice in the fields of digital and computer systems, information and communications technologies, and computer software. Mark provides consultancy services on patents (including drafting and prosecution), IP strategy, and related matters in his specialist technology fields. He is also currently a PhD candidate at the Melbourne Law School where he is investigating applications of natural language processing technologies to the analysis of patent claims with application to patent law and policy. He worked for over a decade with one of Australia’s leading boutique IP firms advising individuals, companies and research institutions on management and protection of their intellectual assets. Since 2010 Mark has maintained a blog (patentology.com.au), where he writes regularly on local and international issues relating to innovation, patents, law, policy and the IP profession. He speaks regularly on topics related to patents, IP and digital technology, and lectures on Australian patent practice at the University of Melbourne.


Mr. Rhys Munzel, Patent Attorney and Lawyer, FAL Lawyers
Rhys values initiative, loyalty, and dependability, as a person, and as a lawyer. Since joining FAL Lawyers Rhys has advised on matters involving: technology commercialisation, IP ownership and infringement, IT procurement, employment law, and general contracts. He has assisted to establish research entities and technology startups and has advised Government departments and small businesses alike. He is well versed in patentability opinion work and has extensive expertise in patent opposition procedures. As a patent attorney Rhys has used his technical background in chemical engineering to assist clients in diverse areas such as medical diagnostic devices, building and construction devices, bulk transport, and biomedical devices. He has assisted various clients including startups, listed companies, universities, and cooperative research centres to file, prosecute and manage their patents. Rhys grew up on a fish farm near Echuca, and enjoys returning to camp, fish and water ski. Rhys is a sports fan and barracks for Essendon, the Melbourne Storm, the ACT Brumbies and otherwise any team who hasn’t won for a while.


Ms. Joanna Lawrence, Partner, Ashurst
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, and she is editor of Ashurst's Food Law Update. 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 and a past board member of Youthlaw. Joanna is a regular presenter and chair at LegalWise intellectual property and food law seminars.


Mr. Ben Mawby, Senior Associate, DLA Piper Australia
Ben is a Senior Associate with a demonstrated history of work across all forms of IP law. Skilled in Patent Litigation, Legal Advice, Commercial Litigation, Competition Law, Trade Marks Law, Designs Law and Copyright Law. Strong professional skills with a Masters of Intellectual Property Law from University of Melbourne.


Mr. Glenn McGowan KC, Partner and Chief Counsel, Gadens
Glenn McGowan is Partner and Chief Counsel at Gadens with over 30 years experience in practice, almost exclusively in the superior and appellate courts. He spent 27 years at the independent Bar, taking silk in 2004, before joining Gadens in 2015 as its inaugural Chief Counsel. His practice is heavily dominated by large intellectual property cases (patents, trade marks, copyright, confidential information, trade practices and designs), mostly in the Federal Court, involving all areas of technology including chemistry, software, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, engineering, polymers, etc. Glenn is a qualified mediator and arbitrator. He also appears in and advises in general commercial disputes in all courts, briefed by Gadens and other firms.