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Norton Rose possesses a stronger presence in the fast-moving consumer goods and communications and media markets. The outfit manages the national and international portfolios of renowned Australian brands such as Dome Coffees Australia, The Aurecon Group and Creative Brands.

In a highly publicised case issued in the fast track of the Federal Court, team leader Cameron Harvey and Andrew McRobert are advising US band Foo Fighters in a copyright infringement battle against a global real estate agency that reproduced a guitar riff from one of the artists' singles in online advertisements.

"They're exceptional," says a client who seeks the firm for international licence production and joint venture agreements relating to IP. "Bernard O'Shea is a genius. He is very clever and prepared to speak frankly. He is well-informed, confident in his advice and well-supported by his team who is also competent."

"Norton Rose is extremely responsive and delivers on time with clear, concise advice based on the options available to us," says a client who seeks the firm on issues pertaining to plant breeders' rights and briefs involving commercial terms. "We have excellent personal working relationships with Norton Rose partners as well as their senior staff." Of Andrew Rankin, Brent Weston and Christine Small, the client remarks: "All of these individuals have exceptional ability in their field as legal professionals."

The firm's other sizeable clients include BP, Witchery, Mimco, Salvatore Ferragamo and Royal Children's Hospital. The latter client is seeking Harvey's expertise in a patent ownership and validity matter regarding methods for testing virus recovery media and diagnostic kits.

Ogilvy Renault is regarded as a formidable player in patent contentious matters, specifically in its representations of branded pharmaceutical companies in PM(NOC) proceedings. Peers recommended the firm for its "deep bench, good lawyers, and great history".

Judith Robinson was cited by peers for her role counselling Merck and AstraZeneca in recovering damages from Apotex after a patent was found valid and infringed. The matter was affirmed on appeal, and an application for leave to the Supreme Court of Canada was dismissed.

In a case set for trial in May, Patrick Kierans and Jane Caskey represent GlaxoSmithKline in a $700 million damages case against Apotex and Novopharm. The case, following findings by the Federal Court, The Federal Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada that GSK's drug AZT was valid and infringed, concerns rebates and pricing losses for 10 years of infringement.

Led by national chair Claude Brunet, the firm's top-ranked copyright practice counsels the Canadian Private Copyright Collective in various matters before the Copyright Board.

The robust Asia IP market has attracted more firms to pull in resources into this area and Norton Rose is among one of the firms to enter the market lately. It poached Justin Davidson and Gigi Cheah and their entire team from DLA Piper Hong Kong to start up its Asia intellectual property and technology practice, which has regional headquarters in Hong Kong. Davidson is a veteran in IP portfolio management and contentious work while Cheah's practice focuses more on the regulatory and commercial issues relating to intellectual property and technology transactions. The duo lead a team of 10 and the firm is expected to become a strong firm in the market.