A team of 13 partners, 12 special counsel and senior associates, and 12 to 15 more junior associates make up the bulk of Clayton Utz's IP team. The firm has worked on several large litigious matters in the last year, including acting for Amgen in a patent revocation proceeding versus Hospira. The case, led by John Collins, awaits a trial date and is the first in Australia to deal with regulation for biosimilars.
Demonstrating their prowess in copyright, partner John Fairbairn and senior associate Tim Webb are advising the Internet Industry Association on strategic matters coming out of the closely watched Roadshow Films vs iiNet case. The duo further assisted Free TV Australia, which represents all of Australia's commercial free-to-air television broadcasters, in Copyright Tribunal proceedings brought by the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), which grants licences for record labels and Australian recording artists. The matter involved coming up with a licensing scheme for broadcasters who wished to use commercial sound recordings under PPCA's repertoire and reached a settlement.
One client retains Clayton Utz for advice on copyright and trade mark protection and enforcement owing to the firm's "expertise and commerciality" as well as a standout partner. "Chris McLeod in Melbourne is an exceptional operator. On top of the requisite expertise and knowledge, he has a great manner with clients and provides prompt, pragmatic advice based on his thorough understanding of our business."