Corrs Chambers Westgarth is revered for its trade mark contentious practice, counting Louis Vuitton, Foster's Group, Research in Motion, Cadbury and Botox among its enviable client base.
An important victory for the team this past year was in E&J Gallo v Lion Nathan. Odette Gourley represented E&J Gallo Winery in this two-year battle. The High Court of Australia upheld the Winery's appeal against the Full Court of the Federal Court's decision that Gallo's Barefoot trade mark should be removed on the basis of non-use, reiterating that use of a mark in Australia does not require the owner to knowingly project a marked good into the country so long as it stays "in the course of trade". Stephen Stern is assisting British American Tobacco with protection of its IP rights in light of the planned plain packaging legislation.
The group's patent practice, which comprises three patent litigation partners, also saw its fair share of work in the last year, with Matthew Swinn leading a team for a subsidiary of GE in infringement and opposition actions against a Siemens company. The patents and patent applications in dispute involve technology for membrane microfiltration of waste water. "Matthew Swinn has excellent client and counsel-handling skills," says one litigation client. "His demeanour is calm and inspires confidence."
Hospira, Clorox, Johnson & Johnson and Sigma are some of the firm's other prominent clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.