The New Zealand arm of full-service outfit Minter Ellison, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, handles IP commercialisation, advisory, prosecution and litigation work. The group's core IP team handled a string of assignments in the last year, successfully representing SC Johnson in a copyright infringement dispute against Reckitt Benckiser and working for Icebreaker, a young entrepreneurial company, in trade mark oppositions and management of registrations across multiple jurisdictions.
"Minter Ellison is the best of the firms we have used in New Zealand due to its competence and quality of advice," says a client who instructed the firm on drafting and implementing various licensing agreements and gave corporate advice. "We were very happy with their work. It was timely, appropriate and professional. Robert Falvey and Christopher Young stand out for the care with which they attend to their client's needs but most especially for offering pre-emptive advice enabling us to avoid commercial pitfalls."
Young assisted Two Degrees Mobile with IP work for the launch of 2degrees, the country's latest mobile network, and is leading a team for the management of Loyalty New Zealand's IP portfolio. This matter involves helping the client with disputes, oppositions, brand clearance and trade mark registration.
Richard Wells advises De Beers Group on management of its extensive trade mark portfolio, which includes a trade mark renewal programme encompassing more than 100 jurisdictions, and the creations and protection of the Everlon and Encordia diamond jewellery collections. Wells has also assisted the client with copyright and registered design litigation.
Other clients on the firm's enviable roster are lock services group Assa Abloy Australia, Scholastic, Specsavers and the Bank of New Zealand.