Notwithstanding several partner defections in the last year, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick hangs on to a tier one spot for trade mark and patent prosecution owing to its well-staffed team of about 110 professionals as well as an enviable client base, which includes Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Ray Evans, Virginia Beniac-Brooks and Grace Chan made up the team that acted for Meda Pharma. The client opposed a patent application over a drug composition for treating respiratory disease, raising issues that concerned inventive step in pharmaceutical inventions.
The firm's legal wing, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick, took on several notable assignments in the last 12 months. The key litigators are also patent attorneys, providing added knowledge and understanding to patent litigation. The team is acting for Coca-Cola against PepsiCo over alleged infringement of its contour bottle shape and is advising Novo Nordisk and Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals in a patent infringement and revocation case. Greg Chambers and Adrian Crooks are further defending Dennis Family Homes, which has been accused of infringing a house plan by Barrett Property Group.
"Robert Cross and his team have particular expertise in the field we work in," says one client. "His understanding of both our needs and of the patents systems around the world is invaluable."
"Greg Bartlett is a solid patent attorney," says one market commentator. "He is very good at patent work and opposition work."