Vanessa Farago-Diener

Special Counsel
Sydney

Biography

Vanessa is a special counsel in our Technology and Intellectual Property group.

She is an experienced intellectual property litigator who works closely with clients across a range of industries including health and life sciences, mining and resources, energy, government, technology, defence and software.

Vanessa’s practice covers contentious and non-contentious aspects of intellectual property law, with a particular focus on patent litigation and confidential information/trade secrets. Her work with clients involves the entire intellectual property life cycle from the initial innovation stage, intellectual property protection, commercialisation and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Vanessa has a strong technical background, having previously worked as a scientist prior to practising law, which enables her to have a well-rounded understanding of a client’s needs and technology.

Her professional memberships include IPSANZ and APPI.

Experience

Vanessa’s experience includes advising:

  • CPC Patent Technologies on their high-profile patent infringement action against Apple about alleged infringement of CPC’s biometric patents by Apple Touch ID / Face ID devices sold in Australia.

  • Calidad on its case against Seiko Epson Corporation where the court overturned 100+ years of precedent and adopted the patent exhaustion doctrine.

  • Aristocrat, SAI Global and other clients in proceedings against former employees for breach of confidential information.

  • Clients on IP and regulatory issues arising in IP transactions and ongoing compliance regimes across a range of sectors.

  • BASF in long standing, highly contentious multi-jurisdictional patent litigation which involved a complex portfolio of patents.

  • Encompass Corporation in patent infringement proceedings against a competitor which attracted a rare five-member judicial bench to determine the eligibility of software under Australian patent law.

  • NSW Health on multiple ICT disputes relating to implementations of large-scale IT systems across the health network (including hospitals).

  • Hitachi (Bradken) on the transactional, advisory and disputes matters including patent litigation relating to mining infrastructure such as rolling stock and GET.

  • Clients across a range of sectors on the application of the Defence Trade Controls Act.

  • Various clients on issues relating to data protection and confidential information, contractual arrangements and freedom to operate.

Awards and Recognition

  • Managing Intellectual Property’s IP Stars 2019 to 2023

    Rising Star