Speaking recently at a business event in London, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, in response to being asked whether he would introduce an equivalent of the UK’s patent box scheme, indicated that the Federal government was considering a patent box scheme.
Awards and Recognition
- Recognised as Lawyers Weekly IP Partner of the Year 2017
- Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019 ranks John as a recognised practitioner in the Patent category
- IAM Patent 1000 names John as a recommended expert in the Intellectual Property section for 2019
- Best Lawyers 2020 names John in the Intellectual Property Law category
- Doyles Guide 2019 names John as a leading patent practitioner
John is a Partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Intellectual Property group and heads up our Patent sub-practice.
John has many years’ experience dealing with all aspects of intellectual property law with a focus on cross-border patent litigation across a range of industries including life sciences, resources, and digital technologies. John has a technical as well as legal background which helps him navigate often complex technologies.
John has acted in a number of leading cases in the Federal Court in recent years. He also has considerable expertise in advising leading corporates on strategic IP management. He is a recognised leader in his field.
Chambers Asia-Pacific notes John’s "outstanding client service, in-depth technical knowledge and understanding, communication and the ability to simplify complex matters."
John has had an outstanding success rate over the last ten years including:
- BASF (Ciba Specialty Chemicals) v SNF Australia – A long-running patent litigation relating to a mining technology. John’s client the German chemical company BASF has succeeded at every stage of this case against SNF including at first instance in the Federal Court, on appeal to the Full Court and in resisting special leave to the High Court. This complex and hard-fought litigation has multi-jurisdictional reach with parallel actions in Canada and China and John has provided strategic oversight.
- EnGeneIC – Representing Australian biotech company EnGeneIC in relation to a patent dispute regarding mini-cell technology.
- ResMed v Fisher and Paykel – advising ResMed on the Australian aspects of its global patent litigation with Fisher and Paykel over medical devices.
- IP Transactional and Regulatory Projects – John regularly advises on IP and regulatory issues arising in transactions and in ongoing compliance regimes. John has extensive experience advising on IP strategy and commercialisation and with the TGA, Pharmaceutical Benefits, Food Regulation and Defence Export regimes.
- Aristocrat v Konami – A successful patent infringement claim brought by John’s client Aristocrat against a competitor in relation to Aristocrat’s critical Hyperlink technology. The case is now in the quantum phase for assessment of the damages payable to Aristocrat.
John has been active in establishing Gilbert + Tobin’s g+t<i> group including coordinating filing of patent applications for some of the firm’s legal technology innovations.
He has lectured extensively at a number of universities on a range of intellectual property subjects and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
John has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) and is also a registered Patent Attorney.
Assistant
Rachel Veenstra
+61 2 9263 4572
rveenstra@gtlaw.com.au