Your Team
Why use our Australian Patent and Trademark Attorney Firm?
Many businesses seek the services of our Patent and Trademark Attorney Firm because we provide comprehensive and detailed advice that positions them well in the longer term. Our services also enable business owners to focus on their business goals whilst we take care of the intellectual property protection. Businesses sleep better at night knowing there are no gaps in their intellectual property rights.
It is not the Government’s responsibility to advise you of application mistakes, flaws or whether the patent, design or trademark is technically correct and will work when it comes to Court action. So, who will represent you to ensure quality rights and protection?
Our firm’s goal is to minimise litigation risk and exposure with comprehensive searches and due diligence. Just because a patent or trademark application is accepted, doesn’t necessarily mean someone else doesn’t have entitlement to it. Our Patent and Trademark Attorney Firm has a proven track record with optimising patents, designs and trademarks for enforceability.
Our firm also has a great track record in overcoming application objections and rejections by the Patent and Trademark Office. Working out conflicts, your risk and then responding with care are important as all the documentation lodged is on the public record. Care and legal precision are needed when responding so as not to admit infringement.
Applying 24 years of patent and trademark Court knowledge and experience makes all the difference in the longer term.
Our Attorney firm follows updates to the Patent Act, Trademark Act and Design Act and the Courts interpretation of intellectual property rights. Our Attorneys spend substantial time to review recent Court cases to gain knowledge on how to file better patent, trademark and design applications for our clients. See here in our blog section for a few examples.
Our Attorneys also attend patent attorney conferences and seminars to ensure our clients benefit from the latest correct content for patent, design and trademark applications.
Our Approach
When Experience Counts
You get what you pay for. Comprehensive services with experience are worth the investment in the longer run.
Intellectual Property applications can be filed to provide broader, limited or no protection. Your Patent Attorney can assist ensure you have broad rights and intellectual property protection.
Experience counts also in overcoming adverse reports issued by the Patent and Trademark Office refusing to accept a patent or trademark application.
You could find, after 8-18 months, that all your investment in a brand or concept has been wasted. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to know in clear and certain terms, whether you were wasting your time, and up front?
You could also find during enforcement that there are flaws in your intellectual property that are exploited by the lawyer representing the defence, allowing them to evade infringement.
Are you complying with your requirements to hold onto the intellectual property rights? Our Patent Attorneys routinely meet with clients to check their website and other marketing material to ensure it is compliant. IP Australia can remove your intellectual property rights upon application by competitors if compliance is missing.
Our Patent and Trademark Attorneys
Alex Ferrante 26 Years
- 26 Years’ Patent and Trademark Experience
- Fellow of the Australian Patent Attorney Institute
- Registered Patent Attorney, Registered Trademark Attorney (Australia and New Zealand)
- St Peter’s College (Old Collegian)
- Bus Management (Cert IV)
- B Sc (Honours)
- Personalised service and looking outside the box commercially
Alex began his Intellectual Property (IP) career in 1998. In 2006, Alex founded Australian Patent and Trademark Services Pty Ltd because he wanted to do more for businesses in strategy and commercialisation than what typical firms were doing. 16 years on, Australian Patents is thriving with thousands of international and national clients.
Previously, Alex worked for both Adelaide and Melbourne Patent firms as a Patent Attorney. Part of his patent role in one firm (in 2002) also involved working on secondment as a patent attorney consulting to the CEO and business development managers at Adelaide Research and Innovation, the commercialism arm of Adelaide University.
In 2005, Alex acquired a Business Management Degree (Certificate IV). He understands the issues business face allowing him to provide better Intellectual Property integration and advice.
Alex has donated a substantial amount of time to volunteering at not-for-profit cultural clubs, for over 10 years. He is a Committee Member of the Italian Molisani Association of Adelaide (a cultural club of South Australia).
On a personal note, Alex enjoys baking sourdough baking, hiking, wine tasting, 4wding and caravaning.
Click here to view Patent Attorney and Trademark Attorney Fellow Registration
Click here to view Patent Attorney and Trademark Attorney Registrations
Catherine Hustwick 36 Years
- 36 Years’ Experience
- Consultant
- Bachelor of Sciences
- Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
Catherine provides support to our firm and is semi-retired after being a Senior Associate with our firm for over a decade. As of 2020, she did not renew the registered patent and trademark attorney qualification. Cathy is considered a valuable member and consultant for our firm, having advised in the intellectual property field for over three decades.
Catherine was a Patent Examiner in New Zealand for a number of years, before moving to Australia. When she moved to Australia, she was snapped up by a Patent and Trademark Attorney firm and was soon registered as an Australian (and New Zealand) Patent and Trademark Attorney. She was also (until her semi-retirement) a member and fellow of the Australian Patent and Trademark Institute. Catherine has been with our firm since 2008.
Catherine has a Bachelor of Sciences degree, with her technical background being in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She also has an honours degree in law, in addition to her patent and trademark attorney qualifications.
She has represented many clients in patents, designs and trademarks in a diverse range of industries and globally.
Outside of work, Catherine loves to find that rare experience (especially wildlife encounters) on an adventure holiday or spend time with her grandchildren.
Michelle Don Paul 20+ Years
Michelle has more than 20 years of experience working closely with innovative individuals, SMEs and companies to help identify, protect and enforce their intellectual property. Despite having a scientific background in biotechnology and biochemistry, her expertise over the years has extended more toward to a much broader range of technologies including mechanical, engineering, ICT, software and business method patents. With a client-focused approach, Michelle is highly skilled at providing clients with clear and concise advice, tailoring solutions to their individual needs in the most commercially advantageous and cost-effective manner. During her career, Michelle has also established and built patent practices for a number of boutique intellectual property firms.
Experience
- Patent drafting across a wide range of technologies
- Design and trade mark preparation and filing
- Domestic and international patent, design and trade mark prosecution
- Patent, design and trade mark infringement advice
- Patent and trade mark opposition proceedings
- Patent validity advice
- Patent, design and trade mark rights enforcement
- Patent litigation support
Education
- MIP University of Technology, Sydney
- Post-Graduate Diploma in Science, University of Melbourne
- BSc (Biotechnology/Biochemistry), University of Melbourne
Qualifications
- Registered Patent and Trade Marks Attorney, Australia and New Zealand
Associations
- Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys
- Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
Axl Villaruel
Axl is one of two administration assistants and client support officers.
Axl assists our Patent Attorneys to provide patent, trademark and design services to our broad range of Australian and global clients.
Axl enjoys providing prompt and reliable services to clients.
Marj Fajardo
Marj is both a Patent Attorney assistant and our customer service support staff member.
Starting in 2023, she is an important part of our team as we enjoy continued growth in the Intellectual Property sector.
How We Can Help You
