About Australian Patent & Trademark Services
Experienced intellectual property professionals. Strategic advice. Personalised service.
Established in 2006, Australian Patent & Trademark Services Pty Ltd (APTS) is an independent boutique intellectual property practice providing specialist trade mark, patent and registered design services throughout Australia and internationally.
Our practice combines extensive professional experience with a practical understanding of business and commercialisation. We help clients secure intellectual property rights that support their business objectives, rather than simply completing applications.
More Than an Application Filing Service
Obtaining a registration is one thing. Securing rights that provide meaningful protection is another.
Incorrect ownership, inadequate specifications or poorly considered application strategies can compromise the value of intellectual property rights and create avoidable difficulties later.
Our focus is not simply on obtaining registrations, but on helping clients secure, maintain and protect valuable intellectual property rights for the long term.
We consider the broader legal and commercial implications of IP protection, including:
Advice tailored to your business, markets and future commercial plans.
Identifying potential conflicts before significant investment in a brand, invention or product.
Attention to ownership, specifications and the appropriate scope of protection.
Guidance on prosecution, objections, maintenance and effective management of your IP rights.
A Specialist Boutique Practice
APTS offers an alternative to the traditional large-firm model. Clients benefit from direct access to experienced practitioners, clear communication and personalised advice without unnecessary layers of administration.
Our practitioners bring experience gained in established IP firms, combined with the flexibility and personal attention of an independent specialist practice.
From start-ups and growing businesses to established Australian companies and international organisations, we focus on building lasting professional relationships and delivering commercially relevant IP advice.
Our Experience and People
Our team brings together experienced patent and trade mark practitioners and dedicated support professionals, with expertise across a broad range of industries and technologies. Meet the people behind APTS below.
Our Patent and Trademark Attorneys
Alex Ferrante
Founder | Registered Patent & Trade Marks Attorney
Professional Qualifications and Credentials
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28 years of intellectual property experience, commencing in 1998
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Registered Patent Attorney and Trade Marks Attorney — Australia and New Zealand
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Fellow, Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA)
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Bachelor of Science (Honours)
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Certificate IV in Business Management
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Old Collegian, St Peter’s College, Adelaide
Professional Background
Alex Ferrante commenced his career in intellectual property in 1998, gaining extensive experience in patent and trade mark practice with established intellectual property firms in Adelaide and Melbourne.
In 2006, Alex founded Australian Patent & Trademark Services Pty Ltd (APTS) with a clear objective: to offer businesses more than conventional patent and trade mark filing services. His vision was to combine specialist intellectual property expertise with practical commercial advice, personalised service and long-term protection strategies.
Alex’s professional experience extends beyond traditional IP practice. In 2002, he undertook a secondment to Adelaide Research and Innovation, the University of Adelaide’s commercialisation arm, where he provided patent attorney consultancy to the Chief Executive Officer and business development managers. This experience strengthened his understanding of the relationship between intellectual property, innovation, research commercialisation and business strategy.
Complementing his scientific qualifications, Alex completed a Certificate IV in Business Management in 2005, further developing his understanding of business operations and commercial decision-making.
Today, Alex draws on nearly three decades of professional experience to help Australian and international clients develop, secure and manage valuable intellectual property rights.
His approach is distinguished by direct senior attorney involvement, practical commercial insight and a commitment to understanding each client’s broader business objectives — not simply processing applications.
Professional Registrations
Fellowship Registration since 2002
Patent Attorney and Trademark Attorney Registrations since 2001
Catherine Hustwick
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Senior Intellectual Property Consultant | 36 Years’ Experience
Professional Qualifications and Credentials
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36 years of intellectual property experience
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Bachelor of Science — Chemistry and Biochemistry
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Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
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Former Registered Patent and Trade Marks Attorney — Australia and New Zealand
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Former Fellow, Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA)
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Former Patent Examiner — New Zealand
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Associated with APTS since 2008
Professional Background
Catherine Hustwick brings more than three decades of experience in intellectual property, with extensive expertise across patents, trade marks and registered designs.
Catherine began her professional career as a Patent Examiner in New Zealand before relocating to Australia, where she joined an established patent and trade mark attorney firm and subsequently qualified as a registered patent and trade marks attorney in Australia and New Zealand.
Her professional background combines scientific expertise in chemistry and biochemistry with legal qualifications, including a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). This multidisciplinary foundation has enabled Catherine to advise clients across a diverse range of industries, technologies and international markets.
Catherine joined Australian Patent & Trademark Services (APTS) in 2008 and served as a Senior Associate for more than a decade. During her career, she has advised Australian and international clients on intellectual property protection, prosecution and portfolio matters.
Following her transition to semi-retirement, Catherine continues to contribute her extensive knowledge and experience to APTS in a consultancy and support capacity. She elected not to renew her patent and trade marks attorney registrations in 2020.
Catherine remains a valued member of the APTS team, contributing decades of professional experience, technical insight and intellectual property expertise to the practice.
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Michelle Don Paul
Michelle has more than 25 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