Patents

Patents provide protection for the ideas embodied in novel technologies, products and processes. They cover a principle or idea and not just a single physical form of an invention.

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How we can help with patents

Most breakthrough technologies or processes involve significant investments of money, time and effort – it’s important that you protect them. Our friendly, plain-speaking Patent Attorneys can guide you through the application process, and help you to make the most of your idea.

Patents provide one of the strongest forms of protection against the copying or exploitation of an invention. Sometimes, just the existence of a patent (or even a patent application) can be enough of a deterrent.

The owner of a patent is granted a 20-year monopoly right over the manufacturing, marketing, licensing or sale of the invention covered by the patent, which provides you with a lucrative window of opportunity to secure a strong foothold in the market.

Unprotected innovation doesn’t afford you as much of an advantage, and is far more difficult to sell or license.

Patents provide protection for the ideas embodied in novel technologies, products and processes. They cover a principle or idea and not just a single physical form of an invention, so the monopoly granted by a patent can be wide in scope and cover many variations of a basic product or process.

Of all the forms of IP protection available, patents are the trickiest to navigate, the easiest to get wrong, and the costliest to acquire – so you want to get it right.

Our patent attorneys have scientific and technical qualifications in all major subject areas, including pharmaceuticals, life sciences, electronics, mining, mechanical and software. Talk to us today about how we can help you.

Meet our patent experts

Adam Luxton

Partner

Adam Luxton

Adam is highly regarded in the fields of mining, energy, medical devices and consumer products. As an experienced patent attorney with an extensive background in mining and software engineering, Adam’s services are in demand by national and multinational companies seeking…

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Dr. Andrew Clarke

Partner

Dr. Andrew Clarke

Passionate about the biotechnology industry (particularly the biomedical research sector) Dr. Andrew Clarke heads James & Wells’ biotechnology team in Australia. Andrew has an impressive track record of managing and prosecuting worldwide portfolios for universities, large research organisations, ASX-listed companies,…

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Nick Mountford

Partner

Nick Mountford

With over 25-years’ experience as a patent attorney in the engineering/ICT sector, Nick has helped numerous clients achieve commercially beneficial ownership and control of their IP, while mitigating against risks posed by competitors. His work centres on protecting clients’ innovations…

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Janelle Borham

Partner

Janelle Borham

Janelle joined James & Wells in 2024 as a partner based in our Melbourne office, after spending 20 years as a principal heading up a sizeable team of patent attorneys at a large Australia firm. Janelle is a registered Australian…

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Jonathan Lucas

Partner

Jonathan Lucas

Jonathan heads James & Wells’ Patents Team specialising in mechanical engineering, electronics, physics, telecommunications and software. He has a strong academic background in physics and many years’ patent attorney experience working across all these fields. He specialises in drafting patent…

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Jason Rogers

Partner

Jason Rogers

As Head of the James & Wells Life Sciences team, and with over twenty-five years’ industry experience, Jason’s expertise includes a diverse array of biotechnology fields. Jason’s focus is on high-end intellectual property strategies for patent, design and copyright rights….

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Dr. Andrew Scott

Partner

Dr. Andrew Scott

Andrew heads James & Wells’ Chemistry team. With a broad background in physics, biochemistry, and chemistry, Andrew has also completed a PhD in synthetic medicinal chemistry and post-doctoral studies in materials science. Andrew is passionate about providing solid, commercially relevant…

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Mike Flint

Partner

Mike Flint

Mike specialises in the electrical, electronics and software fields and has specialist knowledge of acquiring IP rights in the Asian market. He has a strong academic background having graduated with a first-class honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from…

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Jared Millar

Partner

Jared Millar

Jared is a member of the Patents Team. He works with a wide variety of clients in numerous industries including animal health and husbandry products, automated dairy technologies, building and construction technologies, fluid applicators, power generation, and vehicle suspensions. He…

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Richard Clement

Senior Associate

Richard Clement

Richard is one of James & Wells’ mechanical engineering experts. His expertise includes the medical device, agri-tech, mechanical, and mechatronic industries. Richard prepares, files and prosecutes patent and design applications in Australia, New Zealand and internationally. He provides advice to…

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Jason Tuck

Senior Associate

Jason Tuck

Ensuring businesses have sound commercial objectives in place, Jason provides advice on identifying, securing, and leveraging their IP – particularly in relation to patents and designs. Between local exporters and overseas companies entering New Zealand, Jason has experience in advising…

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Joseph Garven

Senior Associate

Joseph Garven

Joseph is a New Zealand and Australian patent attorney having a particular focus on mechanical engineering, electronics and software-related technology. He provides useful advice on issues such as patentability, freedom to operate (FTO) and infringement. Joseph regularly prepares new patent…

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Britta Fromow

Consultant

Britta Fromow

Britta is a lawyer and patent attorney with over 20 years’ experience in the Intellectual Property profession. Her specialist areas include mechanical engineering, electronics, robotics, medical devices, aerospace, and agri-technologies. She is also an expert in registered designs. Before becoming…

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Nirupama Buddha

Patent Executive

Nirupama Buddha

Nirupama joined the James & Wells Patents team in 2019. She hails from India where she studied towards a degree in aerospace engineering. She also holds a Master of Laws from the University of Auckland. She has in-house experience as…

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Samuel Parkinson

Associate

Samuel Parkinson

Samuel joined the Hamilton Patents Team in 2017. He is a registered Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney with expertise in electronic, software and mechanical inventions. Samuel’s software development background includess embedded software projects, as well as developing electronic test fixtures. Sam’s software…

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Dr. Jenny Chien

Patent Executive

Dr. Jenny Chien

Dr. Jenny Chien joined the Auckland Patents team in 2019 after working as a Research Associate at the University of Auckland’s Leukaemia & Blood Cancer Research Unit. Jenny has a Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology from Washington University and a…

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Dr. Taylor Smallwood

Trainee Patent Attorney

Dr. Taylor Smallwood

Taylor joined the Brisbane Patents Team in 2021. She previously worked at the University of Queensland as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow since 2018. Her experience at UQ included a collaborative project with international pharmaceutical company, Grünenthal, to develop novel, non-opioid…

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Gus Hazel

Partner

Gus Hazel

Gus is one of Australasia’s most experienced intellectual property lawyers. His experience includes litigation at all levels of the Australian and New Zealand systems, alternative dispute resolution procedures (mediation and arbitration), commercialisation, regulatory issues and administrative law. In addition to…

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Jason Wach

Partner

Jason Wach

Jason is an experienced intellectual property litigator. He has an extensive background in acting for local and international businesses and assisting them with the enforcement of intellectual property rights. He has appeared as counsel and assisted senior counsel in all…

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Ian Finch

Partner

Ian Finch

Ian is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most influential leaders in intellectual property. He has extensive experience advising clients in the filing, prosecution, and enforcement of their innovation at all levels and across a range of industries, particularly in…

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Andrew Knowles

Of Counsel

Andrew Knowles

With over 30 years’ experience working in intellectual property, Andrew has been involved in numerous trade mark and design cases both in prosecution and litigation. His current practice includes working with clients on trade marks, copyright, design and patents. Outside…

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Johnathan Chen

Consultant

Johnathan Chen

Johnathan Chen is a consultant to the Asia Division at James & Wells – a team dedicated to providing specialist intellectual property and business advice to New Zealanders wanting to do business in Asia, and vice versa. Johnathan is seamlessly…

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Alexia Mayer

Partner

Alexia Mayer

Alexia is an experienced Australian and New Zealand intellectual property (IP) litigator. Alexia’s practice includes patent, trade mark and copyright infringement, patent and trade mark oppositions, breach of confidence, IP ownership disputes, misleading and deceptive conduct,  IP licensing, and pharmaceutical/medical…

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Dr. Samuel Fraser

Patent Executive

Dr. Samuel Fraser

Sam is a Patent Executive in the James & Wells Patents team, based in our Christchurch office. Sam has a PhD in Chemistry from the Australian National University and undertook post-doctoral research at Yonsei University in South Korea. Sam has…

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Thomas Lieu

Trainee Patent Attorney

Thomas Lieu

Thomas joined the Melbourne Patents Team in 2023 after completing his Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, specialising in advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics. During his Honours, he worked on producing and analysing the viability of…

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Kate Wilson

Consultant

Kate Wilson

Kate, a former founding partner of James & Wells, is a registered patent attorney (in New Zealand and Australia), has degrees in physics and chemistry, and is internationally recognised as a leading IP strategist with particular experience in patent matters….

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Jennifer Lucas

Partner

Jennifer Lucas

Jennifer has 20 years’ experience in intellectual property gained in New Zealand and the UK, including running her own IP practice in New Zealand for nine years. Jennifer enjoys working with clients to determine effective and practical protection strategies for…

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Hemi Jones

Patent Executive

Hemi Jones

Hemi joined the James & Wells Patents Team in September 2023. After completing a Mechanical Engineering Degree with Honours from the University of Canterbury in 2018, Hemi spent the next four years working in the aviation industry as a Design…

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Patent insights & resources

Champions of Innovation®

Since 1979, James & Wells has been at the forefront of innovation in Australasia. We are here to help you grow, leverage and protect your IP. Our depth of experience ranges from managing large IP portfolios for international corporations, right through to protecting the ideas of start-ups, and everything in between. No matter the size of your organisation, James & Wells are here to be your dedicated Champions of Innovation®.

We are a full-service IP firm – that means you will find everything you need to protect your IP just by working with us. We will help you with patents, trade marks, litigation and IP strategy – our people are externally recognised as some of the best in the business, and they work together to bring you custom-built IP solutions that are tailored exactly to your needs. When you work with James & Wells, you know you’re in a safe pair of hands, with a highly experienced team supporting you.

Talk to us today about how we can work together.

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