When people think about international intellectual property work, they often look to the biggest economies – the US, Europe, China. But firms like ours, operating across both New Zealand and Australia, work in a very different environment. That difference gives us a unique edge when it comes to helping exporters protect their ideas on the global stage.
Unlike firms based in large domestic markets, a significant proportion of our clients are exporters. Their success depends on how well they can operate offshore, which means every patent, design and trade mark filing must be prepared with international requirements in mind from the very beginning. We do not draft for a vast local market first and international markets second – our work has to be globally fit‑for‑purpose on day one.
Export-driven businesses in Australasia are also typically more cost‑constrained than multinational corporates. For us, that means strategy isn’t optional – it’s essential. We think several steps ahead about how each decision today will play out across jurisdictions tomorrow. Whether advising on prosecution pathways that minimise cost, shaping designs to reduce downstream complications, or sequencing rights to maximise value, efficiency is intentionally baked into how we operate.
The responsiveness of the Australian Patent Office and the value of early international‑focused feedback
On the patent front, one of the advantages available to Australasian firms is the strong responsiveness of both the Australian Patent Office and PCT examiners. Compared with many major patent offices worldwide, the Australian Patent Office is markedly efficient in issuing search and examination results, which gives our clients a clearer early view of the strength of their positions.
A further benefit is the availability of an International‑Type Search (ITS) provided by the Australian Patent Office. This service offers an early, internationally relevant search outcome, providing an indication of what might be cited later on in the PCT process.
Because we work extensively with the Australian Patent Office and understand its systems, we can help clients obtain robust early feedback on the merits of a patent application – well before significant costs are incurred in pursuing a PCT (international patent) application or entering the national phase in multiple jurisdictions. For exporters operating under cost and time pressures, this early visibility can materially influence strategy, reduce risk, and support better decision‑making about which markets to prioritise.
Why relying solely on overseas drafters (especially US drafters) can unintentionally limit international protection
Many international practitioners – particularly those in large domestic markets like the US – naturally draft with their own jurisdiction front of mind. Their system encourages a detailed, highly structured, and often narrower claim style. While that is perfectly suited to US litigation and examination practice, it does not always translate cleanly into other jurisdictions.
For exporters, that can mean:
- Narrower claims than necessary in key offshore markets – leading to avoidable gaps in coverage.
- Lost opportunities for broader protection in places like Europe, China or Australia, where claim scope, allowable categories and drafting philosophy differ.
- Higher prosecution costs overseas because a foreign office raises objections that could have been pre‑empted with a more internationally balanced drafting approach.
- Missed design‑around risks – what looks protected in the US may be easily circumvented under another country’s standards.
- Difficulty adapting the specification because the foundational drafting was optimised for one jurisdiction rather than many.
By contrast, Australasian firms are rarely drafting with just one market in mind. Our exporters need patents that hold up everywhere they operate – and that means our drafting style is intentionally broad, flexible and globally conscious from the outset. It is shaped by necessity, not theory.
Navigating differences in law: two home systems, multiple international ones
Operating trans‑Tasman also means navigating two distinct legal systems as well as the patchwork of regimes overseas. New Zealand’s copyright rules for industrial products, for example, diverge significantly from other jurisdictions, and Australia has its own nuances. Many exporters aren’t aware of these differences, so we’re constantly monitoring where the gaps may be and reinforcing their positions before issues arise.
The Australasian advantage
The result is a practice defined by international awareness, trans‑Tasman expertise and commercial pragmatism. We understand exporters because we work with them every day, and our approach is shaped by the realities of taking ideas into multiple markets – not just one.
We’re proud to support New Zealand and Australian innovators as they take on the world, and proud that the way we work gives them a genuine competitive advantage globally. We are also proud to be THE 2025 Managing IP Trans-Tasman firm of the year.
