Chemical Industries

Our chemical industries team is consistently regarded as the leading choice for developing and implementing IP strategy by some of the most innovative universities and research organisations, start-ups, SMEs, and established corporates found in Australasia and globally.

Chemical Industries expertise

Our chemical industries team is consistently regarded as the leading choice for developing and implementing IP strategy by some of the most innovative universities and research organisations, start-ups, SMEs, and established corporates found in Australasia and globally.

James & Wells has an experienced team of chemistry specialists, with experience across a range of areas including bioactive compounds, diagnostics, food technology, materials science, and chemical engineering. Examples of technologies that our team has developed specific expertise in include:

Pharmaceutical and animal health products
  • Novel bioactive compounds for use as antiviral, antibiotic, antineoplastic, or hypolipidemic agents – including poly(hetero)cycles, polysaccharides, and cyclic peptides.
  • Repurposing and next generation patenting strategies for bioactive compounds – including crystal polymorphism, dosing regimens, and combination therapeutic approaches.
  • Formulation science (pharmaceutical and veterinary) including coated solid forms, emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspensions, and lipid nanoparticles, the formulations providing controlled or immediate release.
  • Natural products, including proteins and plant metabolites for a range of applications including mitigating environmental impact, anti-fungal and anti-viral applications.
Materials Science
  • Polymers and polymer chemistry, including radical polymerisation (such as Reversible Addition Fragmentation chain-Transfer (RAFT) polymerisation), self-assembled polymers, polymer-derived ceramics, biodegradable polymers, thermoplastic elastomers and control of the production of polymeric materials (e.g. rheology modification, porosity control, extrusion and shaping processes)
  • Packaging materials including paper and fibre-based products and their manufacture; packaging for non-industrial composting, and controlled release of fertilisers.
  • Nanotechnology, nanoparticulate materials and nano-structured materials, including processes for their production.
  • Other materials for varied applications, including building materials, biodegradable materials, semiconductors.  Applications may include atmospheric water harvesting; seismic and acoustic mitigation; fire rated applications; LED display technologies; electrospun fibres for filtering, carbon fibre composite reinforcement.
Food and Beverages
  • New food products (e.g. formulated food products for health benefits, low GI, etc)
  • Sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners.
  • Modification of food products for preservation and/or modification of organoleptic properties.
  • Production and use of fats and oils (including microbial production of PUFAs).
  • Dairy products.
  • Extracts from natural products for food and beverage applications.
 Industrial Chemistry and Chemical Instrumentation/Analysis
  • Process chemistry, including industrial chemistry (mining, oil, and gas) – extraction, concentration and purification techniques.
  • Waste stream processing and fractionation.
  • Product purification, including zone/fractional recrystallisation.
  • Diagnostics, including lateral flow assays.
  • Chemical analysis and electrochemical processes, including electrophoretic separation processes and associated instruments and apparatus.

Our chemical industries team is the most experienced chemical industries team in Australasia in defending the patent rights of patent applicants in patent opposition proceedings under the current laws of both Australia and New Zealand. We are uniquely placed to advise innovators on established strategies for success. In the ever-evolving chemical industries sector, our team also have the experience, expertise and confidence to carve out effective new strategies for overcoming complex hurdles in newly developing areas.

Meet our chemical industry experts

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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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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Jennifer Lucas

Partner

Jennifer Lucas

Jennifer has over 15 years’ experience in patent drafting and prosecution across a range of jurisdictions. Her experience covers chemistry, particularly pharmaceuticals, human and veterinary medical devices, food technology; including plant-based products and processes, dairy food and beverage innovation, health/nutraceutical…

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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. 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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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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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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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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Kate Wilson

Consultant - IP Strategist

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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