TONY PIETRAS
Tony has law and science degrees obtained from Victoria University of Wellington. His work embraces virtually all areas of intellectual property including drafting applications for protection, enforcing intellectual property rights, mounting challenges to the validity of intellectual property, strategic planning, freedom to operate investigations and licensing. Tony has appeared as counsel in intellectual property cases before IPONZ, IP Australia, the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Tony is also the author of the New Zealand chapter of the text-book International Pharmaceutical Law and Practice published by Lexis Nexis.
VINCENT POWELL
Vincent has both law and arts degrees obtained from Victoria University of Wellington and is registered as a lawyer. Vincent’s work is primarily in the areas of obtaining patent and trade mark protection, defending and challenging intellectual property rights through the New Zealand and Australian Registry systems, running due diligence investigations and licensing. Vincent has appeared as counsel in intellectual property hearings before IPONZ, IP Australia and the High Court.
SHARON BURNET
Sharon works as a paralegal handling filing and renewal of intellectual property rights worldwide, assignments, reporting and administrative matters generally.
KAREN PIETRAS
Practice Manager
Karen has worked as our practice manager for approximately 30 years and has a wealth of experience in financial management and client liaison.
CAROL JOHNS
Patent Attorney
Carol is a patent attorney qualified to practice in New Zealand, Australia and the USA. She has a law degree (a J.D.) and a PhD in biochemical sciences, both obtained from the University of California. Carol has over 25 years in the patent profession with particular emphasis and expertise in life sciences.