Earl is regarded as one of New Zealand's leading intellectual property lawyers. He co-heads the firm's intellectual property group. He advises on all aspects of IP, including protection, portfolio structuring, management, exploitation, transfer, and enforcement.
Earl understands that intellectual property assets are core to the success of any modern enterprise. One of his strengths is tailoring his advice to meet commercial objectives. He is proactive in raising and addressing IP issues which arise in a client's business and the market in which the client operates.
- Chambers Global Intellectual Property 2013 - Leading Lawyer
- Asia Pacific Legal 500 Intellectual Property 2013 - Leading Lawyer
- PLC Which Lawyer? Intellectual Property 2013 - Leading Lawyer
- PLC Which Lawyer? Life Sciences 2013 - Leading Lawyer
- AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers Guide 2013 - Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer
- The International Who's Who Legal Intellectual Property 2013 - Leading Lawyer
- The International Who's Who Legal Trademarks 2012 - Leading Lawyer
Examples of Work
-
New Zealand House of Representatives (Parliament), Commerce Select Committee - new technologies amendments to the Copyright Act 1994
-
Mars Group - New Zealand IP strategy and portfolio, including successful strategy to gain exclusivity for the colour purple for cat food packaging
-
DB Breweries - trade mark portfolio and brand strategy, including branding disputes and enforcement
- Lucas Mill - ongoing patent and copyright dispute with former manufacturer
-
Seven Network - copyright and contract dispute about images in magazines imported into New Zealand
- Bunnings - successful defence of copyright, moral rights and trade mark infringement proceedings by Mitre 10 in relation to comparative advertisements
Other Credentials
-
Lexis Nexis Copyright & Design - Co-author
-
Lexis Nexis Laws of New Zealand, Trade Marks title - Author
- Lex Mundi, Intellectual Property Practice Group - Past chair
-
Auckland CBD Advisory Board - Deputy chair
-
Committee for Auckland - Director
-
International Trademark Association (INTA) - Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the International Amicus Committee - Past chair
-
INTA - Legislation and Regulation Committee
- Brookers' An Introduction to E-commerce Law in New Zealand - Co-author
-
Mount Cook Alpine Salmon Ltd - Deputy chair (Immediate past chair)
-
Lion Rock Group of Companies (owners of rights in Buzzy Bee) - Chair
-
Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand (LESANZ) - Member
