Richard is a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group in Auckland.   His practice spans all aspects of Intellectual Property law, including trade marks, copyright, patents, designs, advertising and domain names. 

A leading trade mark practitioner, Richard manages large-scale IP portfolios for a wide variety of international clients, including advising in respect of brand development and licensing for some of the world's best known brands in the wine, sports and technology industries. 

Richard advises in relation to a wide range of Intellectual Property disputes, and recently appeared in the Supreme Court in New Zealand's leading trade mark case.  He has also appeared in the Court of Appeal, High Court, Copyright Tribunal and Intellectual Property Office in trade mark, copyright and patent disputes.

He has local and international experience in franchising and commercialising intellectual property - having prepared commercialisation strategies for leading research institutions in New Zealand and the UK.  He has advised for some of the world's largest franchisors in respect of their New Zealand operations.

Richard also works with a number of leading IT and technology companies, in particular in respect of the IP aspects of new Internet, gaming and mobile technologies.

• Appeared in the Supreme Court of New Zealand for Austin Nichols (Wild Turkey bourbon) in New Zealand's leading trade mark case
• Advised Google in respect of the launch of the launch of key products in New Zealand, including YouTube other internet products
• Advised Andersen Consulting in respect of elements of its global re-brand to Accenture
• Advised in respect of the IP aspects of the launch of the Trans-Tasman Netball League
• Advised University of Otago in respect of its IP commercialisation strategy
• Advises Netball NZ in respect of its brand marketing strategy and trade mark portfolio
• Patent litigation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, optics and fluid dynamics

• Member of Asia-Pacific Committee on Geographical Indications (INTA)
• International Trade Mark Association (INTA)
• Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ)
• Qualified UK Trade Mark Attorney, and Member of Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA)
• Lecturer of Communications Law – Unitec University