Richard co-heads the firm's intellectual property group. He works with a number of the world’s great brands, including Wild Turkey Bourbon, Google, Sony, Vodafone, and the Silver Ferns.
Richard is a trade mark expert with a strong international reputation. He acts for a number of the world's leading companies in the FMCG, luxury goods, and sports industries. Richard is one of the country's leading experts on ambush marketing and he has been instrumental in protecting and enforcing IP rights in a number of key international events in New Zealand.
Richard is also regarded in copyright, particularly in relation to IT and new technologies, having advised a number of the world's favourite brands in relation to the launch of their new electronic and web products in New Zealand.
Richard works with a number of pharmaceutical companies and research institutions, particularly in international licensing and commercialisation. This work includes commercialisation strategies for leading research institutions such as the University of Otago.
Richard appears frequently in IP disputes, including leading Supreme Court and Court of Appeal IP cases, and regularly appears in the High Court, Copyright Tribunal and Intellectual Property Office.
- PLC Which Lawyer? Intellectual Property 2010 - Leading Lawyer
- Chambers Global Intellectual Property 2010 - Leading Lawyer
Examples of Work
- Austin Nichols (Wild Turkey bourbon) - appeared in the Supreme Court of New Zealand in New Zealand's leading trade mark case
- Sony Music - copyright and passing off proceedings in New Zealand's first "soundalike" music litigation
- Google - launch of key products in New Zealand, including YouTube and other internet products
- Andersen Consulting - elements of its global re-brand to Accenture
- Netball New Zealand - trade mark portfolio, including intellectual property aspects of the launch of the Trans-Tasman Netball League
- Novartis Animal Health - acquisition of patents and other intellectual property assets from a New Zealand animal health company, and related licensing and supply arrangements
Other Credentials
- International Trademark Association (INTA) Geographical Indications Committee - Member
- Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand - Committee member
- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) - Member
- Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (UK) - Member
