Richard co-heads the firm's intellectual property group. He 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.
- Chambers Global Intellectual Property 2011 - Leading Lawyer
- Best Lawyers 2011 - Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer, New Zealand
- Legal Media Group's Guide to the World's Leading Trade Mark Practitioners 2010 - Leading Individual, New Zealand
- PLC Which Lawyer? Intellectual Property 2011 - Leading Lawyer
Examples of Work
- Procter & Gamble - New Zealand border protection and anti-counterfeiting strategy
- Austin Nichols (Wild Turkey bourbon) - appeared in the Supreme Court of New Zealand in New Zealand's leading trade mark case
- Netball New Zealand - trade mark portfolio, including intellectual property aspects of the launch of the Trans-Tasman Netball League
- Sony Music - copyright and passing off proceedings in New Zealand's first "soundalike" music litigation
- Andersen Consulting - elements of its global re-brand to Accenture
- 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
