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Richard Watts
BA LLB(Hons) LLM(Cantab) • Auckland
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Richard heads the firm's IP/ICT National Practice Group.
Richard is one of New Zealand’s most renowned IP lawyers. He advises a number of the world's leading companies in the FMCG, pharmaceutical, IT, and sports industries. His practice covers both non-contentious and contentious IP, life sciences and sport.
Richard has co-ordinated trade mark protection, enforcement and border protection measures for numerous household names, both in New Zealand and abroad - particularly in the FMCG and sports industries. As well as overseeing brand protection and enforcement strategies for major events (including the Olympics and Paralympics). Richard has appeared in a number of New Zealand’s leading trade mark appeal cases, including in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He has also been involved in a number of New Zealand's most significant copyright and patent disputes, in the pharmaceutical and construction industries.
Richard is also regarded as one of the leading life sciences lawyers in New Zealand, particularly in relation to the regulation and commercialisation of pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements/nutraceuticals. Richard works with a number of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies and research institutions, particularly in relation to clinical trials, negotiation of supply deals to PHARMAC and regulatory approval of medicines and medical products. This work includes development and implementation of IP commercialisation strategies for leading local and international businesses.
Richard is also highly regarded in IT and new technologies, having advised a number of the world's favourite brands in relation to use and regulation of AI generated material, and the launch of new electronic and web products in New Zealand.
Richard is the New Zealand President of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI), and a committee member of INTA and the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ).
Simpson Grierson has been voted New Zealand Firm of the Year for Patent Litigation at the 2025 Asia IP Awards.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025
Intellectual Property & Sports Law
Leading Lawyer
Asia Pacific Legal 500 2025
Intellectual Property
Leading Lawyer (Hall of Fame)
Asialaw Leading Lawyers Guide
Intellectual Property
Market-leading Lawyer
IAM Patent 1000
Recommended, Patent Litigation and Licensing
Work Highlights
NZ Rugby
Advising on IP aspects of the equity investment by Silver Lake in NZ Rugby, including the trade mark and commercialisation strategy.
Austin Nichols (Wild Turkey bourbon)
Appeared in the Supreme Court of New Zealand in New Zealand's leading trade mark case.
Food & Beverage
Advising in respect of the composition, labelling and packaging of a variety of major brands in the food, beverage and alcohol space.
Conducting and responding to Advertising Standards complaints before the ASA, including in respect of composition and benefits claims.
NZ Olympic Committee
Overseeing the brand protection and ambush marketing strategy, and brand enforcement for summer and winter Olympic Games, and Commonwealth Games.
The a2 Milk Company
Overseeing the global trade mark prosecution strategy, and litigation regarding protection of a2 MILK and other strategic marks.
Advising as to international commercialisation of intellectual property.
Strategic IP advice surrounding launch of new technologies in New Zealand.
Novartis
Strategic patent litigation advice regarding key medicines.
GSK
Advising on urgent supply deal for key Covid-19 anti-viral medicines and PHARMAC and Medsafe regulatory issues.
Merck Sharpe & Dohme
Advising in relation to regulatory compliance for key products, including negotiation of supply and distribution arrangements in New Zealand.
Procter & Gamble
New Zealand border protection and anti-counterfeiting strategy.
Additional accolades
MIP Managing Intellectual Property Awards 2025
- Trade Marks Star
- Patent Star
The International Who's Who Legal 2023
- Life Sciences - Global Leader, Patent litigation
- Global Leader, Trade marks
WTR1000 - World's Leading Trademark Professionals 2023
- Leading Individual, New Zealand: Enforcement and Litigation
- Leading Individual, New Zealand: Strategy and Prosecution
