We are delighted to announce that Pearce IP has received 8 rankings in IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2024 for Australia and New Zealand. IAM Patent 1000 is the definitive resource for identifying top patent professionals and firm-wide private practice patent expertise in key jurisdictions around the globe, and has ranked Pearce IP and its leaders in the following categories:
In Australia:
- Founder and CEO, Naomi Pearce – Litigation (Silver): top 25 practitioners, one of 13 women ranked
- Executive and Head of Litigation (AU), Helen Macpherson – Litigation (Silver): top 25 practitioners, one of 13 women so ranked
- Executive and Head of Litigation (AU), Helen Macpherson – Transactions (Silver): top 18 practitioners
- Executive and Head of Prosecution, Chris Vindurampulle PhD – Prosecution (Bronze): top 80 practitioners
- Special Counsel (Patent Attorney), Jacinta Flattery-O’Brien PhD – Prosecution (Silver): top 42 patent practitioners, one of only 10 women so ranked
- Pearce IP – Ranked for Prosecution: one of only 4 boutique firms of a total of 16 ranked firms
In New Zealand:
- Executive and Head of Litigation (NZ) Paul Johns – Recommended for litigation: one of only 6 lawyers recommended;
- Special Counsel (Patent Attorney) Julie Ballance – Recommended for prosecution: one of only 4 women of a total of 33 recommended.
Of the Australian team, IAM Patent 1000 said:
“Since its establishment in 2017 boutique Pearce IP has dominated in the area of pharmaceutical patents. Thanks to its deep bench of talented professionals, any life sciences brief is dispatched with alacrity and poise.
Pacing the group is eponymous founder Naomi Pearce. With a background in molecular biology and stints at global pharma heavyweights, she fully understands the IP needs of the industry leaders; her practice traverses the contentious/non-contentious divide with ease.
Also on deck are Chris Vindurampulle and Jacinta Flattery-O’Brien. The former is a frequent contributor to the research and start-up sector, providing education and mentoring on the topics of identifying, protecting and leveraging intangible assets; while the latter draws judiciously upon her doctoral pedigree to provide commercially minded counsel to big names in the biopharmaceutical sector. The duo’s superb technical expertise has seen them entrusted with Novo Nordisk’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations patent portfolio.
Joining the team in February 2024, former Baker McKenzie lawyer Helen Macpherson has a particular focus in her career working with tech clients on high-value patent mandates.”
Of the New Zealand team, IAM Patent 1000 reported:
“At Pearce IP, Julie Ballance has an illustrious list of patrons that includes global corporations in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Joining her, with over 20 years of commercial litigation experience under his belt, strategically minded Paul Johns manages and resolves IP disputes with dexterity. He recently joined the firm as Head of Litigation from another outfit ranked in this chapter.”
Founder and CEO, Naomi Pearce says:
“The success of Pearce IP and its leaders never ceases to amaze and inspire. I am very proud of all that we have built together in less than 7 years. I thank IAM for this great honour which affirms again that we are well on our way to achieving our 2027 Vision to be the premier life sciences IP practice in Australia and New Zealand. My wholehearted congratulations to Helen, Paul, Chris, Jacinta and Julie, and the broader Pearce IP team, each of whom bring their A game to every task every day, and continue to set the standard for excellence. This honour is very well deserved!”
About Pearce IP
Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the life sciences industries (in particular, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotech, ag-tech and food tech). Pearce IP is recognised by MIP as the only leading regional IP firm with a female founder, and is certified by WEConnect International as women owned. Pearce IP is the 2021 Intellectual Property Team of the Year (Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2022. Pearce IP is ranked in Chambers & Partners, IAM Patent 1000 and Managing IP (MIP) IP Stars, in Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards as a 5 Star firm, and the Legal 500 APAC Guide for Intellectual Property.
Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: Chambers & Partners, IAM Patent 1000, MIP IP Stars, Doyle’s Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, and have been honoured with many awards including Australian Law Awards – IP Partner of the Year, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, Women in Business Law Awards – Patent Lawyer of the Year (Asia Pacific), Most Influential Lawyers (Changemaker), among other awards.