Pearce IP is delighted to welcome Executive Lawyer and Head of Legal Helen Macpherson, and Special Counsel Chantal Savage to its legal team. Helen and Chantal join Pearce IP from Baker McKenzie where they were partner and special counsel respectively.
Helen Macpherson has more than 25 years’ experience in developing and implementing successful patent litigation strategies for life sciences companies. With her background in biochemistry/molecular genetics she has spear-headed the Australian counterpart litigation of significant global patent disputes. Helen is well respected by her peers as one of the best and brightest minds in the industry, and is ranked in multiple leading legal/IP directories.
Chantal Savage is an IP disputes lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience advising across the spectrum of IP rights, including patents, trade marks, copyright, plant breeder’s rights and trade secrets/confidential information. With a science degree specialising in molecular biology and biochemistry, Chantal’s practice focuses particularly on complex, high-value, multi-jurisdictional patent infringement and revocation proceedings for clients in the life sciences sectors.
Pearce IP’s founder and CEO Naomi Pearce says:
“I am thrilled to welcome Helen and Chantal to the Pearce IP legal team. Both Helen and Chantal are brilliant, hard working and have a 6th sense for successful legal arguments. They were a powerful combination at Baker McKenzie and I am excited to introduce them to Pearce IP’s team and clients.
Helen is both a safe pair of hands and a seasoned leader, and I am excited to equip and support her as she embarks on her new role as head of the Pearce IP legal team. ”
Deputy CEO and Head of Talent Adele Chadwick says:
‘What an honour to welcome both Helen and Chantal to Pearce IP. The depth and breadth of their joint experience is known throughout the life sciences sector and sets our course to achieve our Mission to set the standard for excellence in the provision of legal and IP services in Australia and New Zealand. Helen brings to our team leadership skills that will allow our team to thrive in a year that is already groundbreaking, while Chantal brings a maturity to her craft that is coveted by many and will support and inspire junior staff.’
Helen and Chantal are the fifth and sixth new lawyers hired this year, following the commencement of Kim Evans (formerly of Allens) as Head of Trade Marks earlier this month. New Zealand lawyer Faran Shazhad formerly of AJ Pietras, and Australian lawyer James Downie Lawyer, formerly at the ACCC, joined Pearce IP’s Sydney team in January 2024, the same month that Wellington based seasoned US patent lawyer and prosecutor Carol Johns PhD (formerly of AJ Park) joined the firm. Special Counsel lawyer and patent attorney Julie Ballance (also NZ based) joined Pearce IP in October 2023.
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.