Donna is recognised as a leader in the fields of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property (IP). Her areas of expertise also include privacy and data protection, technology and Australian Consumer Law issues.
Clients from all industries call on her for assistance across the entire IP life cycle, from the initial innovation stage, identifying and protecting IP in Australia and internationally, commercialisation, and enforcing IP rights. Donna advises on issues involving trade marks, copyright, brand protection, domain name disputes, portfolio management and advertising compliance. She regularly acts in proceedings before IP Australia and the Federal Court.
Donna’s clients also rely on her experience to assist them with data protection and privacy issues including privacy compliance programmes, drafting privacy policies and consent documents, as well as advising on access requests, data breaches and transfer of data across jurisdictions.
Donna is known for her approachability and efficiency, and clients particularly value her open-minded, commercially astute and clear communication and advice.
Donna’s expertise in the area of IP is well recognised in Australia and internationally. Donna has been recognised in Chambers, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific, Who’s Who Legal and World Trademark Review. In 2023, Donna was ranked in Who’s Who Legal as a Global Leader in IP: Trade Marks and was recognised by Managing IP as an IP Star.
drafted and negotiated a licensing agreement for an Australian manufacturer of hearing devices with a US-based global manufacturer and developer of advanced computerised diagnostic and hearing technologies.
advised a large Australian biotechnology company on an IP commercialisation project for patented diagnostic technology including preparation of the IP licensing agreement.
advised on protection of its trade marks in Australia and various overseas jurisdictions including taken action to enforce its trade mark rights overseas.
successfully acted in Federal Court of Australia proceedings commenced by Hemmes Trading against Establishment 203 Pty Ltd for use of ESTABLISHMENT 203. The Court ruled that Establishment 203 use of ESTABLISHMENT 203 infringed Hemmes Trading’s registered trade mark for ESTABLISHMENT and that Establishment 203 had contravened the Australian Consumer Law. Management of Hemmes Trading’s trade mark portfolio and acting in opposition proceedings before IP Australia.
assisted in obtaining trade mark protection for key brands in various jurisdictions and represented MoneyMe in trade mark opposition proceedings in Australia and overseas.
advised on various trade mark matters including trade mark protection for a range of ice cream products in Australia and provided advice on regulatory compliance for the labels and packaging.
management of its global trade mark portfolio and brand protection issues including enforcement of trade mark rights in Australia and overseas.
advised a group of health care companies on privacy issues including preparation of privacy policies and consents.
advised and negotiated an agreement with an Australian building products company for the licensing of copyright and patents to enable the design, manufacture and installation of prefabricated building systems.
advised on privacy issues in respect of a ransomware attack impacting the company’s operations in various jurisdictions.
advised on a data breach including undertaking an analysis of the breach to determine whether it was notifiable under Australia’s Notifiable Data Breach Scheme.
Chambers Asia Pacific: Australia
2012-2024 | Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Copyright
Chambers Global: Australia
2012-2024 | Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Copyright
Doyle’s Guide – Leading Lawyers — NSW
2019-2023 | Non-Contentious Intellectual Property: Recommended
2017 | Trademark Lawyers: Recommended
2016-2017| Commercial IP Lawyers: Recommended
Managing IP – IP Stars
2021 | Top 250 Women in IP in global rankings
Managing IP – IP Stars Australia
2020-2024 | Trade Mark Star
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
2014&2015, 2017-2022 | Intellectual Property: Recommended Lawyer
2024-2025 | Intellectual Property: Recognised Lawyer
Who’s Who Legal – Australia & New Zealand
2019-2024 | IP – Trademarks
World Trademark Review (WTR 1000)
2021-2024 | Trademark Transactions, Australia
2019-2024 | Trademark Prosecution & Strategy, Australia
2019-2024 | Trademark Enforcement & Litigation, Australia
- Member, International Trade Mark Association (INTA)
- Member, Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ)
- Member, Copyright Society of Australia
- Bachelor of Economics/Laws, Macquarie University