James Lawrence
Partner
"Protecting and defending my client’s intellectual property is at the heart of what I do. I gain a deep understanding of their business, and then determine what they need for success.”
James is a widely respected intellectual property (IP) advisor and litigator. He helps clients from a wide range of industries and at all stages of development to identify, protect and enforce their valuable intellectual property.
James is known for his expertise in contentious intellectual property and specialises in managing IP disputes. He also advises clients on issues involving patents, trade marks, copyright, brand protection, trade secrets and portfolio management.
James’s skills and experience in intellectual property disputes and biotechnology law have been recognised by clients and peers in legal benchmark surveys and directories. He is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading patent professionals. He edits the Patents chapter in Halsbury’s Laws of Australia and regularly publishes and presents on intellectual property issues.
Australian clothing manufacturer — advising, managing and enforcing the business’s trade mark portfolio for its principal and subsidiary brands.
Cashrewards Limited — management of Cashrewards’ Australian trade mark portfolio and clearance strategies for new sub-brands.
Deco Australia Pty Ltd — advised and acted for Deco in relation to its patent for novel aluminium cladding products in infringement and revocation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia.
Dignity Health and SpineSTUD LLC — acting in Federal Court of Australia patent infringement and revocation proceedings in relation to 3D-printed anatomical components.
Lifestyle Communities Ltd — acting in Federal Court of Australia trade mark and Australian Consumer Law proceedings against Stockland Land Lease Management Ltd.
Rattlejack Innovations Pty Ltd — acted for Rattlejack in patent infringement and revocation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia and in defence of a special leave application to the High Court of Australia relating to a mining safety product used in underground long-hole drilling procedures.
Rokt Pte Ltd — acted for Rokt in the ground-breaking series of Federal Court of Australia patent proceedings that tested the applicability of the manner of manufacture requirement in respect of computer-implemented inventions.
The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys — acted for IPTA in its intervention on the seminal High Court of Australia proceedings in Aristocrat v Commissioner of Patents, which was concerned with the patentability of computer-implemented inventions.
Recognition
Best Lawyers in Australia™ — Intellectual Property Law — 2014–2025
Best Lawyers in Australia™ — Biotechnology Law — 2014–2025
Doyle’s Guide — Contentious Intellectual Property — NSW — 2018–2023 (Recommended), 2024 (Leading)
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific — Intellectual Property: Recommended Lawyer — 2015–2024
IAM Patent 1000 — Leading Global Patent Professional — 2019–2024
Who's Who Legal — Australia & New Zealand - IP - Trademarks — 2023 - 2024
World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) — Leader in Intellectual Property — 2018–2024
Committees and memberships
Editor, Patents, Halsbury’s Laws of Australia
Editor, Competition & Consumer Newsletter, LexisNexis
Treasurer, Copyright Society of Australia
Member, Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ)
Member, International Trade Mark Association (INTA)
Member, Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys
Practice Areas
Qualifications
Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Macquarie University
“James Lawrence is absolutely brilliant at complex and multijurisdictional intellectual property disputes work”:
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific