Practice Areas

Chris specialises in the prosecution and enforcement of patents and design registrations across a broad range of mechanical technologies. He has particular experience with drilling equipment, mining, aircraft, fluid mechanics, water treatment and circulation, sporting goods, circuit breakers, construction and medical devices.

Background

Having commenced practising in intellectual property in 2000, Chris joined Halfords IP in December 2022 after spending almost 15 years at Cotters Patent Attorneys, which he co-founded. Previously Chris also worked at Spruson & Ferguson, and Cabinet Beau de Loménie in Paris.

Chris has acted for a variety of clients seeking patent and/or design protection for their products, ranging from sole inventors to SMEs, Universities and multi-nationals. Chris has managed large patent portfolios in numerous jurisdictions, and he understands the complexities and intricacies that apply when prosecuting large patent families.

Chris has particular experience in the field of design registrations. Since 2011 Chris has served as the Australian representative on the FICPI designs committee, a role that allows him to regularly collaborate with leaders in the field of design prosecution and enforcement. Chris has also been actively involved in making numerous submissions on behalf of FICPI Australia with respect to the Australian Government’s review of the Australian Designs Act, including submissions to the Advisory Council on Intellectual Property (ACIP), which materially contributed to the Australian Government’s decision to recently introduce a novelty grace period in the Australian designs legislation.

Having dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Commerce, Chris brings a commercial focus to his practice, and is regarded for achieving commercially desirable outcomes for his clients, extending beyond simply obtaining robust patent rights. Chris has considerable experience in patent oppositions and infringement matters, and has acted on a large number of contentious matters during his career.

Since 2018 Chris has been serving as the treasurer of FICPI Australia.

Chris is a member of the following professional organisations:
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia (IPTA);
member of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA); and
member of Fédération Internationale des Conseil en Propriété Industrielle (FICPI).