Manufacturing & Engineering

Many of our experts have hands-on experience working as engineers. Our Manufacturing & Engineering team is made up of attorneys and lawyers with deep knowledge of the field.

Manufacturing & Engineering Expertise

Our highly regarded Manufacturing & Engineering team is consistently regarded as the leading choice for IP by some of Australasia’s most influential organisations.

James & Wells has an experienced team of Manufacturing & Engineering specialists, with hands-on experience in complex areas. They are scientists and engineers, just like our clients, so they have a true understanding of the nuances of intricate Manufacturing & Engineering technologies.

The Manufacturing & Engineering team can help you with everything from filing complex patents to defending your rights in court. We have a long and established reputation in intellectual property – it’s why businesses have trusted us with their intellectual property for decades.

Meet our manufacturing & engineering experts

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Partner

Jonathan Lucas

Jonathan heads James & Wells’ Patents Team specialising in mechanical engineering, electronics, physics, telecommunications and software. He has a strong academic background in physics and many years’ patent attorney experience working across all these fields. He specialises in drafting patent…

Partner

Jason Rogers

As Head of the James & Wells Life Sciences team, and with over twenty-five years’ industry experience, Jason’s expertise includes a diverse array of biotechnology fields. Jason’s focus is on high-end intellectual property strategies for patent, design and copyright rights….

Partner

Adam Luxton

Adam is highly regarded in the fields of mining, energy, medical devices and consumer products. As an experienced patent attorney with an extensive background in mining and software engineering, Adam’s services are in demand by national and multinational companies seeking…

Partner

Nick Mountford

With over 25-years’ experience as a patent attorney in the engineering/ICT sector, Nick has helped numerous clients achieve commercially beneficial ownership and control of their IP, while mitigating against risks posed by competitors. His work centres on protecting clients’ innovations…

Partner

Jared Millar

Jared is a member of the Patents Team. He works with a wide variety of clients in numerous industries including animal health and husbandry products, automated dairy technologies, building and construction technologies, fluid applicators, power generation, and vehicle suspensions. He…

Senior Associate

Richard Clement

Richard is one of James & Wells’ mechanical engineering experts. His expertise includes the medical device, agri-tech, mechanical, and mechatronic industries. Richard prepares, files and prosecutes patent and design applications in Australia, New Zealand and internationally. He provides advice to…

Senior Associate

Jason Tuck

Ensuring businesses have sound commercial objectives in place, Jason provides advice on identifying, securing, and leveraging their IP – particularly in relation to patents and designs. Between local exporters and overseas companies entering New Zealand, Jason has experience in advising…

Senior Associate

Joseph Garven

Joseph is a New Zealand and Australian patent attorney having a particular focus on mechanical engineering, electronics and software-related technology. He provides useful advice on issues such as patentability, freedom to operate (FTO) and infringement. Joseph regularly prepares new patent…

Consultant

Britta Fromow

Britta is a lawyer and patent attorney with over 20 years’ experience in the Intellectual Property profession. Her specialist areas include mechanical engineering, electronics, robotics, medical devices, aerospace, and agri-technologies. She is also an expert in registered designs. Before becoming…

Partner

Alexia Mayer

Alexia is an experienced Australian and New Zealand intellectual property (IP) litigator. Alexia’s practice includes patent, trade mark and copyright infringement, patent and trade mark oppositions, breach of confidence, IP ownership disputes, misleading and deceptive conduct, IP licensing, and pharmaceutical/medical…

Trainee Patent Attorney

Thomas Lieu

Thomas joined the Melbourne Patents Team in 2023 after completing his Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, specialising in advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics. During his Honours, he worked on producing and analysing the viability of…

Consultant - IP Strategist

Kate Wilson

Kate, a former founding partner of James & Wells, is a registered patent attorney (in New Zealand and Australia), has degrees in physics and chemistry, and is internationally recognised as a leading IP strategist with particular experience in patent matters….

Partner

Jennifer Lucas

Jennifer has over 15 years’ experience in patent drafting and prosecution across a range of jurisdictions. Her experience covers chemistry, particularly pharmaceuticals, human and veterinary medical devices, food technology; including plant-based products and processes, dairy food and beverage innovation, health/nutraceutical…

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Insights & Resources

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NZ to laugh last? The spoof is in the pudding

New Zealand comedians and critics may be able to poke fun at and critique the world more freely if a Bill to amend the Copyright Act is passed. The Green Party’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was introduced on 7 November 2024. The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Copyright Act 1994...

IP update

New Zealand and China introduce Patent Prosecution Highway

On 1 November 2024, the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) and the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) launched a new Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme. The PPH programme is intended to run for at least two years (i.e. until 31 October 2026) and allows patent applicants to request accelerated examination of...

Innovation

Always look on the bright side of…AI

First published in Bay of Plenty Business News November 2024 edition In a recent blog post, Jonathan Tarud, the CEO of Koombea, an international digital product development company, stated1: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the major developments of our time. In particular, Machine Learning, and the implications that go with it, is shaking up many...

Innovation

Catalyst for Change – using IP Strategy to Unify Innovation Culture

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Peter Drucker – management consultant, educator, and author Within an innovative business there is often a spectrum of personality types, each with something to contribute to the business. However, each have differing mindsets and often clashing views around innovation, commercialisation and intellectual property. It is not until there is an...

Patents

Best method requirement in Australian and New Zealand Patent Law

A recent decision of Justice Burley in the Federal Court of Australia[1] has shone a light on the requirement of a patentee to disclose the best method of implementing his/her/its invention. In Australia[2], as in New Zealand[3], it is a requirement for the valid grant of patent rights that the patentee discloses “the best method...

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How we can help

Patents

Trade Marks

Licensing & Commercialisation

Enforcement & Dispute Resolution

Design Registrations

Anti-counterfeiting

Trade Secrets & Non-Disclosure

International Filings

Renewals & Maintenance

Your Champions of Innovation®

Since 1979, James & Wells has been at the forefront of innovation in Australasia. We are here to help you grow, leverage and protect your IP. Our depth of experience ranges from managing large IP portfolios for international corporations, right through to protecting the ideas of start-ups, and everything in between. No matter the size of your organisation, James & Wells are here to be your dedicated Champions of Innovation®.

We are a full-service IP firm – that means you will find everything you need to protect your IP just by working with us. We will help you with patents, trade marks, litigation and IP strategy – our people are externally recognised as some of the best in the business, and they work together to bring you custom-built IP solutions that are tailored exactly to your needs. When you work with James & Wells, you know you’re in a safe pair of hands, with a highly experienced team supporting you.

Talk to us today about how we can work together.