Chris Williams

Biography

 Chris is an IP lawyer and litigator with specialist expertise in patents and Australian Consumer Law (ACL) litigation. In 2014 he was identified as an "IP Star" in patent law in Australia in the Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) IP Stars Handbook. Chris is dual qualified, having been admitted to practice in New Zealand (1997) and in New South Wales (2003). He has gained over 10 years’ Australian experience advising upon and litigating patents across a broad range of industries, including: mining technology, electronic sensors, telecommunications, computer hardware, software, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, manufacturing, consumables and financial services sectors. Chris has spent much of his time over the last 6 years conducting patent litigation out of the Federal Court in Perth for industrial packaging and mining clients. He has considerable patent litigation experience in electronic and digital technology disputes. Recent highlights include the strategic use and litigation of innovation patents for electronic exploration tools in the mining industry and seeking patent clearance for the use of mobile payments in consumer transactions. He also has an excellent record in Australian Consumer Law litigation, both obtaining and defeating urgent interlocutory injunction applications in the Federal Court. Chris regularly advises clients on advertising and product labelling claims, which gives him the ability to move very quickly to enforce or protect their rights. He advises importers and suppliers of FMCG products - including listed therapeutic goods - on regulatory issues, also acting on their behalf in Advertising Standards Board complaints and TGA Complaints Resolution Panel challenges. He is a co-author of the Unfair Competition section of Lahore’s Patents, Trade Marks and Related Rights for Lexis Nexis and the Australian Chapter of Intellectual Property in Electronics and Software for Globe Law and Business (2013). Chris holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of New South Wales in media, communications and information technology law. Chris attained his undergraduate degree at Auckland University; combining a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree. He is the current Chairman of the NSW Committee for The Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ).

Research Interest

 Agricultural Sciences