Intellectual Property
Asia-Pacific Guide 2024 : New Zealand
Band 2
Contact number
+64 9 379 4196About
Provided by Dentons New Zealand
Dentons Kensington Swan has one of NZ's leading IP teams. We are the team of choice for clients facing business-critical IP and innovation issues and opportunities. We help businesses create global brands, navigate new technologies, resolve disputes and leverage IP assets. Our decades of expertise and absolute commitment to our clients’ success means they trust us with their most important IP challenges. Brand protection and enforcement is in our DNA. This year we advised our clients on several of New Zealand’s highest profile IP disputes, including making new law on the use of nicknames as trade marks (for a former NZ Prime Minister) and succeeding in the first High Court passing off trial in several years (for Merisant Company). We have deep expertise in our clients’ business sectors, and are one of very few IP teams with true expertise in Plant Variety Rights protection in NZ and internationally. We also operate one of the largest trade mark filing and prosecution practices of any full-service NZ law firm. We specialise in practical and skillful commercialisation of IP that maximises the value of our clients’ assets. We regularly advise and negotiate IP contracts, and assist businesses with the sale, purchase, licensing and financing of IP assets and technologies.
Chambers Review
Dentons offers expertise in copyright and domain names, as well as acting for domestic and international businesses in IP disputes. The practice counts major players in the food and beverage industry as well as government agencies among its clients, and acts on the full range of contentious and non-contentious IP matters. It additionally advises on international trade mark portfolio and brand management, including multi-jurisdictional filings and enforcement proceedings. Notable clients include PepsiCo, Tourism New Zealand and Merisant Company.
Work Highlights
- Dentons represented the home-building franchise brand GJ Gardner in respect of successful oppositions to two applications to register a trade mark.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They are always extremely pleasant to deal with. I also really appreciate that they are quick in turning around advice. Their advice is also very pragmatic and succinct."
"They are always extremely pleasant to deal with. I also really appreciate that they are quick in turning around advice. Their advice is also very pragmatic and succinct."
Notable Practitioners
Jenni Rutter co-leads the practice from Dentons' office in Auckland and acts prominently on contentious and often strategic trade mark and copyright matters.
"Jenni brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her advice. She also tailors it specifically to the circumstances of the company."
"I enjoy working with Jenni. She listens, is confident but not overpowering, knowledgeable, intelligent and keeps the balls in the air, never dropping any."