We are proud to announce that Griffith Hack principals Nicola Scheepers, Amanda Stark, Janelle Borham and Karen Sinclair have been recognised in the IP STARS practitioner rankings for 2023.
Nicola was named a Trade Mark Star, while Amanda, Janelle and Karen were acknowledged as Patent Stars. This result highlights their standing as leaders in trade marks and patents both within Australia and internationally.
Published annually by Managing IP, IP STARS recognises firms and practitioners who have been identified as leaders in their fields, and is considered one the most comprehensive and widely respected guides in the IP profession.
Earlier in 2023, Griffith Hack was also named a Tier 1 firm in Australia for Trade Marks by Managing IP.
Learn more about Nicola, Amanda, Janelle and Karen below.
Nicola Scheepers
This is the first year that Nicola Scheepers has been named a Trade Mark star by Managing IP.
Nicola is an internationally regarded trade marks attorney, lawyer and practice group leader of our Trade Marks team. She has over 20 years’ experience in Australian and New Zealand trade mark law and practice.
With extensive experience both here and overseas, Nicola provides strategic advice on a wide range of trade mark issues for banking, FMCG, food service, fashion, pharmaceutical and SME clients. She’s renowned for her thoroughness, straightforward advice and in depth understanding of trade mark issues – particularly the varying requirements of different countries around the world.
Nicola specialises in the luxury goods, finance, commodities resource sectors, amongst others. She has also authored the trade mark section of the Fashion Law Handbook, exclusive chapter for Australia.
Amanda Stark
Amanda Stark has been named a Patent Star by Managing IP every year since 2021.
Amanda is one of the leading patent practitioners in the Australian biotechnology space. She is also a key member of Griffith Hack’s leadership team, heading up the ChemLife practice group and leading the International Business Development and Foreign Associate Relationship program.
Amanda has a reputation for grasping complex legal and technical issues and developing creative solutions to achieve targeted results. Known in the industry for her tenacity and lateral thinking, clients transfer their work to Amanda when issues arise that most attorneys cannot resolve.
Karen Sinclair
This is the second year running that Karen Sinclair has been named a Patent Star by Managing IP .
Karen provides advice across patent and trade mark portfolios for a diverse range of start-up and SME businesses in addition to well-known global multinationals in the chemical and pharmaceutical fields.
Technically qualified in chemistry and life sciences and with 30 years’ experience as a patent and trade marks attorney, Karen has extensive experience in medical and biodegradable polymers, feminine and infant hygiene products, product formulation, consumer health care and nutraceuticals, vaccine technology and diagnostic methods.
