Amanda Stark

Amanda is Practice Group Leader of our ChemLife team and is based in Melbourne.

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. 

Amanda provides a range of patent services for clients including advising on global patent strategy, efficient portfolio management, and patent drafting and prosecution. She works closely with clients to obtain patent rights in major jurisdictions, as well as assisting overseas clients to obtain patent rights in Australia and New Zealand.  She also assists clients with evaluating the patent landscape and managing third party rights. 

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. She has significant experience in patent oppositions and collaborating with Griffith Hack lawyers in matters before the Federal Court of Australia. 

A key strength of Amanda’s is IP strategy formulation. She is often called upon to develop IP strategies for companies looking for investment and provides due diligence for investors wanting to know the value of their potential investments.  

In recognition of her client-centred approach, Amanda received Lexology’s Client Choice Award for IP Patent Agents and Attorneys in 2021. She is named as one of the Top 250 Women in IP and been ranked as a Patent Star by Managing Intellectual Property every year since 2021.  She is also named as a recommended practitioner in IAM Patent 1000. 

Before joining Griffith Hack in 2003, Amanda worked as a patent attorney in-house and in private practice in the UK for 10 years. She is a qualified UK and European patent attorney and re-qualified as an Australian patent attorney in 2003. 

What clients say about Amanda

“Amanda is an exceptional patent attorney with extensive expertise in managing biotech patent matters.” 

“Amanda is always, responsive, patient, professional, extremely knowledgeable and works hard to achieve the best outcome for her clients. 

“In all my interactions with Amanda, she has been an excellent communicator and consistently provided invaluable advice on patent strategy.“ 

“Amanda demonstrates a critical commercial perspective. Her outstanding advice has greatly increased our value.” 

“Amanda has provided strategic guidance on options to minimise costs while maximising outcomes.” 

“Amanda is easy to get on with, picks up the issues & technology quickly and provides clear advice, good availability, good communication.”