Nicola Scheepers is an internationally regarded trade marks practitioner.

Nicola has over 20 years’ experience in Australian and New Zealand trade mark law and practice. She is renowned for her thoroughness, straightforward advice and in depth understanding of trade mark issues. 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.

 From a client perspective, Nicola regularly receives recognition both within the WTR1000 and other industry bodies for her expertise, commerciality and ability to communicate effectively. Nicola is a mentor to many of our staff (not specific to Attorneys). She devotes a significant proportion of her energy to share in her knowledge and understanding of both the IP landscape and best business practices.  From a career perspective, Nicola began her career as a Lawyer and Trade Mark Attorney in South Africa where she worked for the oldest established IP Firm including as Head of the Foreign Trade Mark Department responsible for assisting clients to register their trade marks throughout Africa and overseas more broadly.  As a result, Nicola has an enviable network of overseas associates to draw on to assist her clients with registering their trade marks overseas.

Her relevant expertise covers areas such as: Trade mark filing, prosecution and registration, locally and internationally; oppositions, removal actions and dispute resolution locally and internationally; trade mark searching locally and internationally; strategic trade mark advice and portfolio management and trade mark watching.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Law, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa
  • Bachelor of Commerce, Rand Afrikaans University, South Africa 
  • Admitted lawyer, Australia and South Africa
  • Notary Public

Awards

Trade Mark Star
IP STARS – Managing IP, 2023 and 2024

WIPR Leader 2024
World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) Leaders Guide, 2024

Recommended for Prosecution and Strategy
World Trademark Review, 2014-23

Recognised WIPR Trade Mark Leader
WIPR, 2022

Publications

  • Fashion Law 2021 – Australia, Law Over Borders Comparative Guides, The Global Legal Post