Our patents team
Our patent specialists comprise two broad teams – chembio and engineering/IT, who between them have the technical expertise to understand and protect any type of technology.
An intimate knowledge of our clients' technology is essential to ensure patents provide sufficient protection.
Our teams' technical knowledge allows us to liaise effectively with inventors and research teams. Because of our size and our fluid team structure, we are able to form multi-disciplinary teams on project-by-project basis, which ensures that each project is handled by the best people for the job.
Although the technology and processes can be complex, we communicate clearly and make sure you understand what you need to know.
Principal \ Wellington
Dr Duncan de Geest
Duncan is a patent law specialist with particular expertise in the area of chemical innovations.
Principal \ Wellington
Michael Brown
Objective, creative and detail-focused, Michael specialises in patents, designs, copyright and related intellectual property (IP) for Australasian and international innovators.
Principal \ Wellington
Andy Locke
Andy acts for businesses in patenting inventions, registering designs and advising on freedom to operate, in New Zealand and overseas.
Principal \ Auckland
Anton Blijlevens
A good listener with a practical outlook, Anton has become a trusted advisor for clients looking to protect and commercialise their innovations.
Consultant \ Auckland
Chris Way
Chris specialises in mechanical, electrical and electronics patents and registered designs.
Principal \ Auckland
Dr David Simunic
David provides strategic advice on intellectual property (IP) portfolios including patents, designs, and copyright.
Associate \ Wellington
Dr Nikki Templeton
Plant-related intellectual property (IP) is a rapidly evolving area, and one that deeply suits Nikki’s interests and professional background.
Principal \ Auckland
Matthieu Mouscardes
Matthieu helps local clients and clients from around the world protect their innovations.
Associate \ Auckland
George Karkera
George brings a practical approach paired with broad technical knowledge to his role as a patent associate in AJ Park’s engineering and ICT team.
Associate \ Auckland
Dr Jake Stuart
Jake is a patent executive in AJ Park's Auckland based Chembio team. His role includes patent searching and helping clients understand if their technology is patentable and has freedom to operate.
Consultant \ Auckland
Matt Devine
Matt has particular expertise in patents, designs, copyright and related intellectual property (IP) work for electrical and mechanical engineering, telecommunications, and software technology.
Principal \ Wellington
Sarah Barclay
Sarah combines her industry experience and intellectual property (IP) expertise to help clients around the globe protect their innovations.
Principal \ Auckland
Wes Jones
Wes specialises in the development and commercialisation of patent and registered design portfolios.
Special Counsel \ Wellington
Dr Christine Egan
Christine combines her scientific training and research background with her expertise in patent law to provide her clients with expert intellectual property (IP) advice.
Special Counsel \ Wellington
Tim Jackson
Tim joined AJ Park’s Auckland life sciences patent team in June 2020. He supports local and international innovators to obtain and benefit from intellectual property (IP) rights.
Principal \ Auckland
Duncan Schaut
Duncan helps clients develop and implement their intellectual property strategy with a focus on patents and registered designs.
Principal \ Wellington
Dr Fiona Pringle
Fiona assists clients in patent matters, from filing through to grant, in New Zealand, Australia and overseas.
Principal \ Auckland
Hadleigh Brown
Hadleigh is an experienced intellectual property (IP) expert who specialises in all aspects of patent and design law, advising and developing IP protection strategies for clients in the high-tech space.
Principal \ Auckland
Dr Hannah French
A principal in AJ Park’s biotechnology and life sciences team, Hannah uses her mix of science and research knowledge and patent expertise to help clients of all sizes protect their innovations.
Principal \ Auckland
Dr James Robinson
A patent attorney with a background in organic chemistry, James is a member of AJ Park’s Auckland life sciences patent team and specialises in all aspects of intellectual property (IP) law for chemical innovations.
Consultant \ Wellington
Dr Carol Johns
Dr Carol Johns has worked with clients ranging from large pharmaceutical companies to universities in the United States and Europe before joining AJ Park’s life sciences patent team.
Senior Associate \ Wellington
Bojun Zhou 周博俊
Bojun is proficient in assisting clients with obtaining patent protection in New Zealand, China and around the world.
Associate \ Wellington
Andy Yu
Andy combines his experience in technology with his training in mechatronics and business to assist clients seeking to patent their innovations.
Senior Associate \ Auckland
Dr John Foulkes
With a PhD in Electrical and Electronic engineering, John has strong credentials in both the academic and commercial spheres. Prior to joining AJ Park, he worked as in-house patent attorney for Centrica, a leading energy company in the UK.
Senior Associate \ Wellington
Dr Briar Dominick
Briar draws on her background in chemistry research and academic work to conduct patentability and freedom-to-operate searches for clients.
Senior Associate \ Wellington
Sam Ting
Sam is committed to understanding the problem-solving and abstract thinking needed to provide clients with practical advice.
Principal \ Auckland
Sharon Zhu
Sharon is a principal in AJ Park’s Auckland engineering and IT team. She combines her expertise in law and engineering to help clients protect their innovations and bring their ideas to life.
Associate \ Auckland
Callum Judd
Callum is an associate in AJ Park’s Auckland engineering and ICT team.
Associate \ Wellington
Paul Lee
Paul specialises in manufacturing and has expertise in both the commercial and engineering aspects of mechatronics.
Associate \ Auckland
Dr Jason Busby
An associate in AJ Park’s Auckland life sciences team, Jason performs a variety of watching and freedom-to-operate searches and provides summary reports. His area of expertise is in biological sciences – genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry.
Principal \ Wellington
Helen Bellchambers
Helen is a patent attorney and lawyer. She has a dual role at AJ Park as a member of both the life sciences patents team and the litigation and dispute resolution team.
Patent Executive \ Auckland
Ethan Harrold
Ethan enjoys the creative process and strategy of intellectual property. Drawing upon years of multi-industry engineering industry, he assists his clients in navigating the best path to protect, commercialise, enforce, and defend their IP rights.
Special Counsel \ Auckland
Geoff Chisholm
Geoff combines his international experience, in-house commercial perspective and intellectual property expertise to help clients protect and commercialise their innovations.
Patent Executive \ Wellington
Dr Erica Cassie
Erica joined AJ Park as a Patent Engineer in 2024. With experience in R&D as both a scientist and an electronics engineer, as well as a PhD in physics, she brings a depth of technical knowledge to the firm.
Senior Associate \ Wellington
Adrian Evans
Adrian specialises in obtaining intellectual property protection for mechanical and medical devices. At AJ Park, he looks after the filing and prosecution of patent and design applications for local and international clients.
Patent Engineer \ Auckland
Ollie Gilbertson
Ollie is a Patent Engineer in AJ Park’s Auckland engineering and ICT team.
Associate \ Wellington
Ryan Candland
Ryan assists clients in patent matters in New Zealand, and Australia. A hard working individual, Ryan is passionate about doing his best to get a great outcome for his clients.
Associate \ Wellington
Megan Donnett
Megan is an associate in the engineering and IT team. She advises clients on the patent prosecution process and IP strategy, specialising in mechanical, software and business method inventions.
Senior Associate \ Wellington
Daniel Thorpe
Daniel uses his industrial experience and varied expertise in patent law to advise clients regarding their intellectual property (IP) in the fields of mechanical technology and software.