Our Team

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys Australia and New Zealand

Our attorneys have a unique combination of skills to help you protect your intellectual property. We act for clients directly in Australia and New Zealand and have a network of associates around the world to ensure that your interests are protected globally.

Neil W. Murray

DIRECTOR

Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical & Electronics)
Grad Dip Computing Science
Patent and Trademark Attorney (Australia and New Zealand)

Neil completed a Bachelor degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the University of Adelaide, and subsequently returned to obtain a Graduate Diploma in Computer Science. After obtaining his technical qualifications, Neil lived in the United States working in the avionics industry before qualifying as a Patent and Trade Mark Attorney.

Neil is a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia, a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and a Member of both the Institution of Engineers and the Australian Computer Society. Neil offers special expertise in relation to protecting computer software, business methods and related technologies.

Neil is a registered Australian and New Zealand Patent and Trademark Attorney and prior to establishing MTA, Neil was a Partner of a national firm based in Melbourne.

Neil was awarded a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical and Electronic) from the University of Adelaide and subsequently returned to obtain a Graduate Diploma in Computing Science.

Neil has lived and worked in the United States and during that time he gained substantial experience and insight that regularly benefits his clients.

As a result of regular travel overseas to attend conferences, Neil is able to remain up to date with developments in those jurisdictions. Neil has attended Oral Proceedings at the European Patent Office (EPO) on more than one occasion and has also attended Examiner interviews at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to advance his clients’ patent applications.

Neil also regularly prepares and prosecutes design and trade mark applications for both local and overseas clients and is involved in contentious matters including patent oppositions and litigation support.

Neil has particular experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the following technical fields:

• Computer-implemented inventions including control systems, methods of improving processes including manufacturing processes, purchase and distribution of goods and services and performance improvement of systems generally.

• Software systems including systems for searching very large data sets and presentation of results, systems for improved authentication techniques, security protocols and payment processing.

• Electro-magnetic radiation shielding devices including passive and active shielding of RF radiation.

• Adiabatic cooling systems and drift reduction technologies.

• Medical devices including vascular stent technologies and fabrication and implantation techniques.

• Mechanical devices and manufacturing methods for production including metal fabrication techniques, building products and construction materials.

Neil strives to provide strategic advice that is commercially appropriate to clients and is focused upon establishing strong working relationships with all clients seeking to protect and/or enforce their intellectual property rights

Mr. Neil W. Murray Professional Associations

• Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (FIPTA)

• Member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)

• Member of International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI)

• Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA)

• Member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia & New Zealand (IPSANZ)

Leon Trento

DIRECTOR

Bachelor of Engineering (Mech)
Patent and Trademark Attorney (Australia and New Zealand)

Leon completed a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Adelaide, with particular focus on air-conditioning, fluid mechanics and aeronautical engineering. After obtaining industry experience, Leon commenced his studies in Intellectual Property in 2002 and qualified as a Patent and Trade Mark Attorney.

Leon is a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia and advises in all fields of Intellectual Property protection, offering special expertise in Mechanical Engineering.

Leon is a registered Australian and New Zealand Patent and Trade Mark Attorney broadly experienced in all aspects of intellectual property law, including patents, trade marks, and designs. He currently has over 20 years’ experience in the intellectual property profession and specialises in assisting clients to develop and manage their local and overseas intellectual property portfolios.

Leon’s expertise includes the preparation and prosecution of patents, trade marks and designs, the preparation of legal opinions, freedom-to-operate analyses, and providing general advice regarding intellectual property issues.

Leon is a founding member and Director of MTA and regularly travels overseas to visit our network of foreign associates and attends conferences to maintain up to date knowledge of developments in foreign jurisdictions. 

Prior to commencing a career in the patent profession, Leon received a Bachelor of Engineering with a major in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Adelaide. His Honours project was in the area of combustion technology and involved the manufacture and commissioning of a flameless oxidation (FLOX) burner. Following a period working as a mechanical design engineer in industry, Leon returned to complete a Masters of Intellectual Property at the University of Technology in Sydney.

Leon’s patent practice has focused predominantly upon drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the following technical fields:

• Medical Devices including prosthetics and joint replacement/enhancement technologies.

• Filtration including crossflow microfiltration (CFMF) systems.

• Mining apparatus including devices for hauling, excavating, conveying, drilling and ventilation.

• Automotive technology including internal combustion engines, pumps and compressors.

• Green technology including solar energy collection and storage, cooling, heating and dehumidification systems.

• Irrigation including fittings and valves for use in agriculture, viticulture and horticultural applications.

• Rail apparatus including railway bogies, brake / suspension systems, and door release systems.

• Marine technologies including anchor winches and aquaculture cultivation.

• Computer implemented inventions.

Leon also has a keen interest in trade mark law and has been actively involved in the protection and enforcement of some of South Australia’s more prominent wine trade marks. He has served as a mentor to undergraduate students and entrepreneurs, and prides himself on providing clear and commercially realistic advice to his clients.

Mr. Leon Trento Professional Associations

• Fellow of the Institute of Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys (FIPTA)

• Member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ)

• Member of the Australian Institute of Engineers (MIEAust)

• Member of the University of Adelaide Alumni (Adelaide onLION)

Dr Helen Golias

ASSOCIATE

Bachelor of Engineering (Chem) (Hons) PhD
Patent and Trademark Attorney (Australia and New Zealand)

Dr Helen Golias completed a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a PhD majoring in Biochemical Engineering at the University of Melbourne. Whilst obtaining her PhD, Helen was a lecturer in the Chemical Engineering department at the University of Melbourne.

Helen is a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys and offers special expertise in Biochemical Engineering, Process Engineering and Momentum and Heat and Mass Transfer systems.

Helen is a registered Australian and New Zealand Patent and Trademark Attorney and has the benefit of over 15 years of experience in the patent profession. Helen was awarded a Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical) (with Honours) from the University of Melbourne and conducted research at the same University, specifically in the field of Biochemical Engineering, for which she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy.

Helen’s Doctorate was awarded for her research involving the use of novel recombinant bacteria in the production of fermentation ethanol for use as an industrial and transport fuel.

Prior to joining MTA in 2012, Helen gained experienced in two national Patent Attorney firms based in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to a patent practice primarily in the chemical and mechanical fields, Helen also regularly files and prosecutes design and trade mark applications for both local and overseas clients.

Helen is also involved in various contentious matters including patent oppositions and litigation and regularly provides patent infringement and freedom to operate advice.

Helen has particular experience drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the following technical fields:

• Fermentation and chemical technology including wine processing; manufacture of adhesives; cementitious product formulation and processing, pharmaceuticals, health and hygiene.

• Chemical, petroleum and natural gas processing.

• Process engineering including fermentation alcohol production and wine processing, filtration and separation technologies.

• Packaging technologies including pest control and emanation devices, agricultural and landscaping products; containers and transport packaging.

• Mechanical devices including pest control devices, agricultural and landscaping devices; construction materials, building products and metal fabrication techniques.

• Medical devices including implantation, formulation and coating technologies.

• Computer implemented methods of conducting complex computational analyses and transactions.

Helen enjoys providing quality, strategic advice to clients ranging from large multinational corporations to SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises) and local inventors. Helen’s focus is upon establishing strong working relationships with her clients.

Dr Helen Golias Professional Associations

• Fellow of the Institute of Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys (IPTA)

• Member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia & New Zealand (IPSANZ)

• Member of Institute of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)

• Member of Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI)

• Member of Australian Biotechnology Association (ABA)

• Founding Member of Victoria Fermentation Special Interest Group (VFSIG)

Michelle Wilson

ASSOCIATE

Bachelor of Science (Biomed)
Graduate Diploma Intellectual Property
Graduate Diploma Commercial Law
Registered Trade Mark Attorney (Australia & New Zealand)

Michelle has over 20 years’ experience in intellectual property (IP) gaining her registration as a Trade Mark Attorney in 2001.

Prior to joining MTA, Michelle gained extensive Trade Mark Law experience in top tier law firms in Melbourne and boutique Trade Mark specialist firms in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

In her practice, Michelle has represented start-ups, large multinational corporations, universities and government organisations and enjoys assisting both local and foreign clients in all aspects of Trade Mark Law, Design Law and domain name matters.

As a result of acting for many clients in contentious matters, Michelle has developed good working relationships with many Barristers in Melbourne and Sydney and can assist clients regarding the selection of the most appropriate advocate for any contentious matters requiring an advocate before the Federal Court.

In particular Michelle has extensive experience advising and assisting clients in relation to:

  • Prosecuting and registering Trade Marks in Australia, New Zealand and overseas
  • Selection of suitable brands and extensive prior Trade Mark availability searching
  • Preparation of evidence and attending Trade Mark Opposition Hearings before the Australian and New Zealand Trade Mark Offices
  • Trade Mark infringement opinions and advice
  • Management of large Trade Mark portfolios
  • Managing and resolving domain name disputes 
  • Selecting and briefing counsel and providing litigation support 
  • Monitoring competitor activity with respect to brands 
  • Registering designs in Australia, New Zealand and overseas

Ms Michelle Wilson’s Professional Associations:

  • Fellow of the Institute and Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (FIPTA)
  • Licensing Executives Society of Australia and NZ (LESANZ)
  • The International Trademark Association (INTA)

David Goodfellow

ASSOCIATE

Bachelor of Science (Physics)
Master of Intellectual Property
Patent Attorney (Australia and New Zealand)

David was awarded a Bachelor of Science (with Honours and Awards for research) in Physics from the University of Adelaide and studied toward his PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the same university.

David is a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia and a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ). David offers special expertise in relation to protecting hardware and software technologies and has particular expertise in relation to printing and ink delivery technologies for very rapid printing.

David has over 15 years experience in the intellectual property (IP) field and as a registered Australian and New Zealand Patent Attorney.

David was awarded a Bachelor of Science (with Honours and Awards for research) in Physics from the University of Adelaide and studied towards his PhD in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at the same university. David has also been awarded a Master of Intellectual Property Law from the University of Melbourne.

David has worked in private practice at Patent Attorney firms in Australia and Japan and can speak fluent Japanese. He has also assisted as internal counsel at a start-up company and various Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

In his private practice, David has assisted local and foreign clients secure patent, design and trade mark rights in Australia and worldwide. In his internal counsel roles, David has actively managed and is familiar with the issues associated with management of patent portfolios.

Over the years, David has been involved in many due diligence investigations and contentious matters including litigation and arbitration.

In support of these matters, David has provided patent infringement and validity opinions, and regularly conducts freedom to operate and patentability searches to advise his clients accordingly.

In his internal counsel role, David has also developed IP strategy and policy statements to govern the development and cultivation of Intellectual Property within an organisation.

David is uniquely experienced in building substantial patent portfolios and has drafted and prosecuted thousands of patents from application to grant, particularly in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. David provides advice in a wide range of technologies with a particular focus upon computer implemented methods and computer software and hardware systems.

David has experience drafting and prosecuting patent application in the following fields:

• Wireless power systems and associated apparatus.

• Communications networks and protocols.

• Data processing systems and data input methods.

• Medical devices including stents, prosthetics and joint replacement devices and associated methods.

• Mechanical devices encompassing a large range of applications including submerged laser welding apparatus.

• Printing systems including ink delivery methods.

• Printing methods and apparatus for very rapid printing.

David Goodfellow Professional associations:

• Fellow of the Institute of Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys (FIPTA)

• Member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia & New Zealand (IPSANZ)

Despina Bedovian

LAWYER AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEY

Bachelor of Business (Marketing & Music Industry)
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
Masters of Law (Intellectual Property)

Despina is based in our Melbourne Office and has met the qualification requirements for a Trade Mark Attorney. Whilst in the process of obtaining registration, Despina continues to assist MTA Attorneys with a wide range of trade mark and design matters.

Despina was awarded a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing and the Music Industry from Victoria University and subsequently completed a Bachelor of Laws (First class Honours) also from Victoria University.

Upon completion of her legal qualifications, Despina was admitted to legal practice in 2010. Subsequent to her admission, Despina commenced a Masters Degree in Intellectual Property (IP) and was awarded same in January 2015 from the University of Melbourne.

During her studies towards her Masters Degree in IP, Despina received the Pinkerton Scholarship for Designs Law and Practice. Prior to joining MTA, Despina worked in personal injury and immigration law at two leading Melbourne law firms.

However, her true passion is Intellectual Property. Since joining MTA, Despina has advised clients in both contentious and non-contentious Trade Mark and Domain Name matters and has assisted clients to achieve their strategy regarding trade mark and design rights in Australia, NZ and overseas including the United States, Europe and South East Asia.

In particular Despina has specific experience advising clients in relation to:

• Publishing, consultancy and advisory services;

• Fault detection and location system for manufacturing and processing operations;

• Gambling advisory services including assistance services for problem gamblers;

• Retail services including traditional and on-line;

• Sporting events and management including merchandising;

• Footwear and clothing;

• Homewares and appliances including glassware; and

• Alcoholic beverages including wine.

Despina provides advice to both large and small private clients and government agencies and is focused upon providing strategic advice to all clients of Trade Marks and Designs to achieve the client’s objective in the most cost effective manner.

Mark Dowlan

TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST AND TRAINEE PATENT ATTORNEY

Bachelor of Engineering (Computing)

Mark holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Computing) with first class honours from Monash University. As an engineer he has been trained in a diverse range of skills from manufacturing and quality systems to business processes, supply chain and facility layouts.

With his engineering background Mark brings a methodical and pragmatic approach to any engagement. Since joining MTA, Mark has assisted in the development of patent applications in a range of fields.

Mark has over 18 years experience working with clients in the management, design and implementation of technical solutions. Prior to joining MTA, Mark worked for Accenture designing and developing solutions for a variety of small and large, public and private sector clients.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Computing) with first class honours from Monash University. As an engineer he has been trained in a diverse range of skills from manufacturing and quality systems to business processes, supply chain and facility layouts.

With his engineering background Mark brings a methodical and pragmatic approach to any engagement. Subsequent to his graduation from University, Mark worked for Accenture (a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company) from 1997 through to 2010.

During this time Mark worked across a range of industries, clients and technologies and his many roles included solution architecture, system development, project management, data modelling, software requirements development and system reviews.

Mark worked extensively with both custom and packaged technology solutions for a variety of small and large, public and private clients.

Since joining MTA, Mark has assisted in the development of patent applications in the following fields:

• Database systems and searching algorithms.

• Consumables and wearable technologies.

• Mobile applications and supporting infrastructure.

• Social media applications.

• Financial transactions and processing systems and

• Interfacing technologies.

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