The Brief:
JWS has hired patent disputes specialist Chris Williams from G+T as an IP partner in Sydney.
Williams led G+T’s therapeutic goods regulatory practice and spent more than 20 years at the firm.
Johnson Winter Slattery has landed one of Gilbert + Tobin’s top patent litigators, hiring Chris Williams as an IP partner in Sydney.
Williams makes the jump after more than 20 years at G+T, where he rose from senior lawyer in 2006 to partner in 2015. At G+T, he was a partner in the IP group and led the firm’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulatory practice, advising on the rules governing medicines, medical devices and other health products.
His bread and butter is complex patent litigation, IP disputes and regulatory advisory work. He acts for clients across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, mining technology, consumer products, electronics and clean energy.
Williams’ previous matters include:
successfully defending REC Solar in patent infringement proceedings brought by Hanwha Solutions Corporation against multiple Australian solar panel manufacturers
a decade-long patent enforcement program for Index Limited relating to mining technology
acting as principal adviser to Coca-Cola Europacific Partners on food law compliance, product labelling, recalls and product safety
That mix of patent litigation and regulatory work is a big part of the pitch.
Chris has an outstanding reputation in the market as a “go to” lawyer for complex intellectual property disputes and regulatory issues particularly for products governed by the TGA. We see clients increasingly looking for a highly commercial and intelligent lawyer, like Chris, that can help them navigate both these areas.
JWS is on a hiring roll, having poached Liam Hickey from Baker McKenzie in March to join its M&A and Private Equity / Venture Capital teams in Melbourne.
Source: Johnson Winter Slattery