Spruson & Ferguson welcomes onboard Katrina Crooks, one of Australia’s top IP litigation lawyers, who joins the firm as a Principal.
Katrina brings 25 years’ IP experience gained in full service commercial law firms and leading IP boutique firms in Australia, New Zealand and Europe, and is recognised as a leading IP litigator in numerous professional ranking publications including IAM Patent 1000, Doyles Guide and WIPR Australia Patent and Trade Mark Leaders.
She handles IP litigation across a range of sectors and has acted in a number of high profile Federal Court IP cases in recent years.
Katrina has a particular interest in the life sciences industry, acting for numerous global leaders in that field. She is also a qualified patent attorney.
Katrina will join Spruson & Ferguson’s already busy litigation practice, offering clients the benefit of her extensive experience.
Katrina was previously a Principal at Shelston IP, an IPH member firm that integrated with Spruson & Ferguson in late 2021.
Chris Bevitt, Head of Spruson & Ferguson’s legal practice nationally commented, “We see Katrina re-joining the IPH group as a significant mark of our success in creating a dynamic and rewarding workplace, with exposure to some of the best work in the country, alongside Australia’s largest patent attorney practice.”
Katrina commented, “Spruson & Ferguson is a pre-eminent Australian IP firm offering tailored IP service offerings to its clients from around the globe.”
“I am excited to re-join this network, and work together with the deep talent at Spruson & Ferguson to provide holistic IP solutions for our clients as well as having the opportunity for our clients to take advantage of the leading technical expertise of our patent attorneys in litigation matters.”
Katrina’s appointment will bring Spruson & Ferguson’s legal practice complement of senior leaders to eight Principals and three Special Counsel, amongst the largest groups of senior IP legal specialists in the Australian market.
The legal practice is also able to draw on the IP expertise of another 36 Principals and Special Counsel in our Australian patent and trade mark attorney practice.
The Spruson & Ferguson legal team is also pleased to announce that patent litigator Elizabeth-Erin Valassakis started as an Associate in Sydney on 31 October 2022, arriving from Corrs Chamber Westgarth.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Queensland, making her a perfect fit in her new role with one of the country’s leading patent litigation practices.
Both Katrina and Elizabeth will be based in the Spruson & Ferguson Sydney office.