Overview
Peter has more than 14 years’ experience as a patent attorney specialising in biotechnology, and has built a reputation as a specialist in food & beverage technology, nutraceuticals and bioactives. He works closely with his clients, including many large corporates and universities, providing IP strategy advice, patent drafting, prosecution, patent landscape analysis, and portfolio management. He has considerable experience working with his clients to prepare and progress commercially important patent applications in New Zealand and Australia.
His background includes a BSc (Hons) in Human Genetics from the University of Otago. Peter subsequently received his award-winning PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Auckland in 2007, solving the first known structure of an important protein called myo-inositol oxygenase, implicated in Type II Diabetes. His work was published in the prestigious Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences as a significant breakthrough in diabetes research and protein chemistry.
After a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Auckland, Peter worked as a patent attorney with a large firm in New Zealand for eight years, where he led a successful Food & Beverage Innovation Team. From 2016-2022, Peter gained invaluable experience as Goodman Fielder’s Research & Innovation Manager for Australia and NZ. In this role he led the charge in setting and implementing its science-based pipeline for its food & beverage innovation, overseeing its patent portfolio management, and strategically protecting new innovation. His responsibilities included close interaction and collaboration with many universities, Crown Research Institutions, and start-ups throughout New Zealand and Australia. During his years at Goodman Fielder, Peter also successfully started and built his own business, IP Synergy, becoming well known in New Zealand for delivering IP strategies for the life sciences and food sector in NZ, as well as helping his local clients with patent protection. He joined Spruson & Ferguson’s Chemical/Life Sciences group in February 2022.
Peter’s biotech expertise, coupled with his role at Goodman Fielder and his own IP strategy consultancy business provide a unique perspective and skillset as a patent attorney that is highly valued by his clients.
Peter is a member of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia.