Dr. Simon Potter

Managing Director, Australia
Patents: Chemical & Life Science
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Overview

Simon commenced as the Managing Director of Spruson & Ferguson Australia in his 16th year at the firm. Prior to taking on the MD role he held key leadership positions as head of the Australian Chemical/Life Sciences team and a Director of Spruson & Ferguson Australia.

Simon has proven to be an accomplished professional services leader during his time at the firm. After joining in early 2007 he was promoted to Principal after 6 years, and more recently has overseen the growth and development of the largest Chemical/Life Sciences patent team in Australia which he led from 2017-2022. He has a demonstrated ability to develop a strong culture of teamwork and collaboration in his roles to date.

Simon has secured and maintained key relationships with a number of the firm’s most prominent clients, and continues to actively engage in business development activities across the firm. He has a comprehensive knowledge of Spruson & Ferguson’s operations across Australasia, Southeast Asia, and China, collaborating regularly with colleagues in the firm’s network of offices throughout the region. He also brings a thorough understanding of the IP industry to the role having practised for 15+ years as a patent practitioner in the biotechnology field. Simon’s move into the IP profession was preceded by a significant period in medical research, where he specialised in virology, molecular biology, genetics and immunology. After graduating from the University of Sydney with a university medal he gained a PhD for his research on HIV antiretroviral drug resistance, also at the University of Sydney. Following this Simon conducted over 2 years of postdoctoral research at the Pasteur Institute in Paris as a CJ Martin Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient, before returning to Australia to join the IP profession.

Simon’s expertise has earned him recognition from a number of IP industry guides, in particular:

  • IAM Patent 1000 (Australia) 2022; and
  • Managing Intellectual Property 2022 IP Stars
  • Australasian Lawyer 5-Star Intellectual Property Lawyer Awardee 2021

He 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.


Dr. Simon Potter's Insights
When is paying patent excess claims fees excessive in Australia and New Zealand?
Introduction In 2020, both IP Australia and the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (“IPONZ”) introduced updated fee schedules, with new fee structures impacting the payment of excess claims fees....
Introduction In 2020, both IP Australia and the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (“IPONZ”) introduced updated fee schedules, with...
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