Pearce IP is delighted to announce that leading intellectual property specialist Julie Ballance (Patent Attorney, Lawyer and Notary, NZ) commenced with Pearce IP as a Special Counsel in early October.
This also marks the expansion of Pearce IP into New Zealand and the opening of Pearce IP’s Wellington office.
Julie is a Trans-Tasman patent attorney and a New Zealand registered lawyer and notary public with more than 30 years’ IP/legal experience and a first class honours degree in chemistry. Julie is internationally renowned for her considerable patent/trade mark/designs/legal prowess, including being ranked in IAM Patent 1000.
Julie’s practice includes contentious and non-contentious patent, trade mark and designs IP/legal services in Australia and New Zealand. Julie has been extensively involved with the patent attorney profession throughout her career, having served as President of the New Zealand Intellectual Property Attorneys Inc. and as a member of the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (then the Professional Standards Board for Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys).
Pearce IP’s founder and CEO Naomi Pearce says:
“Julie Ballance is a seasoned IP professional and leader, who is internationally recognised for excellence in her craft and commitment to the profession. I am absolutely delighted that Julie has joined Pearce IP, and with Julie’s commencement, I am pleased to announce the expansion of our existing NZ focussed IP practice to include legal and notary services, and the opening of Pearce IP’s first Wellington (NZ) based office.”
Pearce IP Executive Chris Vindurampulle Phd says:
“Julie has a wealth of IP knowledge, resulting from her more than 30 years’ experience at the pinnacle of intellectual property law and practice in New Zealand and Australia. In addition to her registrations as patent attorney, lawyer and notary, Julie has a technical qualification in chemistry (with first class honours), which further complements Pearce IP’s existing life sciences-focussed offering. It is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome Julie to the patent team”.
About Pearce IP
Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Pearce IP is the 2021 ‘Intellectual Property Team of the Year’ (Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2022. Pearce IP is ranked in IAM Patent 1000 and Managing IP (MIP) IP Stars, in Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards as a ‘5 Star’ firm, and the Legal 500 APAC Guide for Intellectual Property. Pearce IP leaders are well recognised as leading IP practitioners.
Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, MIP IP Stars, Doyles Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, Best Lawyers and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, Women in Business Law Awards – Patent Lawyer of the Year (Asia Pacific), Most Influential Lawyers (Changemaker), among other awards.
Naomi Pearce
CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent & Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ)
Naomi is the founder of Pearce IP, and is one of Australia’s leading IP practitioners. Naomi is a market leading, strategic, commercially astute, patent lawyer, patent attorney and trade mark attorney, with over 25 years’ experience, and a background in molecular biology/biochemistry. Ranked in virtually every notable legal directory, highly regarded by peers and clients, with a background in molecular biology, Naomi is renown for her successful and elegant IP/legal strategies.
Among other awards, Naomi is ranked in Chambers, IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, is a MIP “Patent Star”, and is recognised as a WIPR Leader for patents and trade marks. Naomi is the 2023 Lawyers Weekly “IP Partner of the Year”, the 2022 Lexology client choice award recipient for Life Sciences, the 2022 Asia Pacific Women in Business Law “Patent Lawyer of the Year” and the 2021 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law SME “Partner of the Year”. Naomi is the founder of Pearce IP, which commenced in 2017 and won 2021 “IP Team of the Year” at the Australian Law Awards.
Chris Vindurampulle PhD
Executive, Patent & Trade Mark Attorney
Chris is a senior Patent and Trade Mark Attorney who is registered to practice before the intellectual property offices of Australia and New Zealand. He is experienced in patent drafting, patent and trade mark prosecution and opposition, and freedom to operate, opinion and due diligence work. Through his experience and delivery of highly-regarded client service, Chris has been recognised as a leading patent practitioner having been listed in the IAM Patent 1000 as a recommended individual for patent prosecution, and a Rising Star in 2021, 2022 and 2023 by Managing IP.