Pearce IP is very pleased to welcome Associate, Patent Attorney (US) Carol Johns PhD to our team. Carol is based in Wellington, and her commencement furthers the Pearce IP expansion into New Zealand.
Carol has more than 20 years’ experience supporting life sciences industries in private practice at a leading US law firm Kilpatrick Townsend and in-house at a global biopharma giant Roche. With her roots as a US qualified patent attorney and registered US lawyer, Carol moved to New Zealand in 2019. She will be registered as a Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney (AU and NZ) in early 2024.
Carol holds a PhD in Biology from the University of California, San Diego and a JD from the University of California, Berkeley. Her practice focuses on biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology including antibodies and biologics, CAR-T therapies, microbiomics, vaccines, anti-virals, medical devices, diagnostics, plants (including transgenics) and agricultural products. Carol’s has extensive experience on all aspects of attorney work including global portfolio management, drafting and prosecution, freedom-to operate opinions, infringement and validity opinions, strategic advice, and contentious challenges.
Pearce IP’s founder and CEO Naomi Pearce says:
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Carol Johns PhD to the growing Pearce IP team, and excited to showcase her depth of experience and talent to our life sciences clients. Her significant legal and IP experience and her technical excellence will be of great and immediate value to Pearce IP’s team and clients.”
Executive and Head of Prosecution Chris Vindurampulle PhD says:
“Pearce IP’s strategy is to source qualified and seasoned talent, and Carol is no exception. Carol’s life sciences patent experience is deep and broad, and her skills are well suited to supporting Pearce IP’s rapidly growing client base. It is with great pleasure that I welcome Carol to the team”.
About Pearce IP
Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the life sciences industries (in particular, pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, biotech, ag-tech and food tech). Pearce IP is recognised by MIP as the only leading regional IP firm with a female founder, and is certified by WEConnect International as women owned. 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 Chambers & Partners, 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.
Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: Chambers & Partners, IAM Patent 1000, MIP IP Stars, Doyle’s Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, and have been honoured with many awards including Australian Law Awards – IP Partner of the Year, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, 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.