Pearce IP and 5 of its leaders have been ranked in the 2025 edition of WTR 1000 – the World’s Leading Trade Mark Professionals for Australia and New Zealand.
Pearce IP is the only firm ranked in both Australia and New Zealand for both litigation and prosecution in the 2025 World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000.
Pearce IP achieved:
- Silver – Trade Mark Prosecution & Strategy in Australia;
- Bronze – Trade Mark Litigation in Australia;
- Bronze – Trade Mark Litigation in New Zealand;
- Bronze – Trade Mark Prosecution & Strategy in New Zealand
WTR described Pearce IP as an “unprecedented market disruptor”, “bringing its best to the fore”, “shaking the trans-tasman market”, “catapulted to great success”. “The firm provides excellent service with a group of smart and talented lawyers who practice in a positive environment”.
Additionally, five of Pearce IP’s leaders were ranked by WTR1000:
- Naomi Pearce (Australia) – Silver – Prosecution & Strategy
- Kimberley Evans (Australia) – Silver – Prosecution & Strategy
- Helen Macpherson (Australia) – Bronze – Enforcement & Litigation
- Julie Ballance (New Zealand) – Bronze – Prosecution & Strategy
- Paul Johns (New Zealand) – Bronze – Enforcement & Litigation
The feedback on Pearce IP’s leaders was glowing:
Of Naomi Pearce, WTR said:
“Maestro behind the magic, Naomi Pearce hails from an impressive background working for several top-tier firms before founding the women-owned boutique in 2017. With 27 years of experience as a patent lawyer, patent attorney and trademark attorney, Pearce leverages her qualification in biochemistry and molecular biology to provide top-quality portfolio management and commercial services in the life sciences sector, having been in-house counsel at some of the most renowned pharmaceutical companies as well. ‘Naomi is a thoughtful, responsive, and creative problem solver. She has built a firm full of amazing talent, delivering wonderful legal advice at reasonable rates, by people you want to work with.’”
Kimberley Evans:
“Kimberley Evans’ expertise in both contentious and non-contentious brand management matters is just exemplary… Evans has an illustrious background working for some of the finest outfits, both as a practitioner and as in-house counsel. ‘Kimberley is smart, efficient, and strategic in her trademark prosecution work. Along with Pearce, Evans manages portfolios for industry trailblazers’.”
Julie Ballance:
“Executive Julie Balance is a renowned lawyer and notary public with over 30 years in the IP space, serving a diverse range of clients to align their branding enforcement strategies with the best pathway for commercial maximisation of trade mark portfolios. ‘We have worked with Julie for several years, who has been helping us with our trademarks in a range of countries. Julie has taken us through the whole process… and helped us make well-informed decisions.’”
Paul Johns:
“In the arena of disputes, executive and head of litigation Paul Johns enjoys a fantastic reputation in the market for his extensive experience in trademark disputes across various industries, handling infringement, opposition, revocation and invalidity cases, including appeals. Known for his strategic management of IP disputes, he has appeared as lead Counsel…as is a sought after co9mmentartor on IP matters in the media.. Contemporaries comment ‘Paul is a a very experienced IP litigator with a pragmatic and considered business head – making sound decisions based on the best commercial outcomes for his clients.’”
Helen Macpherson:
“With 25 years of experience in contentious matters in service of global and local industry leaders, Macpherson’s depth of expertise is outstanding. Her defence of clients in high-stakes disputes is a true tour de force as one peer notes “she is a very experienced trademark and intellectual property lawyer’.”
Naomi Pearce, Founder and CEO, added:
“This recognition from WTR 1000 reflects the dedication and expertise of our entire team. We are committed to delivering the highest calibre of IP services across the Trans-Tasman region, and we are thrilled to see our efforts recognised on this global stage.”
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.