All of Pearce IP’s New Zealand Executives have been recognised in the 2026 Doyle’s Guide – Leading Intellectual Property Lawyers (New Zealand) rankings.
Paul Johns is one of 11 lawyers honoured as a Leading Intellectual Property Lawyer.
Sally Paterson is one of 21 lawyers recognised as a Recommended Intellectual Property Lawyer.
Julie Ballance, recently retired from Pearce IP, is also recognised for the work she completed at Pearce IP.
Pearce IP launched in the New Zealand market in March 2025 and now holds the equal second-highest number of rankings in the 2026 Doyle’s Guide for New Zealand.
With only a select number of intellectual property lawyers recognised across New Zealand, it is an exceptional result for Pearce IP’s New Zealand practice – particularly less than two years after entering the market.
This result reflects the strength of Pearce IP’s New Zealand business and the reputation our team has built in a remarkably short time.
Naomi Pearce, Founder and CEO of Pearce IP, said:
“These rankings are a wonderful recognition of the exceptional talent we have in our New Zealand team. They demonstrate that expertise, hard work and an unwavering commitment to clients can quickly shake up an established market.
To achieve 100% of our Executives ranked, and the equal second highest number of rankings in Doyle’s Guide, in record time, is an accomplishment I am very proud of.
Congratulations to Sally and Paul and their teams.”
About Pearce IP
Pearce IP is a privately owned/independent, specialist, life-sciences focussed, intellectual property/law firm offering lawyers and attorneys in Australia and New Zealand.
Our lawyers and attorneys specialise in pharma, biopharma, biotech, ag-tech, food-tech, med-tech, although our work is broader than these industries.
Pearce IP and its leaders are ranked in every notable legal directory including: Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, MIP IP Stars, Doyles Guide, WTR 1000, Best Lawyers, WIPR Leaders, Best Law Firms, among others. In 2025, Pearce IP was honoured by Australasian Lawyer and New Zealand Lawyer as a Top Specialist Firm, 5 Star Employer of Choice, and the “Standout Winner” for Inclusion and Culture (<100 employees).
Pearce IP is the only leading IP firm in Australia and New Zealand with a female founder, and is certified by WEConnect International as women owned.
Sally Paterson
Executive, Lawyer (NZ), Patent & Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ)
Sally is a senior Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Mark Attorney, and a New Zealand registered lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in IP. Sally’s particular expertise is in life sciences, drawing from her background in biological sciences. Sally is well respected in the New Zealand IP community for her broad ranging skills in all aspects of intellectual property advice, protection and enforcement. Sally has extensive experience securing registration for patents, designs and trade marks in New Zealand, Australia and internationally, providing strategic infringement, validity and enforceability opinions, acting in contentious disputes including matters before the courts of New Zealand and before IPONZ and IP Australia, and advising on copyright and consumer law matters.
Paul Johns
Executive, Lawyer (Head of Litigation – New Zealand)
Paul is an intellectual property dispute resolution specialist with more than 24 years of experience across New Zealand and the UK. Paul is a seasoned lawyer, IP strategist, and Head of Pearce IP’s litigation team in New Zealand. Paul appears in cases before the New Zealand Court of Appeal and High Court of New Zealand, as well as the New Zealand Intellectual Property Office and IP Australia
Paul is experienced in managing contentious disputes regarding all types of intellectual property and related issues, including patents, copyright, trade marks, designs, confidential information and consumer law. With a background in molecular genetics, Paul has acted for clients across a vast range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, animal health, med-tech, food & beverage technologies, heavy vehicle engineering, fashion, hospitality, and entertainment. Paul is recommended for litigation in the IAM Patent 1000, rated for enforcement and litigation in the WTR1000, ranked for Intellectual Property Asia-Pacific in Chambers, and recognised for Intellectual Property and Litigation in Best Lawyers.