We value diversity, inclusivity and equity in all dimensions
Pearce IP is committed to fostering a positive, respectful, diverse and inclusive work environment where employee differences are respected and valued and for all to have equal access to opportunities. We support and embrace each other’s differences and the daily actions of all staff should promote a fair, equitable and supportive work setting.
As the only Australian and New Zealand Life Sciences focused IP firm with a female founder and with more than 85% of the team women, Pearce IP is committed to celebrating and embracing a diverse workforce which includes 19% of the team from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds,17% of senior management with disability and 15% of the team under flexible workplace arrangements (a part of our work from anywhere model).
Creating an environment of trust, respect and inclusion leads to benefits such as greater innovation, better understanding of our clients and their needs, along with attracting and retaining a wide range of talented staff.
As a company we are dedicated to a culture that reflects and represents the community in which we work. Our executive team plays an important role as champions, providing leadership that creates a positive and inclusive workplace.
Pearce IP’s inclusive workplace understands and respects differences such as age, caring responsibilities, cultural background, disability, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender expression and intersex status.
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Women in Leadership
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Staff with Disability
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Female Staff
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CALD Staff
Pearce IP has a female founder & more than 75% of its leaders are women
Pearce IP is a place where it is “normal” to see women in leadership and where pay equity is a ‘given’. As Australia and New Zealand’s only female founded Life Sciences IP firm recognised by Managing IP, we are proud to have a majority leadership of capable, respected women, which is rarely seen in law firms in Australia.
In 2024 Pearce IP was awarded two of WIPR Diversity’s Top 100 List Awards. Adele Chadwick, Executive, Deputy CEO, and Head of Talent was awarded ‘Change Driver’, one of only five in the world, while Chris Vindurampulle was awarded IP Diversity Champion. In addition, Pearce IP’s founder Naomi Pearce is the 2022 Asia Pacific Patent Lawyer of the Year at the Women in Business Law Awards, is the only Australian practitioner recognised by WIPR as a Diversity Champion in IP for 2022, and the only Australian practitioner honoured by WIPR Diversity in 2021 in the world’s top 100 Influential Women in IP. Naomi was honoured to be the recipient of the peer reviewed Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Partner of the Year (SME Law) in 2021.
Pearce IP was also one of 5 firms shortlisted for the jurisdiction award for Australia at the 2022 Women in Business Law Awards, an award which celebrates “law firms that have developed strong innovative practices and projects that highlight gender diversity”.
August 2024 Women in the workplace stats:
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Pearce IP has a female founder.
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More than 75% of the Pearce IP leaders are women.
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85% of the Pearce IP team are women.
Parental Leave
Miscarriage + Loss Leave
Paternity Leave
Fertility Leave
Sorry Business Leave
Tangihanga Leave
Menopause + Menstrual Leave
Adoption & Surrogacy Leave
Our policies support and celebrate diversity
At Pearce IP, we embrace policy that celebrates diversity in a myriad of ways.
With policies that provide paid maternity leave for families who have had a miscarriage or lost a baby, parental leave for staff who have a baby via surrogacy, fertility leave, and menstrual and menopause leave for women, we demonstrate that Pearce IP’s priorities include the things that matter to our talent, ensuring the health, wellbeing and success of Pearce IP staff and their families.
Introducing Sorry Business Leave and Tangihanga Leave were an important step in acknowledging the diverse needs and requirements of all employees. Sorry Business Leave and Tangihanga Leave provides Pearce IP with the opportunity to better support our Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori staff during a time that brings significant grief and emotional challenges.
Committed to leading change in pay equity
At Pearce IP, our commitment to pay equity isn’t just a policy — it’s a fundamental aspect of who we are. In an industry where disparities often prevail, we stand out by ensuring that pay parity is a given for all our team members.
Our dedication to gender equality extends beyond equitable compensation. Women hold 70% or more of key leadership positions within our firm, exemplifying our belief in the value of diverse perspectives at every level of decision-making.
By actively promoting pay equity and supporting women in leadership, Pearce IP is not just participating in the conversation — we’re leading the change in the legal industry towards a more equitable future.
At Pearce IP, pay parity is a given.
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Work from Anywhere
Our “work from anywhere” model fosters diversity
A key factor in achieving diversity in our firm is our ‘work from anywhere’ model, allowing our team to efficiently meet client responsibilities as well as personal responsibilities, working both flexibly when required and in a way that works for them. Not only does this allow us to “hand pick” the best of the best without geographical limitation and opening up diverse geographical talent pools, it also removes barriers which might otherwise constrain a diverse work force.
Working from home encourages our people to bring their whole selves to work, promoting inclusivity, understanding and appreciation of the value that diversity brings to our work and individual interactions. In some states, staff are also provided with the opportunity to work from a dedicated office if they wish to, allowing for face-to-face engagement on a regular basis.
Pearce IP works with team members who also have a disability to ensure their workplace is accessible and the equipment they use is adapted to their needs as appropriate.
Irrespective of our backgrounds, experience or disability, all team members have equal access to:
Learning and development opportunities
Our leaders, everyday
Career development & career pathway discussions
Pay parity
Weekly, monthly & annual performance data
Challenging and interesting work
Our Leaders
Naomi Pearce
CEO, Executive Lawyer (AU, NZ), Patent & Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ)
Chris Coates (Maj Ret)
Executive, Finance
Helen Macpherson
Executive, Lawyer (Head of Litigation - Australia)
Kimberley Evans
Executive, Lawyer & Trade Mark Attorney (Head of Trade Marks - Australia)
Dr Mathew Lucas
Executive, Patent & Trade Mark Attorney
Paul Johns
Executive, Lawyer (Head of Litigation - New Zealand)
Julie Ballance
Executive, Patent Attorney and Trade Mark Practitioner (AU, NZ), Lawyer (NZ) & Notary (NZ)
Sally Paterson
Executive, Patent & Trade Mark Attorney (AU, NZ), Lawyer (NZ)
James Tocci
Executive, Corporate Services
Jacinta Flattery-O’Brien PhD
Special Counsel, Patent Attorney
Chantal Savage
Special Counsel, Lawyer
Latest Diversity News
Sisters are doin’ it for themselves: female inventors more likely to invent for women
A new report demonstrates that female-dominated inventor teams in biomedical sciences are more likely to invent female-focused inventions, but a lack of majority female inventor teams means society is missing out. Last...
Our Diversity Awards
Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer
5-Star Employer of Choice (2025)
"Standout Winner” for Inclusion and Culture (<100 employees) (2025)
Chambers and Partners
Winner - Asia Pacific and Greater China Region Awards 2025 - DEI: Outstanding Firm (2025)
Managing IP
Pearce IP – The only leading female owned Life Sciences focussed IP Firm (2023)
Women in Law Awards (Lawyers Weekly)
Naomi Pearce – Winner – Partner of the Year (SME Law) (2021)
Pearce IP – Shortlisted – Boutique Diversity Firm of the Year (2022)
Partner of the Year Awards (Lawyers Weekly)
Naomi Pearce – Finalist – Intellectual Property (2022)
World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) WIPR Diversity
Pearce IP HR – WIPR Diversity’s Top 100 (2024)
Pearce IP Leader – WIPR Diversity Champion in IP (2024)
Naomi Pearce – WIPR Diversity Champion in IP (2022)
Naomi Pearce – Top 100 Influential Women in IP (2021)
Women in Business Law Awards – APAC
Naomi Pearce – Winner – Patent Lawyer of the Year (2022)
Pearce IP – Shortlisted – Australian Firm of the Year (2022)
Naomi Pearce – Shortlisted – Life Science Lawyer of the Year (2022)