Boutique intellectual property firm Pearce IP has continued to grow, making this new appointment the 15th hire in 2024.

New executive lawyer and New Zealand head of litigation Paul Johns joins Pearce IP from AJ Park (formerly Baldwins), where he led the litigation and commercial practice group for a cumulative nine years.

Johns is an intellectual property dispute resolution specialist with more than 24 years of experience across New Zealand and the UK. He is experienced in managing contentious disputes regarding all types of intellectual property and related issues, including patents, copyright, trademarks, designs, confidential information and consumer law.

Pearce IP first launched its New Zealand offering in October 2023 with the hire of lawyer, patent attorney and notary Julie Ballance. The firm has since hired four staff members, who supplement the firm’s Australia-based and NZ-qualified staff.

Johns is the ninth IP professional the firm has hired who is NZ-qualified and registered and will, according to Pearce IP CEO Naomi Pearce, drive Pearce IP’s growth in New Zealand.

“I am absolutely delighted that Paul has joined Pearce IP and am excited to work with him at an executive level to build out our New Zealand-based legal capacity both in Wellington, Auckland and elsewhere,” she said.

“Paul’s commencement represents a megaphone to the New Zealand IP community that Pearce IP is realising its 2027 vision to be the premier life sciences IP practice in Australia and New Zealand.”

This news follows the appointment of a head of legal, head of trademarks, and special counsel in February this year, as well as the addition of New Zealand lawyer Faran Shazhad, formerly of AJ Pietras, and Australian lawyer James Downie, formerly at the ACCC, to Pearce IP’s Sydney team in January this year, the same month that Wellington-based seasoned US patent lawyer and prosecutor Carol Johns PhD (formerly of AJ Park) joined the firm. Special counsel lawyer and patent attorney Julie Ballance (also NZ-based) joined Pearce IP in October 2023.  The firm has also appointed three other non-legal staff this year and said that in June, it will have another senior patent attorney joining.

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Following organic growth over the last 12 months, Pearce IP increased the number of fee earners by 65 per cent, and executives and special counsel by 59 per cent.

“The key strategic ‘pivots’ for Pearce IP over the last 12 months have been to invest in our trademarks capability and to invest in our growth in New Zealand,” Pearce said.

“In FY23, Pearce IP was the highest filer of life sciences patent litigation matters in Australia. One of these matters was transferred to Pearce IP from Allens after commencement. Additional matters, which Pearce IP will commence in 2024, will entrench Pearce IP’s market-leading position in patent litigation in 2024.”

The firm has also grown by 65 per cent and has 80 per cent female staff, more than 70 per cent female leaders and a diverse workforce, with 17 per cent having a disability and 23 per cent being culturally and linguistically diverse.

“We have worked hard over the past two years to regroup and ‘gear up’ for this exponential growth by remaining unapologetically focused on the firm’s mission, vision and values, and pivoting when required. Pivoting has involved making important strategic investments to create further growth opportunities, with a focus on trademarks and NZ,” Pearce said.

“With new leaders in place, each of our business units is thriving.”

Lauren Croft

Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.