Practice Areas
Biography
Michelle has over 25 years of experience in the field of intellectual property. She is a lawyer and registered trade mark attorney. Her principal area of practice is trade mark prosecution.
Michelle leads Simpsons’ Trade Marks Practice. Michelle assists clients to secure and protect trade mark registration rights in Australia and overseas. This work includes conducting and reporting on clearance searches, drafting trade mark applications, responding to examination reports, and representing clients in oppositions and non-use removal actions before the Australian Trade Marks Office. Michelle has successfully prosecuted a wide range of trade marks for her clients including word marks, logos, and taglines, and non-traditional marks such as colour, shape, and sound marks. She advises clients across a broad range of industries, including music and entertainment, education, electronic gaming, health, food and beverages, fashion, homewares, furniture, and building materials.
Michelle is a Fellow of The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia and also has a background in copyright and in litigation.
Prior to joining Simpsons, Michelle was a Partner at a patent and trade mark attorney firm.
Achievements
Michelle is listed in the WTR 1000 World Trade Mark Review and recognised among the world’s leading trade mark professionals.
Present roles
Michelle is currently a member of the International Trade Mark Association’s Indigenous Rights Committee, and the contributor for Australia to the International Trade Mark Association’s Madrid System Guide: International Registration Practice and Procedure.
Past roles
Member of the International Trade Mark Association’s Non-Traditional Marks Committee.
Education
Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in History and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the Australian National University, and a Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice from the University of Technology Sydney.
