BIO
I began my practice in the Silicon Valley in 1990 working for a top-tier law firm.  There, I prepared agreements for various public and private companies while also attending to their IP portfolios.  Also, during that time, I managed three successful patent litigation matters. 

​​

In 1997, I moved to Portland Oregon where I was General Counsel to two tech companies.  The first was a software consulting firm where I negotiated customer contracts.  The second was an online electronics retailer where I re-negotiated many existing contracts. 

​

From there, I moved to France and worked remotely for Motorola Mobility for eight years, preparing around 200 patent applications while tending to associated legal matters such as ownership rights. 

​

Finally, I arrived in Australia in 2010.  Prior to becoming an Australian lawyer and patent attorney, I was a patent examiner at IP Australia.  After gaining my credentials in Australia, I continued my practices in commercial law and IP procurement.  For example, while in-house, I built a patent portfolio of 55 assets for WiseTech in the year before its IPO.  I was also in-house counsel for Licella Holdings, an industrial chemical company, managing all of its contracts over several years.  I was also on secondment with the NSW Department of Industries assisting with its IP policy development.  At the moment, I am on contract with a mining company in WA doing IP related work in addition to work my smaller clients. 

​​

As it stands, for over thirty-six years of continuous legal practise, I have prepared and prosecuted at least 1,000 patent applications and filed and prosecuted hundreds of trade mark applications while having managed dozens of patent portfolios.  For example, I built a substantial patent portfolio for Silicon Controls which was bought by an American company.  Also, I have successfully managed trade mark and patent oppositions for my clients.  

EDUCATION
Bachelors Degree, Physics, UCLA, 1986
JD, Loyola Law School, 1989

BAR LOCATIONS

Principal Lawyer, Victoria 2024-Present

Law Society of NSW, 2014-2024

State Bar of California, 1990-2024

Registered at the USPTO, 1991

Registered with the Trans-Tasman IP Board, 2018

PERSONAL STORY

I was born and raised in Hollywood, California.  To me, Hollywood in the 1960's and 1970's seemed like a normal life.  However, now I realise it was anything but normal.

 

Mom was a school teacher, Dad a jazz musician.  You can imagine how that ended up.  I was raised by my single and very strong mother.  I was very close to my dad even still.

​

I did not start university until I was 25.  Before then I was into crafts, living up in Eureka California and then in Marin County - but then realised my mother was right - I needed an education.  To her shock, I graduated from UCLA with a physics degree.  A professor suggested I consider law, so I did and found myself in IP while still in law school.  

​

I moved back to the Bay Area to start my practice.  I finally had my first child when I was 40.  We moved to Portland Oregon in 1997 and I had my second child there.  I was a bit bored living in the US, so we moved to France in 2004.  From there my husband moved back to the US when my daughters were still young, and in 2010, my daughters and I moved to Australia.

 

My daughters are in their 20's, and both make me very proud.  I feel very lucky to have had a fulfilling career in law and technology.  I love working with clients - they are always so appreciative and engaging.  I still work in craft very regularly, enjoying life in Australia, and I am very happy to have made the moves across the globe that we did.

​