Australian IP firms Fisher Adams Kelly Callinans and Cullens and Asia-Pacific IP firm Spruson & Ferguson have announced they will combine to form one firm operating under the Spruson & Ferguson brand from April.

Fisher Adams Kelly Callinans, Cullens and Spruson & Ferguson are members of IPH Limited, an IP services group listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and the first Australian-listed IP services group to combine multiple brands.

Andrew Blattman, IPH Limited managing director and CEO, said the move would bring significant benefits to the business, its clients and people. “Through this merger we expect significant benefits will flow to the business, its clients and people, with synergies in operations, access to an even greater talent base and integration with Spruson & Ferguson’s Asia-Pacific service offering.”

The integrated firm will employ a team of more than 400 staff, including 152 IP professionals, working across 10 primary offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney.

The other patent and trademark attorney businesses in the IPH Group, Pizzeys Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys and New Zealand firm AJ Park, will not be affected.