Four promoted at Griffith Hack, part of 25 promotions at IPH member firms
08 August 2023
Australian Securities Exchange-listed IPH Limited has promoted 25 across a number of its member firms and businesses, including seven new principal appointments. IPH employs more than 1,200 people working in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
Among the promotions were four at Griffith Hack, including James-Robert Cram, a Melbourne-based patent and trademark attorney, who was promoted to principal. Cram focuses on the identification, extraction and protection of innovation. He gives strategic advice, whether in preparing patent specifications, implementing domestic and international filing strategies, developing patent freedom-to-operate pathways or patent enforcement and defence. He has acted in many patent opposition matters in Australia, New Zealand and Europe, and has experience with other contentious matters including patent revocation in the High Court of New Zealand. He has worked with many esteemed scientific experts, and identifies the preparation of scientific evidence as a key skill. His technical expertise lies broadly in chemistry and biotechnology. He completed his Bachelor degree studies with a double-major in chemistry and biochemistry, and went on to complete PhD studies in medicinal chemistry with research in natural product synthesis for pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. He previously worked as a patent examiner with the Australian Patent Office.
Kerry Dick, a Melbourne-based patent and trademark attorney, was also promoted to principal at the firm. She practices predominantly in the fields of mechanical engineering, machinery and medical devices, with particular expertise in automotive design. She has extensive experience patenting mechanical inventions ranging from small gadgetry and tools to large-scale machinery. With formal qualifications in automotive mechanical engineering, Dick has more than 13 years’ of experience working with some of the world’s leading car manufacturers, including Land Rover, BMW, Mini, Chevrolet and GM Holden. During this time, she worked across a full spectrum of automotive innovations, including engines, gearboxes, differentials, suspension systems, glazing and sealing, and vehicle safety systems.
John Scicluna, a patent and trademark attorney based in Sydney, has been promoted to senior associate. With a background in materials science in the private and research sectors, Scicluna’s experience enables him to work across multiple areas of technology. He has experience working with a broad range of clients from individual inventors and small to medium enterprises to large global businesses and research organizations.
David Braund was promoted to associate at the firm.
