Baldwins Intellectual Property has promoted Ben Halberg to senior associate. Halberg has been a patent specialist in the firm’s mechanical & electrical patents team since 2006. He is a registered patent attorney in both New Zealand and Australia, has a degree in computer systems and electronics engineering, and is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He has extensive experience advising clients across a diverse range of technologies including electrical/ mechanical transducers, solar power systems, agritech, consumer electronics, and medical devices.

The firm has also promoted John Foulkes to associate. Foulkes is a member of the mechanical & electrical patents team in the firm’s Auckland office where he specializes in patents and registered designs. He has worked on drafting patent specifications and prosecuting applications for inventions covering rocket engines, wireless power transfer and computer systems. Foulkes’ technical background is in electrical engineering, having completed a PhD at the University of Canterbury which focused on the ability of a novel lithography technique to fabricate small features of microchips.

Similarly, the firm has promoted Lucy Hopman to associate. Hopman joined Baldwins in 2012 after graduating with an LLB and BSc from Victoria University of Wellington. As a trademark and brand protection specialist, she advises local and international clients on all aspects of trademark and related intellectual property law, including advising on availability, prosecution, opposition and infringement matters, as well as copyright, passing off and the Fair Trading Act. She has a keen interest in fashion and media and has advised start-ups on how to commercialize and protect their assets.