Under the agreement, Baldwins will join the AJ Park business and operate as one firm. The transaction remains subject to a number of conditions, including clearance by the New Zealand Commerce Commission. Time frames for clearance applications can vary, but subject to that approval and other conditions, it is expected that the transaction will complete in the third quarter of 2020.

The transaction will be effected by IPH Limited’s subsidiary, AJ Park IP, acquiring the patent attorney business of Baldwins and the benefit of Baldwins’ legal business through the acquisition of that legal business by AJ Park IP’s allied law firm, AJ Park Law.

AJ Park managing director Andrea Dickens said that the proposed acquisition would provide benefits for both businesses, their people and clients.

“Baldwins is a quality IP business with a highly qualified and experienced specialist IP team,” Dickens said. “AJ Park’s clients will have access to a deeper pool of IP expertise and Baldwins’ clients will benefit from access to AJ Park’s larger IP team and direct access to the Asian market through the IPH group Asia business.”