Lynell Tuffery Huria has joined Kāhui Legal in Wellington as a tumuaki/partner. Huria was the first Māori patent attorney and is recognized as a leading expert on indigenous intellectual property rights, Māori intellectual property and trademark protection.

Huria was previously a principal at AJ Park in Wellington, where, in addition to work in indigenous IP issues, she was the account manager for most trademark work received at the firm from the west coast of the United States, Canada, Asia, South America and Africa. She also has an interest in intellectual property issues for Pacific Island countries.

“Of Ngāti Ruanui and Ngāruahine descent, Lynell’s passion for indigenous IP rights will enable us to better support our whānau, hapū and iwi in this increasingly important area,” the firm said in a statement. “Nau mai haere mai Lynell.”