Intellectual property lawyers, on call.
Specialised legal and trade marks services for large corporates and in house teams.
Community and collaboration is at the heart of how we practice. We provide virtual in-house counsel for larger corporations and generalist law firms, applying our cohesive approach of advisory, protection, relationship management and commercialisation to support their business and clients.
Sharing knowledge and education is something we enjoy, whether that’s with our clients or our colleagues in the legal sector. Intellectual property is a highly specialised and nuanced field of law - but it’s one that impacts clients in all sectors. We deliver in-house training to inform other lawyers on the intricacies of intellectual property, contracts law, consumer law and e-commerce, ensuring they’re up-to-date and delivering best-practice advice for their organisation and clients.
Our capabilities.
Intellectual Property Law
Brand and IP Protection Strategies
IP Health Checks, Audits and Due Diligence
Trade Mark Registration, Monitoring, Watching and Enforcement
Copyright and Design Protection
Global Brand and IP Portfolio Management and Protection
IP Licensing and Assignments
Corporate and Group Restructuring for IP Asset Protection
Business & Commercial Law
Drafting, reviewing and negotiating on a broad range of business and commercial contracts across most industries
Working with in house teams to provide specialised advisory and transactional services
eCommerce including website terms and conditions and privacy polices
Corporate and board advisory and consulting services
Virtual In House and Fractional Counsel Services
Regulatory and Compliance
Competition and Consumer Law including unfair contracts regime, misleading or deceptive conduct and consumer guarantees
Privacy and Data Protection
Marketing practices, ACMA and the SPAM Act
Domain names and business names
Trade promotions and competitions
Compliance and Legal Education and Staff Training
Our approach.
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Audit & Gap Analysis of Intellectual Property Ownership and Licensing Rights
Brand & Intellectual Property Protection Strategy
Business Structure & Business Model for Intellectual Property Asset Protection
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Intellectual Property & Proprietary Knowledge Protection Strategies
Domestic and International Trade Mark Registration, Management & Renewal
Design Registration, Management, Enforcement & Renewal
Deed of Assignment & Transfer of Intellectual Property
Copyright Advice
Customs Registration - Anti-Counterfeit Measures
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We can provide your in-house team with front-end IP expertise for peace of mind. Our capabilities cover a broad spectrum of commercial and IP-related agreements, including:
Customer agreements and policies including B2B
Consultancy and contractor agreements
IP/IT licensing in and out arrangements including software
licensing agreements
Supply chain agreements including distribution (wholesale and retail) and manufacture
Collaborations and partnerships including funding and sponsorship arrangements
Privacy, Data Protection and SPAM policies including online
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Intellectual Property Surveillance including Trade Marks & Design Monitoring & Watching Services, Customs Registration
Trade Mark, Copyright & Design Infringement and Cease & Desist Notification
Oppositions & Non-use Matters Before IP Australia, IPONZ and Internationally.
Business Name, Domain Name & Social Media Disputes
Alternative Dispute Resolution for IP-related atters including negotiation of settlement agreements, deeds of release.
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Succession Planning & Long-term Exit Plans
Product Planning
Brand Extension
Licensing Agreements
International Expansion
Strategic Partnerships & Joint Ventures
Intellectual Property Audits and Health Checks
Intellectual Property Audits and Strategy for Mergers and Acquisitions
Virtual Fractional Counsel
Flexible legal expertise — when and where your business needs it.
At Ethikate®, we offer virtual fractional general counsel services to clients who need ongoing legal support without the commitment of a full-time hire. Whether you're scaling, restructuring, or navigating complex commercial matters, we provide strategic, responsive and pragmatic legal advice that integrates seamlessly with your team.
We also offer specialist IP fractional counsel for in-house legal teams who need extra support—whether you're short on time, experience, or simply need a second set of expert eyes. From trade marks and brand protection to licensing and commercialisation, we help you manage IP with confidence and clarity.
Smart. Scalable. Strategic.
Legal support that grows with your business.
In-house training.
The world of intellectual property is continually evolving. At Ethikate®, we enjoy sharing our knowledge and insights with our colleagues. Director Kate Ritchie delivers engaging and informative presentations, seminars and workshops for legal practitioners, ensuring they’re delivering the most up-to-date advice for their clients.
We deliver in-house training and workshops across Australia, tailored to your team, for group counsel, management, marketing and product design teams.
We’re brand defenders and champions of creativity.
Strong brands are the oxygen of success and growth, which is why brands and brand protection are at the heart of everything we do. Led by our founder, Kate Ritchie, we provide specialist advice and services in intellectual property, trade marks and brand protection strategies.
What People Are Saying.
"Kate’s ability to communicate with people allowed her to add insights to issues that crossed disciplines and find resolutions where others could not. Kate is a driven professional of the ‘old school’ variety who places her clients first, continues to develop her skills and is results-oriented. I have no hesitation in recommending Kate."
— Anthony Maugeri, Divisional Design and Engineering Manager, Habtoor Leighton Group
