About

About our trademark & R&D lawyers in Geelong & Melbourne

William Lancaster – expert intellectual property and R&D lawyer

Education

Bachelor of Science (Honours – Biochemistry) – University of New England
Bachelor of Laws – University of New England
Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice – The Australian National University.

Experience

William has previously worked as an Examiner of Patents (Biotechnology) with IP Australia – the Australian government agency responsible for the administration of patents, trademarks, designs and plant breeder’s rights. His responsibilities included: examination of Australian patent applications; performing search and examinations on behalf of other international patent offices and organisations (United States Patent & Trademark Office, Singapore Patent Office, World Intellectual Property Organisation). This experience provides William within an inside knowledge of the patent protection system.

William commenced legal practice at a boutique commercial and innovation and technology law firm in Melbourne’s CBD, where he was responsible for providing specialist IP, technology and general commercial advice.

William has previously served roles IP & Contracts Manager at the Molecular Plant Breeding Cooperative Research Centre (MPBCRC) and Legal Counsel at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) where he provided advice with respect to technology licensing, collaborative research ventures, IP protection and commercialisation of technology. William has also served various General Counsel roles including at an Australian start-up pharmaceuticals company, a rail engineering company, medical device company and senior in-house secondment roles at organisations including one of Australia’s largest banks.

Specialties

Provision of advice relating to infringement and validity of patents, copyright and the registration and protection of trademarks;

Drafting and reviewing commercial agreements including complex domestic and cross-border IP and technology licensing and commercialisation arrangements; confidentiality agreements; material transfer agreements; research, consulting and service agreements;

Design and Constructions agreements for complex and technology dependent infrastructure developments;

IP due diligence, and IP identification, capture, ownership and protection strategies.

Memberships

Tarwirri (Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria)
Law Institute of Victoria