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Christopher Young

Partner
Auckland
Download Christopher's vCard

DDI:        +64 9 353 9910
Mobile:   +64 21 342 837
FAX:        +64 9 353 9701
Email:      

Chris has wide expertise in intellectual property, commercial law and related areas with a particular focus on brand strategy, portfolio management and the development, protection and commercialisation of intellectual property.

Professional Qualifications

Dip IP Law University of London, 1992
BCom University of Auckland, 1985
LLB University of Auckland, 1985

Areas of expertise

Intellectual Property
Technology, Media & Telecommunications
AgriBusiness & Biotechnology
Asia
Corporate and Commercial
Film and Entertainment
Growth Companies
Sports

Chris heads the intellectual property team. He provides practical advice on all aspects of IP including development, protection, transfer, enforcement and commercialisation. He has wide experience in commercial intellectual property law; licensing and commercialisation; franchising; protection; the IP aspects of transactions, business acquisitions, mergers, financing and securitisation transactions; brand development and clearances, trade mark registration, portfolio structuring and management; marketing and advertising; IP and marketing audits, policies and procedures; enforcement and counterfeit strategy and programmes.
 
Some of Christopher's major projects
 
Commercial Intellectual Property
  • Strategy for IP though the lifecycle from development to licensing and commercialised sale
  • Technology transfer and licensing for a wide range of clients in agricultural, manufacturing, engineering and pharmaceutical sectors
  • Leading the IP team on the IP aspects of numerous transactions (due diligence, contract negotiation, related licensing)
  • Advising local and international investors on IP aspects of investments in existing and start-up companies, during due diligence/agreement negotiation
  • Advising on IP aspects of cross-border funding structures
  • Film production arrangements for a range of films and television series
  • Franchising
  • Strategy for brand development, trade mark registration and management of trade mark portfolios for a wide range of clients in various sectors including publishing, wine, beer and spirits, battery, electricity, gas, fashion, clothing, banking, finance, FMCGs retail, entertainment, agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries
  • Advice and strategy for copyright, trade mark and other intellectual property issues for a wide range of clients in various sectors, including in the publishing, wine, beer and spirits, battery, electricity, gas, fashion, banking, finance, FMCGs, retail, entertainment, agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries
  • Border protection and anti-piracy/counterfeits strategy and campaigns
Memberships and Associations
 
Member, Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
Member, International Trademark Association
Member, Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand
Member, New Zealand Biotech Industry Organisation
 
International recognition
 
Non-Contentious individual - World Trademark Review 1000 - 2010/2011
Leading Individual - Chambers Global - 2010/2011, 2009/2010, 2008/2009
Up & Coming Individual - Chambers Global - 2006/2007
Leading Individual - Asia Pacific Legal 500 - 2007/2008, 2011/2012
 
Work history
 
Partner, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, Auckland (2005 - present)
Solicitor and then Principal, another another major New Zealand law firm, Auckland (1993 - 2005)




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