Aparna Watal

Aparna is a trusted intellectual property advisor to a number of global and local brands who rely on her expertise in trade marks, designs and domain names to guide them in complex contentious and non-contentious matters in Australia and New Zealand. She has represented clients in many high profile trade marks and domain name disputes.

She provides commercially focussed advice in relation to all aspects of intellectual property protection, management and enforcement in Australia and New Zealand and has a particular focus on: complex clearances, prosecution and registration of trade marks; trade mark oppositions, removal actions, revocations and invalidity actions; trade mark enforcement and disputes before the Registry as well as infringement, misleading and deceptive conduct and passing off claims; advising on, negotiating and drafting intellectual property related agreements, including co-existence and licensing agreements; management of global portfolios maintenance and trade mark watches, including licensing, enforcement and strategic advice; registration and recovery of domain names, including through auDRP and UDRP complaints; and searching, registering and enforcing design rights.

With her engineering background and experience, Aparna is not only uniquely placed to assist clients in the technology, automotive, manufacturing and engineering space, she has a natural aptitude for finding creative solutions and achieving the best outcomes for her clients. Aparna's clients include Australian and multi-national corporations across the media and entertainment, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, power and energy, technology, hospitality, consumer goods and fashion industries.

• Acting for one of Australia's most iconic certification schemes in respect of all aspects of trade mark clearances, protection, enforcement and management of its worldwide portfolio of household brands.

• Acting in a number of domain name disputes for a leading automotive manufacturer.

• Acting for one of the world's most recognized technology companies with products and services in healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energy in respect of all aspects of its trade mark clearances, protection, enforcement and management in Australia and New Zealand.

• Acting for leading healthcare and pharmaceutical companies in respect of their trade mark portfolio in Australia and New Zealand.

• Handling Australian trade mark matters for one of the world's most recognized media companies, including negotiating and advising on licensing deals.

• Acting for a global automotive company in respect of the filing, prosecution and maintenance of its trade marks in Australia and New Zealand.

• Acting for major Australian entities in handling global and local trade mark prosecution, brand strategy and trade mark portfolio management work.

• Advising on the IP aspects of a number of transactions, including M&A deals.

• Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand - Committee Member (New South Wales Committee)
• International Trademark Association - Committee Member (Sub-committee on Indigenous IP Rights)
• Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys - Committee Member (New Zealand and International Trade Marks Law and Practice Committee)