Michael is a registered Patent and Trade Marks Attorney with a background in biotechnology. At Madderns, he works with local and foreign clients and attorneys to provide protection for intangible assets through patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights. While these registered rights are important, he understands that holistic strategies for the protection of intangible assets must include non-registrable rights, such as know-how, customer lists, supply chains or bills of materials. Michael has a particular interest in all things in the life sciences and has an engineering bent.
Michael joined Madderns after working as a research scientist in Australia and the United States. He studied at the University of Adelaide, where he obtained a PhD in plant biotechnology and was awarded a Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence. Michael’s research identified transcription factors important in the regulation of salinity tolerance in rice plants and one transcription factor with a potential application in conferring drought tolerance.
Following his PhD, Michael undertook research at Oregon State University where he worked on genetic containment in poplar and eucalyptus trees. Specifically, DNA constructs were used to knock-down the expression of genes involved in the transition of vegetative tissue to floral tissue, in order to prevent flowering. This enabling technology will allow the introduction of agronomically-important genes, without the risk of gene flow to wild populations.
Michael also obtained a Bachelor of Biotechnology with first class honours at Flinders University, receiving the University Medal for his academic achievements.
Michael also won the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia Institute Prize for 2018, which is awarded annually to a newly-qualified candidate who has shown excellence in academic subjects and has best demonstrated that they have the potential to contribute substantially to the profession. Michael has also been named a Rising Star for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 in Managing IP’s annual IP Stars international list.
Michael’s outside interests include operating a hobby farm, brewing and chasing around his children.
