UK-based global intellectual property specialist firm Rouse has expanded its Asia-Pacific presence with the acquisition of Australia-based IP expert Wrays, a patent and trademark attorney firm with more than 100 years’ history and operations in Australia and New Zealand.
Gary Cox, principal of Wrays who led the Australian IP firm under the deal, told Asia Business Law Journal that the firm’s goal was to connect its Australian and New Zealand clients to Asia in a manner not previously seen, providing an ability to support their evolving needs with the best talent across this dynamic region.
Rouse, led by CEO Luke Minford, currently operates in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In Asia, the UK IP firm has four offices in the Greater China cities of Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai. In addition, it has branches in Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
“Rouse has more than 35 years of experience, depth on the ground and leadership in this fast-changing region, having been in China since 1993 and Southeast Asia since 1997. The Wrays Group’s client base will now benefit from this access and industry leading talent,” said Cox, who is an IP lawyer as well as an Australian patent and trademark attorney and a New Zealand patent attorney.
While Wrays would be a part of the Rouse Group, the Australian IP firm would operate under the Wrays brands in Australia and New Zealand, said Cox. Cox added that Wrays would continue to operate independently in Australia across its four offices, and there were no plans to open additional offices in Australia and New Zealand.
The Wrays acquisition, which was completed in August this year, included Wrays Pty Ltd, Wrays Lawyers Pty Ltd, Wrays Solutions Pty Ltd and Aperture Insight Pty Ltd. Wrays specialises in patents, trademark, design copyright, confidential information and trade secret protection.
In a 2 September press release, Rouse called this a highly strategic deal connecting the Australian and New Zealand markets to Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe in a manner not previously seen. It also noted Wrays’ wealth of expertise across the IP value chain, including a leadership position in life sciences and pharmaceutical litigation.
Following the acquisition, Cox said all of the Wrays’ principals would become Rouse principals, with Cox and fellow Wrays principal Craig Humphris taking on broader leadership roles within Rouse.
On the other hand, Paula Adamson remains the CEO of Wrays in Australia and New Zealand.
“Paula is the former commissioner of patents and registrar of trademarks and designs at IP Australia, and brings unique perspectives and input,” said Cox.