Pearce IP and five of its leaders have been recognised in the IAM Patent 1000 for 2026, with rankings across Australia and New Zealand for patent litigation and patent prosecution.
2026 marks the sixth consecutive year of Pearce IP Australia being ranked in the IAM Patent 1000 – one of only 51 law firms recognised this year – and our second consecutive year achieving Silver rankings for both Prosecution and Litigation.
Pearce IP New Zealand has been ranked for Prosecution by IAM Patent 1000 every year since the office opened in New Zealand in 2024 and is one of only 17 firms listed this year.
In addition to Pearce IP’s firm-wide rankings, several of the firm’s key leaders received individual recognition, part of only 199 individuals listed in Australia and 53 in New Zealand:
Naomi Pearce | Founder & CEO, Executive Lawyer, Patent and Trade Mark Attorney
Gold (AU) Litigation; Gold (AU) Prosecution.
“…dual qualifications as an executive lawyer and patent attorney shape Pearce IP’s integrated approach to life sciences IP. With a background in molecular biology and substantial experience in both private practice and in‑house environments, she is the strategic driver behind many of the firm’s most complex patent programmes. Pearce’s practice spans early‑stage innovation capture, freedom‑to‑operate assessment, and sophisticated market‑entry strategy for advanced therapeutics, positioning her as the central architect of the firm’s cross‑border patent planning.” – IAM Patent 1000
Helen Macpherson | Executive Lawyer & Head of Litigation AU
Silver (AU) Litigation; Silver (AU) Transactions.
“…scientific grounding in biochemistry and molecular biology enables her to navigate disputes involving tight intersections of law and technical subject matter. Her role within the team ensures continuity from early strategic advice through to the demands of active enforcement, amendments and validity analysis, creating a strong bridge between legal theory and courtroom execution.” – IAM Patent 1000
Paul Johns | Executive Lawyer, Trade Mark Attorney & Head of Litigation NZ
Recommended (NZ) Litigation.
“…brings more than 25 years of experience to the practice, having previously worked at large multinational firms, and combines strong technical and legal acumen in IP litigation with a scientific background in genetics and microbiology.” – IAM Patent 1000
Jacinta Flattery-O’Brien | Special Counsel, Patent Attorney
Silver (AU) Prosecution.
“With over 20 years’ experience and a doctorate in a biotech discipline, Flattery-O’Brien leads prosecution work for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical portfolios. Her practised hand in drafting, claim development and multi‑jurisdictional coordination ensures that the firm’s strategic advice is matched by technically precise and commercially relevant protection.” – IAM Patent 1000
Chantal Savage | Special Counsel, Lawyer
Next Generation Leader (AU).
“Australian and UK experience adds further depth in multi‑jurisdictional patent disputes. Savage’s work spans pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, gene‑editing, medical devices and a range of engineering‑based technologies.” – IAM Patent 1000
IAM 1000 comments:
“Pearce IP has established itself as a go‑to outfit for life sciences mandates across Australia and New Zealand. Combining technical depth with seasoned legal insight, the firm delivers integrated prosecution and advisory services for innovators and companies operating in pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, biotechnology, ag‑tech, food‑tech and med‑tech. Its practitioners bring substantial scientific grounding, enabling the group to navigate complex portfolios, product lifecycles and cross‑border patent strategies with ease. The team is also recognised for its strong collaborative culture and for fielding one of the region’s most experienced concentrations of life sciences specialists.”
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