Stephen Giles

John is a founding Partner of Coghlan Duffy. He has a broad commercial practice with a focus on serving entrepreneurial clients through incorporation, investment rounds and exit transactions. John also has considerable experience in venture capital, private M&A, and general corporate and commercial matters.

Ian has extensive experience in a wide range of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law disputes and transactions covering all intellectual property regimes including patents, copyright, trade marks and related competition law issues, with a particular emphasis on strategic intellectual property litigation. Recently Ian’s practice has involved major national and multi-jurisdictional patent litigation in the pharmaceutical, life sciences, and resources/metallurgical sec...

Ian Kennedy AM is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Ian, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Deborah has extensive experience across a broad range of commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and other corporate transactions, equity investments, shareholders and joint venture arrangements, management equity arrangements, ASX listed company advice, and a wide variety of commercial arrangements. Deborah’s major clients span a range of industries, with particular focus on the technology and biotech industries, and on agribusiness, and vary...

Howard has more than 30 years’ commercial dispute experience. He has an active practice in complex commercial litigation and in significant white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions involving a wide range of commercial criminal matters, regulatory investigations and large scale inquiries, including Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry. Howard has been involved in nine Royal Commissions and Commission of Inquiry and has lead his team in acting for four parties involve...

Chantal Kirkwood is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leasing Law. Chantal, who practices law in Richmond, Australia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chantal is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cameron joined the firm in 2009 as a partner and has over 20 years’ experience in public liability, product liability, professional indemnity, contractors all risk, property and industrial special risk insurance and self-insurance. Cameron also has experience in dust diseases, intentional torts arising out of child sexual and physical abuse and bullying, commercial litigation and building and construction litigation. Cameron provides pre-contractual advice in relation to insurance polic...

Nick practices in all aspects of trade mark law, providing advice on trade mark clearance, prosecution, opposition and enforcement in Australia and New Zealand. He also advises on and manages international trade mark programs for local and international clients. In addition to his experience in all aspects of Australian trade mark law, Nick is a specialist in New Zealand trade mark law. He regularly advises and represents local and international clients regarding clearance, registration and p...

Edward is a Principal in the business law area at Sladen Legal, with a particular focus on equity, trusts and succession. The focus of his dispute practice is on protecting vulnerable beneficiaries and others negatively affected by the decisions of the incumbent controllers of estates and trusts. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in the County Court and Supreme Court in matters relating to: The removal and replacement of executors and trustees of estates and trusts; Applications for jud...

Elizabeth (Liz) specialises in all aspects of trade mark protection including selecting, searching, applying for and prosecuting trade mark applications (local and international). Liz has an extensive opposition and non-use practice and has exceptional knowledge and expertise in running opposition matters through to Hearing in the Trade Marks Office. Liz started the firm working in Davies Collison Cave Law Pty Ltd in 2000, working in all areas of IP litigation for 10 years before moving to th...