Stephen Stern

Tony has been the Hall & Wilcox Managing Partner since 2007. He is well recognised in the legal sector and has led the firm through a period of substantial growth and success. Tony won Managing Partner of the Year at the Australian Law Awards in 2017 and 2015 (and was a finalist in 2014 and 2016). He was also a finalist for Law Firm Leader at the Australasian Law Awards in 2017. Tony won the Law Institute of Victoria Managing Partner of the Year Award in 2009. Tony, as Managing Partner of...

Alex has extensive experience in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in a wide range of biotechnology-related disciplines, including immunology, antibody therapeutics, vaccines, molecular biology, cell biology, stem cells, medical diagnostics and protein fractionation. He assists local clients in developing commercially-focused patent strategies for the global and domestic markets. He also advises clients in contentious and non-contentious patent matters and has extensive e...

Katrina’s focus is on providing her clients with a high level of service and care. Drawing on her experience and expertise in Family Law, Katrina provides considered, strategic and practical legal advice to her clients. Katrina has extensive experience advising clients on all aspects of the Family Law process, including negotiated agreements, mediation and defended litigation. She ensures her clients have a clear understanding of their entitlements and obligations, so that they can make...

Michael practices in all areas of trade mark law including availability and infringement searches, prosecution, opposition and trade mark infringement issues and related copyright, trade practices and associated common law actions. Michael manages the trade mark portfolios of numerous Australian and multi-national companies. Michael has particular expertise in internet related trade mark and copyright issues and he heads up Davies Collison Cave’s domain name practice group. He was a mem...

Ali Erskine is a Principal at Harwood Andrews and heads the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team. Ali has more than 15 years post qualification experience. Ali joined Harwood Andrews with significant experience in all areas of commercial dispute resolution and regularly advises business clients to resolve disputes and manage risk. Ali is a specialist in relation to terminal and non-terminal insolvency, securities, and security enforcement. Ali also has significant experience relating to sha...

Kate is a Principal at Harwood Andrews in the Planning, Environment and Local Government team. She recently joined Harwood Andrews from a national law firm where she was a Senior Associate in the Public Law Group, specialising in planning and environment law. She was admitted to legal practice in 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law from Deakin University. Kate acts for both government and private clients in metropolitan and regional Victoria. She regularly appears in a variety of planning m...

Andrew acts for technology companies, Cooperative Research Centres, universities, agribusinesses and major corporates on technology transactions, IP commercialisation and regulatory matters. His clients span AgTech, life sciences and environmental technology, as well as logistics, defence and consumer goods businesses. Andrew advises on technology transactions, commercialisation of intellectual property, research and development agreements, commercial agreements and information technology. He...

Hannah Brown is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Intellectual Property Law. Hannah practices law in Melbourne, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Hannah Brown since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Hannah Brown is held by other lawyers.

Chris’ major area of practice is intellectual property litigation. He has more than 30 years experience in patent, trade mark, design, copyright, trade practices and confidential information litigation on behalf of both applicants and respondents. He has also acted in patent and trade mark oppositions before IP Australia. Chris joined the firm in 1989, becoming a partner in 2001. Chris has successfully acted in a number of significant matters before State Courts and the Federal and High...

Dr. Rodger Fernandez is a Senior Lawyer at FCG Legal Pty Ltd and is a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the High Court of Australia. He is also admitted to practice as a solicitor in New South Wales and is accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria as a Specialist Solicitor in Immigration Law. He has been in legal practice for over 30 years. He is the former Chairperson of the Advisory Committee to the Specialisation Board of the Law Institute of Victoria in immigr...