Matthew Swinn

Partner. Melbourne.

+61 3 9672 3155 |   |  vCard

Matthew Swinn’s specialty is sorting out who owns what in the world of intellectual property. He is recognised in particular for his patent litigation expertise in the manufacturing industries and life sciences sector, in which he also acts on other aspects of therapeutic goods regulation and marketing.

He has acted for some of the world's largest companies, such as Pfizer, GE and Caterpillar, including litigation in Australia and New Zealand at both trial and appellate level.

Matt’s expertise includes contentious trade mark, copyright, confidential information and consumer protection/passing-off matters and advice extending across the entire range of intellectual property issues.

Matthew Swinn’s specialty is sorting out who owns what in the world of intellectual property. He is recognised in particular for his patent litigation expertise in the manufacturing industries and life sciences sector, in which he also acts on other aspects of therapeutic goods regulation and marketing.

He has acted for some of the world's largest companies, such as Pfizer, GE and Caterpillar, including litigation in Australia and New Zealand at both trial and appellate level.

Matt’s expertise includes contentious trade mark, copyright, confidential information and consumer protection/passing-off matters and advice extending across the entire range of intellectual property issues.

“A bright and capable practitioner and a tough opponent” IAM Life Sciences 250
Matthew Swinn

Matthew's Expertise

  • GE water filtration patent enforcement Acting for GE Water & Process Technologies in a series of patent actions against Siemens group companies – relating to patents for membrane filtration technology for water purification.
  • Lexapro patent infringement and revocation proceedings Acting on behalf of H. Lundbeck A/S, a Danish pharmaceutical manufacturer, in patent infringement and revocation proceedings against Alphapharm Pty Ltd and Arrow Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, relating to the patent for Lexapro (escitalopram).
  • Ownership and multi-million dollar commercialisation of technology Advising the Australian National University regarding ownership and multi-million dollar commercialisation of technology relating to the fabrication of photovoltaic solar cells.
  • Alleged look-a-like coffee plungers Acting for Playcorp Pty Ltd in a successful action against Bodum concerning the distinctiveness of Bodum’s “Chambord” line of coffee pots.
  • Foster’s Group Ltd v. Coca-Cola Amatil Acting for Foster’s Group Ltd against Coca-Cola Amatil in a dispute relating to the trade mark ZERO.

Matthew's Leadership

  • Law Council of Australia Member of the Intellectual Property Committee, Business Law Section
  • International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property Vice President of AIPPI Australia and Chairman of Committee Q160 (ICANN)
  • American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association Member
  • IP Australia IP Professionals Forum AIPPI Representative

What others say

  • “Combining an approachable manner and a dynamic legal mind, he provides excellent support and strategic guidance as to the best options open to the client” The World's Leading Trademark Professionals, 2012
  • “Thorough litigator and good project manager with big case experience and an outstanding lawyer” Managing Intellectual Property Expert Guide on the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, 2009
  • “Clients describe Matthew Swinn as ‘highly professional and easy to work with’” Chambers Global Guide 2011
  • “...adept at relationship management” Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2010/11
  • “A bright and capable practitioner and a tough opponent” IAM Life Sciences 250: The World’s Leading Life Sciences Patent Litigators
  • “Best Lawyer - Intellectual Property and Biotechnology” Best Lawyers Peer Review, 2008-2012
  • “Leading Lawyer - Intellectual Property ” Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession, 2011
  • “Leading Lawyer - Intellectual Property” Asia Pacific Legal 500, 2010-2012
  • “Leading Lawyer - Intellectual Property: Patents” Chambers Global Guide, 2011-2012

Matthew's Thinking

  • "High risks in social media" Opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review
    8th April 2011
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  • Who’s right with internet copyright? 14th October 2011
    A recent case in the Federal Court of Australia has opened the door for copyright holders of creative content to pursue ISPs for breaching intellectual property rights in sharing their material. The battle in Australia is heating up.
    More
  • Australia should lead in counterfeit crackdown 11th October 2011
    The new Anti-counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is the latest international effort aimed at combating the more than US$200 billion dollar global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods
    More