Current practice

Prior to joining Freehills Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys in 2001 (then known as Freehills Carter Smith Beadle), John was a partner in a leading South African patent attorney firm, and has extensive international experience in the filing and prosecution of patent applications. He is qualified as a patent attorney in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Industry experience

John's technical background is in the field of electrical and electronic engineering. He has dealt with many high-end power electronics inventions, including partial series resonant converters, PWM controllers and airborne prospecting systems. He has had extensive exposure to various types of electronic identification and tracking systems and associated transponders, telecommunications networks, electronic detonators, electronic control and detection systems and MEMS devices. In the photonics area, John has been involved in the filing and prosecution of patent applications relating to optical thin films, laser-based optical components, and photonic devices including polymer optical waveguides and Bragg grating technology. John has also dealt with many different types of medical devices and systems, including MRI technology, stents, diagnostic equipment, non-wovens and phlebotomy devices. He drafts and prosecutes software, internet and business process-related patent applications in various technical areas, including digital rights management.

Other areas of technology in which John has experience include gaming platform technology, DSP applications, including sound and image processing technology, and aseptic packaging technology.

Professional background

John grew up and was educated in South Africa. In 1986, he graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BSc degree in electrical and electronic engineering.

 

He joined a leading South African patent law firm, obtained a law degree and qualified as a solicitor and patent attorney in 1990. The following year he became a partner of the firm and for the following 10 years was involved in the drafting and prosecution of local and foreign patent applications, opinion work, IP strategy advice and patent litigation.

 

John has taught patent courses through the patent examination board, and has guest lectured at universities. More recently, John has become involved in intellectual asset management, and advises clients on the strategic management and exploitation of their intellectual property portfolios.

 

John is a member of AIPPI, AIPLA, FICPI, APAA, LES and the Society for Professional Engineers and sits on the IPSANZ national committee.