What We Do
Our Approach
Genuine relationships are at the core of everything we do; we look after our people, so our people can look after our clients – and you can change the world.
Where we work
Key Facts
135+ years in operation (established in 1888)
18 employees with PhDs
100+ employees
19 ranked individuals
Locations throughout Australia servicing Australia and New Zealand
6 ranked categories
What we value
We prioritise human connection
We get to know people as individuals. This personal approach – with our clients, colleagues and associates – is how we build trust and develop a thorough understanding of your unique circumstances and priorities.
We provide quality with integrity
Our trusted IP professionals deliver consistently high-quality work and honest, practical advice backed by specialist expertise. We never lose sight of the commercial objective or our high professional standards.
We encourage collegiality and collaboration
Our Principals are independent thinkers and inclusive leaders. Our people are encouraged to refer and collaborate across practice areas – resulting in your work being done by the right people to achieve the best possible outcome.
We are committed to curiosity
We support curiosity in everything we do, especially when it comes to your ideas and objectives. Our people are fascinated by what you’re looking to achieve, as well as how and why – resulting in tailored advice and stronger strategies.
Awards & Recognition
We are humbled to see our work recognised in leading independent directories and institutions at both firm and individual levels:
IAM Patent 1000
- Patent Prosecution – Gold Ranking (2022 – 2025)
- Litigation – Silver Ranking (2022 and 2025)
- 10 attorneys are ranked as Recommended Individuals – Australia (2025)
WTR 1000
- Prosecution and Strategy – Gold Ranking (2022 – 2026)
- Enforcement and Litigation – Silver Ranking (2025 and 2026)
- 1 attorney is ranked in WTR Global Leaders – Private Practice (2025)
- 6 attorneys ranked as Recommended Individuals (2026) in the categories of Prosecution and/or strategy and Enforcement and Litigation.
IP Stars
- Impact Case of the Year – Meat and Livestock Australia v Branhaven (2021)
- Trade Mark Prosecution – Tier 1 (2022)
- Trans-Tasman IP Firm of the Year (2023)
- Patent Prosecution – Tier 1 (2022, 2023 and 2025)
- Trade Mark – Patent & Trademark Attorney Firms – Tier 1 (2021 – 2025)
- 5 of our attorneys are ranked as Trade Mark or Patent Stars (2025)
Best Lawyers in Australia
- Intellectual Property Law – Melbourne – Tier 1 (2025 – 2026)
- Intellectual Property Law – National – Tier 2 (2025)
- 2 of our lawyers are individually recognised in the category of Intellectual Property Law (2026)
Global Law Experts
- Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Australia (2025)
Environmental, Social & Governance
Our approach to Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) takes into consideration our people, our core values and the example we want to set as a leading organisation in our field.
Each of our programs and policies take into consideration our organisational goals, as well as the key things that drive a sense of contribution within our firm. Our people are encouraged and supported to embody the principals set out in our ESG program, with active participation in all activities at all levels of seniority.
Environmental
We strive to operate in a way that reduces our impact on the environment, through sustainable practices such as recycling, waste management and reuse of items or materials.
Energy conservation / green buildings
Our Melbourne office is located in a Green Star Rated building – offering energy conservation, water reduction and green transport solutions with cycling facilities.
Waste reduction and recycling
Employee education and training
We are committed to driving progress in this area and continue to reduce our environmental footprint through greater awareness and education.
Social
Governance
Company Structure
Our Patent Attorneys are persons registered under the Patents Act 1990 and our Trade Marks Attorneys are persons registered under the Trade Marks Act 1995.
Each Registered Attorney is bound by the Code of Conduct for Trans-Tasman Patent and Trade Marks Attorneys 2018 (the Code) administered by The Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board.
Our Registered Attorneys provide services via a partnership business, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick (ABN 91 823 913 064).
Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick is part of an ownership group, as defined by the Code, comprising the partnership businesses Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick and Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick Lawyers (ABN 52 585 818 643) and a private incorporated company, IP Organisers Pty Ltd (ABN 59 871 860 903).
Security & Privacy
Protecting your sensitive information is fundamental to how we operate. We maintain a multi-layered security framework to safeguard data against evolving cyber threats while complying with relevant data protection laws.
Our approach is guided by industry best practice and core principles, including continuous improvement, strict ‘least privilege’ access, and consistent enforcement of security standards, ensuring only authorised individuals access the information they need.
All data is encrypted in transit and at rest using industry-standard protocols. We are committed to SOC 2 compliance, providing assurance that information is handled with the highest standards of care and governance.
We use real-time monitoring, advanced threat detection, and regular testing to identify and respond to risks. Secure remote access is enforced through multi-factor authentication and strict device controls.
Security awareness is embedded in our culture, with ongoing staff training to maintain vigilance and accountability.
Please click here to view our Security & Privacy statement.