Tom Cordiner KC
- Commercial Law Intellectual Property
- Tort Law Public Law
After a short stint as a molecular geneticist in the mid 1990’s, Tom has, since 1998, specialised in all aspects of intellectual property law. He was admitted to the bar in 2003 and appointed silk in 2016.
Tom commonly appears in the Federal Court of Australia in trials and appeals throughout Australia, and from time to time the Patents Office and Trade Marks Office. He appears for, and advises, a broad range of clients in all kinds of industries including pharmaceutical, mining, automotive, agricultural, information technology/telecommunications, wagering, and fashion.
Tom has appeared in a number of leading intellectual property cases, is often called on to speak at or chair intellectual property seminars, and also mediates intellectual property disputes.
Tom contributes to IPForum each quarter and is the author of Patent Infringement in Lahores, published by Lexis Nexis.
Tom holds the current highest ranking (band 1) in the Chambers and Partners’ Asia-Pacific Guide 2023 for “Intellectual Property: The Bar – Australia” and (preeminent) in the Doyles’ Guide for “Leading Intellectual Property Law Senior Counsel – Australia, 2022", “Leading Intellectual Property Senior Counsel – Australia, 2021”, “Leading Intellectual Property Law Senior Counsel – Victoria, 2022”, and “Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Senior Counsel – Victoria, 2022”.
Tom is enrolled as a barrister of the High Court of New Zealand.
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation
Contact
- P03 9225 6965
- E[email protected]
- Connect on Linkedin
- Download VCard
Emmerson Chambers
Level 18 Room 6
200 Queen Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Jane King
03 9225 8558
Expertise
- Appellate
- Class Actions
- Competition
- Consumer Law
- Appellate
- Confidential Information
- Copyright & Designs
- Information Technology
- Media & Entertainment
- Patents
- Trade Marks
- Product Liability
- Administrative Law
- Appellate
Qualifications
Bachelor of Science (Hons)
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)
Patent Attorney & Trade Marks Attorney
Victoria
State and Territory Courts and Tribunals
Federal Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
Recent Cases
Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc v Sequenom, Inc [2021] FCAFC 101 (18 June 2021) (infringement and validity of patent concerning pre-natal diagnosis with cell-free fetal DNA);
Janssen Sciences Ireland Unlimited Company v Juno Pharmaceuticals (for hearing in June 2021, settled) (patent infringement and validity regarding darunavir);
Henley Arch Pty Ltd v Henley Constructions Pty Ltd (trial 2021, decision reserved) (trade mark infringement and validity);
Taxiprop Pty Ltd v Neutron Holdings Inc [2020] FCA 1565; [2020] FCA 1822; [2021] FCA 274 (trade mark infringement and validity – LIME for transport services);
CQMS Pty Ltd v ESCO Group LLC [2020] APO 54; [2020] APO 53 (16 December 2020); [2020] APO 24 (22 May 2020); [2020] APO 14 (16 March 2020); [2020] APO 5 (29 January 2020) (opposition to grant of patents regarding method of mining equipment);
Toolgen Incorporated v Fisher (trial 2020 and [2019] FCA 2158 (opposition to first patent for CRISPR gene editing technology);
Henley Arch Pty Ltd v Del Monaco (No.2) [2020] FCCA 1911 (15 July 2020) (house plan copyright infringement);
Mylan Health Pty Ltd v Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd [2020] FCAFC 116 (3 July 2020) (patent infringement and validity – fenofibrate);
CQMS Pty Ltd v ESCO Group LLC (16 December 2020) (opposition to grant of patents regarding method of mining equipment);
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v Kymab Limited [2019] APO 36 (31 July 2019) (opposition to patent concerning mouse models for antibody production);
Liberation Developments Pty Ltd v Lomax Group Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 1180 (30 July 2019); [2019] FCA 2059 (5 December 2019) (infringement and validity of patent concerning hoarding systems);
Technological Resources Pty Limited v Tettman [2019] FCA 1889 (15 November 2019) (patent validity for mining equipment);
Sequenom, Inc. v Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc. [2019] FCA 1011 (27 June 2019) (infringement and validity of patent concerning pre-natal diagnosis with cell-free fetal DNA);
InterPharma Pty Ltd v Hospira, Inc (No 5) [2019] FCA 960 (20 June 2019) (infringement and validity of patent concerning drug, dexmedetomidine);
Mylan Health Pty Ltd (formerly BGP Products Pty Ltd) v Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd (formerly Ranbaxy Australia Pty Ltd) (No 2) [2019] FCA 883 (12 June 2019) (costs of patent proceedings re drug, fenofibrate);
Juno Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd v Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc [2019] FCA 526 (16 April 2019) (application to withdraw admission in patent infringement and validity case concerning drug, bortezomib);
Mylan Health Pty Ltd v Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd (No 2) [2019] FCA 505 (11 April 2019) (interlocutory application for injunction pending appeal);
Mylan Health Pty Ltd v Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 411 (25 March 2019) (application to set aside notice to produce);
Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH v Alphapharm Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 28 (22 February 2019) (appeal from application for interlocutory injunction re drug dispenser for insulin glargine);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC v S.S.S. Auto Parts Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 97 (11 February 2019) (infringement and validity of design registrations for car parts);
Meat & Livestock Australia Limited v Cargill, Inc (No 2) [2019] FCA 33 (23 January 2019) (opposition to amendment of patent regarding identifying a trait of a bovine subject from a nucleic acid sample);
Mylan Health Pty Ltd (formerly BGP Products Pty Ltd) v Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd (formerly Ranbaxy Australia Pty Ltd) [2019] FCA 28 (22 January 2019) (patent infringement and validity regarding drug, fenofibrate);
Caesarstone Ltd v Ceramiche Caesar S.p.A. (No 3) [2019] FCA 7 (14 January 2019) (trade mark oppositions and revocation for mark CAEARSTONE);
Shen Dian Enterprise Ltd v ARK Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] APO 92 (21 December 2018) (opposition to patent application regarding battery box with built-in charger);
Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (No 3) [2018] FCA 2060 (19 December 2018) (interlocutory injunction application re patent infringement and validity for drug dispenser for insulin glargine);
Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd v Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. [2018] APO 81 (2 November 2018) (opposition to patent application for coffee capsule systems);
CQMS Pty Ltd. v Esco Group LLC [2018] APO 80 (30 October 2018) and Talon Engineering SDN. BHD. v Esco Group LLC [2018] APO 79 (30 October 2018) (opposition to grant of patent regarding method of shipping wear member of excavating equipment);
Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] FCA 1630 (24 October 2018) (interlocutory injunction application re patent infringement and validity for drug dispenser for insulin glargine);
Reflex Instruments Asia Pacific Pty Ltd v Minnovare Pty Ltd [2018] APO 70 and 71 (22 October 2018) (opposition to grant of patent application for apparatus for orientation of drilling rods using gyroscopes for mining);
Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited v Precision Tracking Pty Ltd (No 7) [2018] FCA 1160 (8 August 2018) (costs dispute regarding application to amend pleadings in patent infringement and validity and confidential information case concerning pizza tracking systems);
Caesarstone Ltd v Ceramiche Caesar S.p.A. (No 2) [2018] FCA 1096 (31 July 2018) (opposition and cancellation of trade marks);
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Investments (Ireland) (No 2) Limited v Generic Partners Pty Limited (No 2) [2018] FCAFC 100 (27 June 2018) (appeal on infringement and validity of patent regarding formulation for paracetamol).
Publications
The Agency Group Australia Ltd v H.A.S. Real Estate Pty Ltd [2023] FCAFC 203
09 February 2024Intellectual Property Law Update - McD Asia Pacific LLC v Hungry Jack’s Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 1412
13 November 2023Halal Certification Authority Pty Limited v Flujo Sanguineo Holdings Pty Limited [2023] FCFCA 175
08 November 2023Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd v Lavazza Australia Pty Ltd (No. 3) [2023] FCA 1258
02 November 2023Intellectual Property - Appellate Law Update - Directed Electronics OE Pty Ltd v Gridtraq Australia Pty Ltd [2023] FCAFC 149
26 September 2023Patent Law Update - Hanwha Solutions Corporation v REC Solar Pte Ltd [2023] FCA 1017
23 August 2023MMD Design and Consultancy Limited v Camco Engineering Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 827
08 August 2023UbiPark Pty Ltd v TMA Capital Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2023] FCA 885
07 August 2023Copyright Law Update - Chapcon Building Services Pty Ltd v Spectrum Homes Qld Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 873
07 August 2023Trade Mark Law Update - Ragopika Pty Ltd v Padmasingh Isaac Trading as Aachi Spices and Foods [2023] FCA 487
06 July 2023Patent Law Update - Vehicle Monitoring Systems Pty Limited v SARB Management Group Pty Ltd trading as Database Consultants Australia (No 8) [2023] FCA 182.
15 June 2023Trade Mark Law Update - Seven Network (Operations) Limited v 7-Eleven Inc [2023] FCA 608
06 June 2023Patent Law Update - Sandoz Ltd v Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company [2023] EWCA Civ 472
06 June 2023Patent Law Update - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation v Urrbrae Foods Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 504
02 June 2023Intellectual Property Law Update - New Aim Pty Ltd v Leung [2023] FCAFC 67
31 May 2023Copyright and Confidential Information Law Update - Austin Engineering Pty Ltd v Podulova [2023] FCA 419
16 February 2023Intellectual Property Law Update – claim construction fuels the Full Court – Airco Fasteners Pty Ltd v Illinois Tool Works Inc [2023] FCAFC 7
14 February 2023Misleading & Deceptive Conduct Update – Inspiration vs Deliberate Copying. Elements common to the trade – Natural Raw C Pty Ltd v Maicap Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 51
14 February 2023Misleading and Deceptive Conduct Update - Brick Lane Brewing Co Pty Ltd v Torquay Beverage Co Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 66
27 October 2022Intellectual Property Law Update - Australian Mud Company Pty Ltd v Globaltech Corporation (No 3) [2022] FCA 1189
06 October 2022Patent Law Update – Full Federal Court upholds Justice Burley’s findings that only half of Juno’s proposed product infringes Pharmacia’s valid patent
14 September 2022Trade Marks Update – acquired distinctiveness is not relevant to assessment of deceptive similarity
13 September 2022Trade Marks Update – the CAT is well and truly in the bag - Puma SE v Caterpillar Inc [2022] FCAFC 153
08 September 2022Trade Marks and Consumer Law Update – Shape mark – use as a trade mark – is this the FINISH?
23 August 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – What to do with the split High Court decision on Manner of Manufacture?
22 August 2022Defamation Law Update – Google LLC v Defteros [2022] HCA 27
25 July 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – WeChat confidential information and lawyers beware, how to prepare expert reports
25 June 2022Intellectual Property Update - C.M.E. Blasting & Mining Equipment Ltd v Rock Tool Refurbishment Solutions Pty Ltd (No 2)
27 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – Enough with elections already
27 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update When “opposites” attract infringement
12 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – Finally: A truly trivial addition not innovative
12 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – recovery of costs by a successful appellant from a decision of the Registrar (designs, trade marks or patents).
12 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – Copyright and Works of “Artistic Craftsmanship”, assessment of evidence, the need for special training, skill and knowledge
12 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – Microphone design more than a sound bite
12 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – “Oils ain’t oils” but can be staple commercial products
12 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update – Damages for infringement of a patent that is still under attack
11 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update Default Judgment and Declarations
09 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update Settling an appeal from the Trade Marks Office: power and public interest
03 May 2022Intellectual Property Law Update Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. v Sandoz Pty Ltd [2022] FCAFC 40 - Commissioner of Patents v Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd [2022] FCAFC 39
29 April 2022Intellectual Property Law Update State Street Global Advisors Trust Company v Maurice Blackburn Pty Ltd [2022] FCAFC 57
22 April 2022Intellectual Property Law Update Commissioner of Patents v Thaler [2022] FCAFC 62 - 13 April 2022 Allsop CJ, Nicholas, Yates, Moshinsky and Burley JJ
20 April 2022Intellectual Property Update Novartis AG v Pharmacor Pty Limited [2022] FCAFC 58
08 December 2021Intellectual Property Update - Repipe Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents [2021] FCAFC 223
25 November 2021Intellectual Property Law Update - Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc v Elanco New Zealand
19 November 2021Intellectual Property Update - Shepparton Partners Collective Operations Pty Ltd v QAD Inc [2021] FCAFC 206
11 October 2021Intellectual Property Update - Nagpal v Global Cars Aus Pty Ltd
27 September 2021Intellectual Property Update - BGD Corporation Pty Ltd v Kalaoun
15 September 2021Intellectual Property Update - Otter Products, LLC v Haydon
10 September 2021Intellectual Property Update - XCFB and National Disability Insurance Agency
07 September 2021Intellectual Property Update - Swancom Pty Ltd v The Jazz Corner Hotel Pty Ltd (No 3) [2021] FCA 729 (30 June 2021)
07 September 2021Intellectual Property Update - Ono Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd v Commissioner of Patents [2021] FCA 643 (11 June 2021)
07 September 2021Intellectual Property Update - Chevron Global Energy Inc v Ampol Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd [2021] FCA 617 (8 June 2021)
07 September 2021Insolvency & Intellectual Property Update - McCallum, in the Matter of Re Holdco Pty Ltd (Administrators Appointed) (No 2) [2021] FCA 377 (21 April 2021)
27 August 2021Intellectual Property Update - Caterpillar Inc v Puma SE
23 August 2021Intellectual Property Update - State Street Global Advisors Trust Company v Maurice Blackburn Pty Ltd (No 2)
12 August 2021Intellectual Property Update - Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. v Sandoz Pty Ltd
04 August 2021Intellectual Property Update - International Wushu Federation v Google LLC
04 August 2021Intellectual Property Update - Ames Australasia Pty Ltd v AgBoss Australia Pty Ltd
30 July 2021Intellectual Property Update - Thaler v Commissioner of Patents
09 July 2021Intellectual Property Update - Chevron Global Energy Inc v Ampol Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd (No 2)
08 July 2021Intellectual Property Update - Swancom Pty Ltd v The Jazz Corner Hotel Pty Ltd (No 2)
08 July 2021Intellectual Property Update - Repipe Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents (No 3)
08 July 2021Intellectual Property Update - Whitsunday Aerial Solutions Professionals Pty Ltd v Emprja Pty Ltd
02 July 2021Intellectual Property Update - Verix Pty Ltd v Williams
29 March 2021Intellectual Property Update - D’Annunzio v Willunga Projects Pty Ltd
10 March 2021Intellectual Property Update - Metricon Homes Pty Ltd v Zac Homes Pty Ltd
02 March 2021Intellectual Property Update - Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd v La Sirène Pty Ltd
02 March 2021Intellectual Property Update - State of Escape Accessories Pty Limited v Schwartz and farewell to Peter Heerey AM QC
02 March 2021Intellectual Property Update - State of Escape Accessories Pty Limited v Schwartz (No 2) and in other news…
26 February 2021Intellectual Property Update - The Cultural Intelligence Project Pty Ltd v The Entourage Education Group Pty Ltd
22 January 2021Intellectual Property Update - UON Pty Ltd v Hoascar [No 3]
03 December 2020Intellectual Property Update - Brennan v Foster Blake [2021] Fed C Fam C2G 261
Memberships
Member of the Board of Directors of List G Barristers
Law Council of Australia, Intellectual Property Committee
Commercial Bar Association, IP and Trade Practices Section
Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ)
Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (IPTA)