Katrina Crooks

Principal, Spruson & Ferguson Lawyers

Katrina Crooks is counted amongst Australia’s top IP litigation lawyers, with 25 years’ experience of obtaining successful outcomes for clients.

Dual qualified as a lawyer and patent attorney, patent litigation is a core strength. However she has also dealt with hundreds of trademark, copyright, confidential information and design matters over her career. With her clients’ commercial objectives always at the forefront, Katrina is praised for her legal excellence and strategic, commercial approach to dispute resolution.

Katrina has a particular interest in the life sciences sector acting for numerous global leaders in pharmaceuticals, animal health, agri/food tech, nutraceuticals, medical devices and biotechnology.

In addition to leading teams representing clients in major Federal Court litigation and appeals, she regularly advises on complex questions of IP infringement and validity, and patent strategy. Katrina also has a successful opposition practice in the Australian Patent Office, often appearing as counsel.

Katrina also has a wealth of international experience, allowing her to assist clients with global IP strategy and to work seamlessly in cross jurisdictional teams when required.

Katrina maintains a strong interest in intellectual property policy and education. She currently sits on the IP Committee of the Australian Law Council and the Trans-Tasman Committee of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand. She has guest lectured on IP topics at UTS Sydney and regularly writes on IP issues, including as author of the ‘Patents in New Zealand: A Comparison with Australian Patent Law’ chapter of LexisNexis’ Lahore’s Patents, Trademarks and Related Rights until 2021.

Katrina is a also member of the Institute of Patent and Trademark Attorneys of Australia, the Law Society of New South Wales and AIPPI.