Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick
Company type | Partnership |
---|---|
Industry | Intellectual Property |
Founded | 1888 |
Headquarters | 3 offices in Australia |
Key people | Ross McFarlane (Managing Partner) |
Number of employees | Approx. 140 |
Website | www |
Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick (POF) is an Australian
History
In 1888, William D. Rowlingson commenced practice as a registered
Edwin Phillips, who had emigrated from England for health reasons, had a broad ranging interest in engineering. He was also a prolific writer on the subject of patent protection and on matters of a technical and scientific nature. Phillips wrote and published a comprehensive handbook for inventors entitled The Inventor’s Aid, and a periodical
Federation of the Australian colonies had been proposed in the 1850s. However, it was not until after the Intercolonial Convention in December, 1883 that a Bill to establish the Federal Council of Australasia was drafted. The Bill was sufficiently broad-ranging to foreshadow the Council having authority over patents of invention and discovery and copyright. After Federation in 1901, the drafting of legislation to give effect to that authority became necessary. The first Australian Patents Act came into effect in 1903, the Trade Marks Act 1905 and the Designs Act 1906. As a Patent Agent registered under the prior colonial legislation, Edwin Phillips was able to continue his practice following Federation and, in 1904, he was registered as a Patent Attorney under the Patents Act 1903. He continued his practice under the new Federal legislation until 1921, and died in 1923 at the age of 64.
After joining Phillips, Ormonde & Co., Cecil Woods LePlastrier was registered as a
Cecil LePlastrier was the Senior Partner of Phillips Ormonde LePlastrier & Kelson until his death in 1952. A flamboyant autocrat, he was a leading figure in business and the profession and served as Consul for the Republic of Chile. Under the guidance of Cecil LePlastrier, the partnership expanded in 1938 to include both Geoffrey Sly, who was Senior Partner from 1952 until his death in 1964 and Bertram C. Fitzpatrick, (originally engaged by Edwin Phillips himself in 1919) who was Senior Partner from 1964 until his retirement in 1972. Under B. C. Fitzpatrick, the firm’s name was changed to Phillips Ormonde & Fitzpatrick in 1967.
Over the past 20 years the firm has expanded rapidly to its present size with more than 25 partners and more than 140 total staff, making it one of the largest intellectual property firms in Australasia.
Services
POF offers a comprehensive range of intellectual property services including:
- Patents
- Trade Marks
- Designs
- Intellectual Property law/Legal services
- Research and investigation services
- Portfolio management