Blair is the founding Partner and owner of Jirsch Sutherland IP, having set up the firm in early 2009.

 Blair has over ten years’ experience specifically in the protection of intellectual property in Australia and New Zealand. Blair holds a Law degree and Master of Laws degree with Honours in Intellectual Property and is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia and of the High Court of New Zealand.

Blair has considerable experience in all aspects of trade mark law and practice from pre-launch strategy development through to enforcement.  This involves trade mark clearance and ownership issues, trade mark strategy, protection and IP enforcement.

Prior to founding Jirsch Sutherland IP, Blair worked in a large patent and trade mark attorney firm and also the IP group of one of Australia’s leading law firms.

Shelley joined Jirsch Sutherland IP as Special Counsel in 2010.

Shelley has over 20 years’ experience as an intellectual property lawyer and has specialised in trade mark law since 1998.  She is qualified as a lawyer, with a Masters in Intellectual Property and is also a registered Trade Mark Attorney and Notary Public.

Shelley advises local and overseas clients in relation to all aspects of trade mark filing, prosecution, opposition and removal actions and has managed large trade mark portfolios in a wide range of industry sectors.  Shelley conducts trade mark clearances searches and provides advice on brand strategy, as well as assisting clients with trade mark disputes.

Prior to joining Jirsch Sutherland IP, Shelley worked for many years in the intellectual property group of a large Sydney law firm and for several years prior to that in a large patent and trade mark attorney firm.

Shelley is the current chairperson of the NSW Committee of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ).

Susan joined Jirsch Sutherland IP as a Partner in 2011.

Susan has worked as a lawyer specialising in trade marks for over ten years.  Susan holds degrees in Law and Arts (Communications) and also has a Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice.  Susan regularly provides advice to clients on all aspects of branding, from pre-launch searches through to registration, as well as the strategic planning and portfolio management of their intellectual property.  She has also had extensive experience in trade mark oppositions and due diligence for purchases, sales and initial public offerings.

Prior to joining Jirsch Sutherland IP, Susan worked in the intellectual property groups of a large international law firm and one of Australia’s leading law firms.

Susan is admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and is a Notary Public.  Susan is also a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ) and the International Trademark Association (INTA).

Brian joined Jirsch Sutherland IP in 2010.

Brian specialises in the protection and management of trade marks and brands.  Brian worked as a lawyer in a private practice in Ireland for a number of years before moving to Australia in 2008.  Brian holds degrees in Business and Law and also has a Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law and Practice.  Brian is an Australian Registered Trade Mark Attorney.

Megan joined Jirsch Sutherland IP in 2011.

Megan specialises in intellectual property litigation. She has extensive experience reviewing evidence, preparing matters for trial and assisting with settlement where necessary. Megan understands the importance of keeping clients up-to-date with the current situation and giving them realistic expectations when it comes to the prospects of success. Megan brings a wealth of knowledge to the team including several years’ experience working at a top tier firm in Sydney.

Megan completed a degree in Biomedical Science at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She was awarded a research scholarship in Neurophysiology through the Faculty of Medicine at UNSW and was then employed as a Casual Academic in the Faculty of Medicine at UNSW for five years for which she received an award for outstanding contribution to the Medical Sciences. Megan then completed an LLB at UNSW.  Megan is currently undertaking a Masters in Law specialising in intellectual property at the University of Melbourne.

Sonal has over 25 years’ experience advising clients in the intellectual property and trade practices areas. Sonal‘s practice covers both commercial and litigious work and she has advised a wide range of clients from IT start ups to multi-national corporations. She has also conducted in-house training programs for clients in relation to contract law, protection of confidential information, basic IP principles and compliance with Part IV of the Trade Practices Act 1974, now the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.

Sonal is able to assist clients with the preparation of a variety of commercial agreements for use in both the “real” and “online” worlds, provide businesses with commercial ways of maximising the value of their IP assets and advise on protection and enforcement strategies.