John Lee

Biography

John is a partner in our Technology and Intellectual Property group.

His unique combination of legal and technical qualifications enables him to practice at the forefront of IP law. He has also advised extensively on IP issues arising in the context of corporate transactions, licensing and commercialisation.

John has many years’ experience dealing with all aspects of intellectual property law with a particular focus on patent litigation and trade secrets across a range of industries including life sciences, resources and digital technologies. He has had outstanding success in Federal Court litigation in recent years including obtaining a record damages award for an Australian patent case in 2023. John also recently succeeded in taking a case on the highly controversial issue of patent eligibility to the High Court of Australia.

Experience

John’s experience includes advising:

  • REC Solar and its Australian distributors in significant global litigation regarding patent infringement proceedings involving solar panel technology.

  • CPC Patent Technologies on their high-profile patent infringement action against Apple concerning the infringement of a biometric patent by iPhones and iPads sold in Australia.

  • Aristocrat on numerous notable cases including Aristocrat v Commissioner of Patents, Aristocrat v Konami and other significant IP matters.

  • Xero on the long-running and successful entitlement dispute regarding Xero’s patents over a financial tool.

  • BASF on the long-standing, highly contentious multi-jurisdictional patent litigation, involving a complex portfolio of patents with a multi-jurisdictional reach.

  • Australian biotech company EnGeneIC regarding a patent dispute on mini-cell technology.

  • Shopify in defending a Federal Court patent infringement action regarding m-commerce applications.

  • ResMed on the Australian aspects of its global patent litigation with Fisher and Paykel over medical devices.

  • Various clients on IP and regulatory issues arising in transactions and in ongoing compliance regimes, including commercialisation and with the TGA, Pharmaceutical Benefits and Defence Export regimes.

Awards and Recognition

  • The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2024

    Ranked for Intellectual Property

  • Chambers and Partners Asia-Pacific 2024

    Ranked for Intellectual Property: Patents

  • Best Lawyers 2025

    Intellectual Property Law and Litigation