Get a Competitive Edge With Ironside McDonald

At Ironside McDonald, we know IP and how to leverage it to your advantage to gain a competitive IP edge. Our team of attorneys and specialists leverage a wide range of experience in IP acquisition, maintenance, protection, enforcement, litigation, and commercialisation. We partner with individuals, companies of all sizes, universities, research facilities and industry associations to turn innovations into successful enterprises.

Our IP attorneys understand complex business challenges. In addition, our team has prepared and filed thousands of trade marks across a wide range of industries under the leadership of our directors.

Meet your IP team…

Sue Irwin Ironside

Director

Patent Attorney, NZ & AU
Trade Marks Attorney, AU
Barrister & Solicitor, NZ
Notary Public

+64 21 410 114 

Rachel McDonald

Director

Patent Attorney, NZ & AU
Trade Marks Attorney, AU

+64 27 645 3198

With more than 28 years of experience in commercial and intellectual property law, Sue assists clients with all aspects of trade mark and branding. Also, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her clients ensuring that they achieve their goals. As a result, Sue is passionate about helping clients achieve their goals and always goes the extra mile to understand their business.

With a strong network of overseas attorneys, she has a wide international reach ensuring the same level of expertise for her exporting clients. Today, her expertise is recognised globally. In addition, Sue has served on numerous international committees and is currently on the ‘International Trademark Association Geographical Indications’ committee.

Sue is also a Notary Public, providing this valuable service for the firm as needed. Most recently, Sue served as a Partner for another intellectual property firm in Auckland where she worked for more than 25 years.

With more than 18 years of experience, Rachel has a proven track record of providing senior level IP advice.

Rachel has a wealth of knowledge in trade marks and beyond. Using this, combined with her willingness to gain a full understanding of her client’s strategic goals, she is able to provide senior level IP advice. She has worked with a number of clients across all industries which has strengthened her knowledge and skill base beyond the norm.

Rachel is registered as a Trans-Tasman Patent Attorney and Australian Trade Marks Attorney. She specialises in trade mark development, protection and enforcement in Australasia and worldwide.

Previously, Rachel was a Senior Associate at another intellectual property firm. For five years, she ran a trade mark team at this location.

Ingrid Niemann

Trade Marks Attorney


Ingrid has over 10 years’ experience working in intellectual property law, as a trade mark legal executive and then as a registered Australian Trade Marks Attorney since early 2019.

 

Ingrid has worked with client’s across a number of industries, assisting with their trade mark prosecution and enforcement, filing strategies
and portfolio management in New Zealand, Australia and internationally.

Ingrid enjoys thinking out of the box and is passionate about obtaining trade mark protection for clients’ brands.

Solanda Chen

Trade Mark Consultant (China Desk)

With in-depth knowledge and over 10 years of experience in IP protection, Solanda is dedicated to providing tailored advice on brand strategy,
trade mark protection and enforcement across a broad range of industries.

Solanda has a strong network in China and deep understanding of Chinese practice and culture, and will ensure your brand strategy in line with
local practice and provide you with first-class legal services in a cost-effective manner.

Prior to moving to New Zealand, Solanda was a trade mark attorney and has practiced in leading law firms of mainland China over six years.

Solanda is passionate about helping clients protect their creativity and innovations and how to achieve goals cost-effectively.

Breon Gravatt

Commercial Consultant

 

With more than 20 years’ experience in intellectual property and other contracts, Breon is an accomplished attorney with a “can-do” attitude.

Breon spent 10 years at one of New Zealand’s pre-eminent firms of  patent attorneys and intellectual property lawyers, then 11 years in Hong Kong as a senior inhouse lawyer for a global media network.

Breon brings a highly practical approach to contracts.  He firmly believes they should avoid complex or archaic  language, to ensure all parties are crystal clear as to what their rights and responsibilities are.

In addition to his legal qualification, Breon has a background in science, and is both a registered lawyer and registered patent attorney in New Zealand.