Expanding your brand beyond Australia's borders is one of the most exciting — and legally complex — steps a business can take. Whether you're eyeing the US, EU, Southeast Asian, or Middle Eastern markets, securing trademark protection internationally requires navigating a web of jurisdictions, treaties, and filing systems that can trip up even experienced business owners.

The good news? Australia is home to a strong cohort of intellectual property firms with deep expertise in international trademark filings. From leveraging the Madrid Protocol to managing direct national filings in countries that sit outside the international registration system, these firms help Australian businesses protect their brands wherever they trade.

We've compiled a list of 10 standout firms that handle international trademark filings from Australia. Each brings something different to the table — whether that's global network reach, industry specialisation, or cost-effective filing strategies for SMEs.

What Makes International Trademark Filing Different?

Before diving into the list, it's worth understanding why international filings demand specialist expertise.

A trademark registered with IP Australia protects your brand only within Australia. The moment you sell goods or services overseas — or even plan to — you need protection in those specific markets. There are broadly two pathways:

1. Madrid Protocol filings — Australia is a member of the Madrid System, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This allows you to file a single international application, based on your Australian trademark, designating multiple member countries. It's cost-effective and administratively efficient, but it comes with strategic nuances (such as the "central attack" vulnerability in the first five years).

2. Direct national filings — Some countries aren't part of the Madrid System, and even for those that are, there can be strategic reasons to file directly. Direct filings require local agents in each jurisdiction and a more hands-on approach.

The best international trademark lawyers understand when to use each pathway — and often recommend a hybrid strategy tailored to the client's commercial plans.

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10 Firms for International Trademark Filings from Australia

1. Wrays

Location: Perth, Melbourne, Sydney

Wrays is one of Australia's most established IP firms, with a history stretching back over a century. Their trademark team handles a significant volume of international work, leveraging both the Madrid System and direct filing routes across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. Wrays is particularly well-regarded for advising resources and mining companies expanding internationally — unsurprising given their Perth headquarters — but their international trademark practice extends well beyond that sector. Their team includes registered trademark attorneys with deep familiarity in prosecution across multiple jurisdictions.

2. Griffith Hack

Location: Melbourne, Sydney

Part of the IPH Limited group, Griffith Hack benefits from an extensive international network that few Australian firms can match. Their trademark attorneys regularly manage large international portfolios for multinational clients, coordinating filings across dozens of countries simultaneously. They bring particular strength in managing the complexities of Madrid Protocol designations, including handling provisional refusals and navigating examination processes in designated countries. For businesses with ambitious global expansion plans, their scale and network depth are genuine advantages.

3. Spruson & Ferguson

Location: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane

Another member of the IPH Limited group, Spruson & Ferguson is one of the largest IP firms in the Asia-Pacific region. They've been operating for over 135 years and maintain offices and affiliates across Southeast Asia, China, and beyond. This regional presence is a significant differentiator for Australian businesses expanding into Asian markets — they can offer on-the-ground insights rather than relying solely on correspondent firms. Their trademark team handles everything from Madrid Protocol filings to direct national registrations, opposition proceedings, and enforcement actions in foreign jurisdictions.

4. FB Rice

Location: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth

FB Rice is a well-respected mid-sized IP firm with a strong trademark practice. Their team advises on international filing strategies with a pragmatic, commercially-driven approach that resonates particularly well with SMEs and mid-market companies. They're adept at helping businesses prioritise which markets to protect first — a critical consideration when budgets are finite and global ambitions are broad. FB Rice's international network of correspondent attorneys covers most major jurisdictions, and they're experienced in coordinating multi-country filing programs.

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5. Davies Collison Cave (DCC)

Location: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane

Davies Collison Cave is one of Australia's largest dedicated IP firms, and their trademark group has extensive international filing experience. DCC's team is known for handling complex, multi-jurisdictional trademark portfolios for large corporates and listed companies. They provide end-to-end international services, from clearance searching across multiple jurisdictions to filing, prosecution, and portfolio management. Their methodical approach to international strategy — including risk assessments around local examination practices and potential conflicts — makes them a strong choice for businesses entering unfamiliar markets.

6. Pizzeys

Location: Brisbane, Sydney

Pizzeys (now part of IPH Limited) has a solid reputation in trademark law, with particular strengths in the Asia-Pacific region. Their team includes attorneys with firsthand experience in prosecution and enforcement across ASEAN nations, making them a smart choice for Australian businesses expanding into Southeast Asia. They handle both Madrid Protocol and direct filing work and are known for providing clear, jargon-free advice on international filing strategies — something that's especially valuable for business owners who are navigating the process for the first time.

7. Shelston IP

Location: Sydney

Shelston IP is a prominent Australian IP firm with a well-established international trademark practice. They represent a mix of Australian companies filing abroad and foreign companies seeking protection in Australia, which gives them a valuable two-way perspective on international filing dynamics. Shelston's trademark attorneys are experienced in managing the strategic considerations unique to Madrid Protocol filings — including timing, specification drafting for multiple jurisdictions, and responding to office actions from designated countries. Their client base spans technology, consumer goods, and professional services.

8. Madderns

Location: Adelaide, Melbourne

Madderns brings a slightly different flavour to the list. Based in Adelaide with a Melbourne presence, they offer a more personalised service model that appeals to owner-operated businesses and mid-market companies with international ambitions. Their trademark team handles international filings across a wide range of jurisdictions and is known for taking the time to understand each client's commercial context before recommending a filing strategy. For South Australian businesses in particular, Madderns represents a strong local option with genuine international capability.

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9. Pendilla

Location: Melbourne

Pendilla is a newer entrant to the Australian IP scene but has quickly built a reputation for quality international trademark work. Their team combines experience from larger firms with an agile, technology-forward service model. Pendilla is particularly focused on helping Australian startups and scale-ups protect their brands as they expand internationally — often into the US, UK, and EU markets. They offer transparent pricing on international filings, which is a welcome departure from the opaque fee structures that can characterise this area of law.

10. Watermark Intellectual Asset Management

Location: Sydney, Melbourne

Watermark rounds out our list with a practice that blends strategic IP advisory with hands-on filing work. Their trademark team takes a portfolio management approach to international filings, helping clients build coherent global trademark strategies rather than filing on an ad hoc, country-by-country basis. They're experienced with both the Madrid System and direct national filings and work with a network of trusted international associates. Watermark's strength lies in helping businesses think about international trademark protection as a long-term asset management exercise.

Key Considerations When Choosing a Firm

Selecting the right firm for international trademark filings isn't just about reputation — it's about fit. Here are several factors worth weighing up:

Geographic expertise matters. If your primary expansion target is Southeast Asia, a firm with on-the-ground presence or deep experience in ASEAN jurisdictions will serve you better than one whose strength lies in European filings. Ask specifically about their track record in your target markets.

Understand their network model. Most Australian firms don't have offices in every country — they rely on correspondent attorneys. Ask how they select and manage their correspondents. A firm's network quality directly affects the outcome of your filings in foreign jurisdictions.

Madrid Protocol vs. direct filing advice. The best firms won't default to one approach. They'll assess your situation — your existing Australian registration, your commercial timeline, the specific countries involved — and recommend the most strategic pathway. Be wary of any firm that pushes Madrid Protocol filings universally without considering the alternatives.

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Cost transparency. International filings involve multiple layers of fees: Australian attorney fees, WIPO fees (for Madrid filings), designation fees, and potentially foreign associate fees. Ask for a comprehensive estimate that covers the full lifecycle, including likely prosecution costs in designated countries.

Portfolio management capabilities. If you're filing in multiple countries, you need a firm that can manage renewal deadlines, monitor for conflicting marks, and coordinate responses across jurisdictions. This operational capability is just as important as legal expertise.

Understanding the Madrid Protocol from Australia

Since the Madrid Protocol is central to most international filing strategies from Australia, it's worth briefly outlining how it works in practice.

Your international application must be based on an Australian trademark application or registration (known as the "basic mark"). Through IP Australia, you file an international application with WIPO, designating the countries where you want protection. WIPO conducts a formalities examination, publishes the international registration, and then notifies each designated country's trademark office.

Each designated country then examines the mark under its own national laws. This is where things can get complex — a mark that sails through in Australia might face objections in the US on distinctiveness grounds or in China due to a conflicting prior registration. Your Australian attorney needs to coordinate with local associates to respond to any provisional refusals within the prescribed timeframes.

One critical risk to understand is "central attack." For the first five years, your international registration depends on the survival of your basic Australian mark. If the Australian mark is successfully challenged and cancelled during that period, all your international designations fall with it (though they can be converted to national applications, at additional cost). A good trademark lawyer will factor this risk into your strategy.

Final Thoughts

International trademark protection is not a luxury — it's a necessity for any Australian business trading or planning to trade overseas. The cost of not protecting your brand in key markets can be devastating, from having your mark registered by third parties (particularly common in first-to-file jurisdictions like China) to being unable to enforce your rights against counterfeiters or imitators.

The 10 firms listed above represent a strong cross-section of the expertise available in Australia. Each has a proven track record in helping businesses navigate the complexities of international trademark filing. Your choice should ultimately come down to which firm best understands your industry, your target markets, and your commercial objectives.

Take the time to have initial conversations with two or three firms before committing. Ask about their experience in your specific target jurisdictions, their approach to Madrid Protocol vs. direct filings, and how they structure their fees. The right firm won't just file your trademarks — they'll help you build a global brand protection strategy that grows with your business.