Melbourne's trademark law scene is as competitive as the city itself. Whether you're a startup in Cremorne protecting your first brand name or an established enterprise in the CBD managing a global portfolio, choosing the right trademark lawyer can make or break your intellectual property strategy.
We've compared ten of Melbourne's leading trademark law firms across key criteria — expertise, service range, client focus, and value — to help you make an informed decision in 2026. This isn't a ranking; it's a practical comparison to match firms with your specific needs.
What to Look for in a Melbourne Trademark Lawyer
Before diving into the firms, it's worth understanding the criteria that matter most when selecting trademark legal representation:
- **Specialist expertise**: Is the firm dedicated to IP and trademarks, or is it a generalist practice that handles trademarks on the side?
- **Registration and enforcement capabilities**: Can they handle the full lifecycle — from clearance searches and filing through to oppositions, enforcement, and litigation?
- **Australian and international coverage**: Do they manage both domestic filings with IP Australia and international protection through the Madrid Protocol?
- **Industry experience**: Have they worked with businesses in your sector?
- **Transparency on costs**: Do they offer fixed fees, or are you looking at open-ended hourly billing?
- **Client focus**: Are they geared towards startups and SMEs, large corporates, or both?
With those benchmarks in mind, here are ten Melbourne firms worth considering.
1. Wrays
Focus: Full-service IP | Size: Large | Best for: Corporates and mid-market businesses
Wrays is one of Australia's larger dedicated intellectual property firms, with offices in Melbourne and Perth. Their trademark practice covers the full spectrum — from filing and prosecution through to enforcement, oppositions, and dispute resolution. They also handle patents, designs, and broader IP strategy.
Wrays brings particular strength in managing complex portfolios for medium and large enterprises. Their team includes registered trade marks attorneys and IP litigators, which means they can handle both the registration and contentious sides under one roof. If you're a mid-to-large business with a substantial portfolio, Wrays is worth serious consideration.
2. Griffith Hack
Focus: Full-service IP | Size: Large | Best for: Corporates with complex IP needs
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Part of the IPH Limited group, Griffith Hack is one of Melbourne's most established IP firms. Their trademark division handles everything from availability searches and filing strategy to enforcement and commercialisation advice. They're particularly well-regarded for their work in pharmaceutical, technology, and consumer goods trademarks.
The firm's scale means they have deep bench strength — useful if you need rapid turnaround or have multi-jurisdictional filing requirements. International brand protection through the Madrid Protocol is a core part of their offering.
3. Pizzeys
Focus: Patent and trade mark attorneys | Size: Mid-size | Best for: Businesses wanting a dedicated attorney firm
Pizzeys (formally Pizzeys Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys) is a well-known name in Melbourne's IP community. As a dedicated patent and trade mark attorney firm, their focus is squarely on the prosecution and registration side of IP protection.
They're a solid choice for businesses that need experienced trade marks attorneys to handle searches, applications, and portfolio management. For contentious matters, you may need to engage a separate litigation firm, but for registration work, Pizzeys offers deep expertise and a long track record.
4. Shelston IP
Focus: Full-service IP | Size: Large | Best for: Companies needing both domestic and international trademark protection
Shelston IP has a significant Melbourne presence, complementing their Sydney headquarters. Their trade marks team handles domestic and international filings, oppositions, and portfolio management. The firm is part of the IPH group and has access to a broad network of international associates.
Shelston's strength lies in managing high-volume portfolios and providing strategic advice on brand protection across multiple jurisdictions. They're well-suited to companies with international ambitions that need a firm experienced in coordinating filings across numerous countries.
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5. FB Rice
Focus: Patent and trade mark attorneys | Size: Mid-to-large | Best for: Tech and innovation-driven businesses
FB Rice has a strong Melbourne office and a well-established trade marks practice. They handle clearance searches, domestic and international filings, and opposition proceedings. Their attorneys also advise on trade mark strategy as part of broader IP portfolio planning.
What sets FB Rice apart is their deep understanding of the technology and innovation sectors. If your brand sits at the intersection of technology and commerce, their team understands both the legal and commercial context of your trade mark needs.
6. Maddocks
Focus: Full-service commercial law with IP capabilities | Size: Large | Best for: Businesses wanting IP advice integrated with broader legal services
Maddocks is a Melbourne-headquartered commercial law firm with a dedicated IP team. While they're not a specialist IP-only firm, their intellectual property practice handles trade mark matters including registrations, enforcement, licensing, and disputes.
The advantage of a firm like Maddocks is integration. If your trade mark issues intersect with commercial contracts, corporate transactions, or regulatory matters, having a single firm manage across disciplines can be highly efficient. They're particularly well-suited to government, health, and property sector clients.
7. Davies Collison Cave (DCC)
Focus: Full-service IP | Size: Large | Best for: Established businesses with significant IP portfolios
Davies Collison Cave is one of Australia's oldest and most recognised IP firms, with a strong Melbourne base. Their trade marks group manages everything from initial clearance searches to complex enforcement actions and oppositions before IP Australia and the Federal Court.
See also our best trademark lawyers for e-commerce brands in.
DCC's longevity in the market means they've built extensive experience across virtually every industry sector. They're a particularly strong choice for businesses with mature portfolios that need sophisticated management, renewal strategies, and enforcement programs.
8. Lander & Rogers
Focus: Full-service commercial law with IP strength | Size: Large | Best for: Mid-market businesses needing IP litigation and advisory
Lander & Rogers is a Melbourne-based national firm with a well-regarded IP and technology practice. Their team handles trade mark disputes, infringement claims, and enforcement actions, as well as advisory work on registrations and licensing.
Where Lander & Rogers stands out is in the contentious space. If you're facing a trade mark dispute — whether it's an opposition, an infringement claim, or a domain name dispute — their litigation capability is a genuine asset. They also offer the breadth of a full-service firm for businesses that need IP advice alongside employment, commercial, or insurance law.
9. Spruson & Ferguson
Focus: Full-service IP | Size: Large | Best for: Companies needing Asia-Pacific trademark coverage
Spruson & Ferguson is one of the most recognised IP firms in the Asia-Pacific region, with a well-established Melbourne office. Their trade marks team manages domestic and international filings, clearance searches, opposition proceedings, and watch services.
The firm's standout feature is their Asia-Pacific network. With offices and associates throughout the region, they're exceptionally well-positioned for businesses expanding into Asian markets. If your brand protection strategy extends to China, Southeast Asia, or the Pacific, Spruson & Ferguson offers an integrated approach that's hard to match.
10. Cullens Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys
Focus: Patent and trade mark attorneys | Size: Mid-size | Best for: SMEs and owner-managed businesses
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Cullens has served Melbourne businesses for decades, offering trade mark and patent attorney services with a focus on practical, commercially-minded advice. Their trade marks practice covers searches, applications, oppositions, and portfolio management.
Cullens' particular strength is accessibility. They're well-suited to small and medium businesses that want experienced trade mark attorney guidance without the overhead — or the invoices — of a large national firm. If you're a growing business filing your first trade marks or building out a modest portfolio, Cullens offers expertise at a scale that fits.
How These Firms Compare at a Glance
| Firm | Specialist IP | Litigation | International | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wrays | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Mid-to-large corporates |
| Griffith Hack | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Complex IP portfolios |
| Pizzeys | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Registration-focused work |
| Shelston IP | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | International portfolios |
| FB Rice | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Tech and innovation |
| Maddocks | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Integrated legal services |
| DCC | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Mature portfolios |
| Lander & Rogers | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Trade mark disputes |
| Spruson & Ferguson | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Asia-Pacific expansion |
| Cullens | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | SMEs and startups |
Key Considerations When Choosing
Registration vs Litigation
One of the most important distinctions in Melbourne's trademark law market is between trade mark attorneys (who handle prosecution and registration with IP Australia) and trade mark lawyers (who handle disputes, enforcement, and litigation). Some firms on this list do both; others specialise in one or the other. Make sure the firm you choose has capability in the area you actually need.
Fixed Fees vs Hourly Billing
Cost transparency varies significantly across these firms. Some, particularly those focused on SME clients, offer fixed-fee packages for standard trade mark applications and searches. Others — especially larger firms handling complex matters — work on hourly rates. Always ask for a cost estimate upfront, and don't hesitate to compare quotes.
Local Knowledge Matters
Melbourne's business landscape has its own character, from the creative industries clustered in Collingwood and Fitzroy to the professional services hub in the CBD and the tech corridor stretching through Richmond and Cremorne. Firms with deep roots in Melbourne understand the local business community and can often connect you with other professionals — patent attorneys, commercial lawyers, branding agencies — when needed.
Consider the Long Game
Trade mark protection isn't a one-off transaction. Your trade mark needs will evolve as your business grows — from initial registration, to renewals, to enforcement, to international expansion. Choosing a firm that can grow with you saves the cost and disruption of switching providers down the track.
Final Thoughts
There's no single "best" trade mark firm in Melbourne — only the best firm for your specific situation. A startup registering its first mark has very different needs from a multinational managing hundreds of registrations across dozens of jurisdictions.
Use this comparison as a starting point. Shortlist two or three firms that align with your business size, sector, and trade mark needs, then schedule initial consultations. Most reputable firms will offer an initial discussion to understand your situation before quoting — take advantage of that to assess not just expertise, but communication style and cultural fit.
Your trade mark is often the most valuable intellectual property your business owns. It deserves legal protection that's thorough, strategic, and tailored to your goals.