Tony Conaghan

Tony Conaghan: Senior Lawyer with a Focus on Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution in Brisbane, Australia

With over three decades of experience in complex agreements and disputes across intellectual property (IP), information technology (IT), life sciences, and franchising, Tony Conaghan is a seasoned legal professional based in Brisbane, Australia. His expertise extends to international cases involving the USA, UK, and Asia, where he has successfully navigated many groundbreaking deals and high-profile cases.

Practice Areas

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Biotechnology Law
• Commercial Law
• Defamation and Media Law
• Entertainment Law
• Franchise Law
• Information Technology Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• Litigation
• Telecommunications Law

Tony is the Deputy Chair for Australia and the Queensland Chairman of the Intellectual Property Committee of the Law Council of Australia. He is also a member of various professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, American Association of Intellectual Property Lawyers, the International Bar Association, Licensing Executives Society International, IPSANZ, and the International Franchise Association.

Education & Credentials

• Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
• Notary Public

Tony's comprehensive experience includes advising multinational companies, the Australian and Queensland Governments, various government-owned corporations, universities like UniQuest, Copyright Collecting Societies, manufacturers, professional service firms, venture capitalists, inventors, and a wide spectrum of public and private corporations. His notable cases have spanned from high-stakes litigation to successful mediations.

Recent highlights include:

• Intellectual Property Law: Protecting Qualcomm’s confidential commercial information in the Apple & Samsung patent disputes, including source codes and other sensitive business data. He has also advised on issues related to biotechnology patents and electronic gaming machines.
• Commercial Law: Representing Land Management Systems (LMS) against Landfill Gas Industries & Adam Bloomer for copyright infringement claims and breach of confidentiality agreements in a Supreme Court case, resulting in significant damages including exemplary and equitable remedies.

Awards:

• Lawyer of the Year: Franchise Law, Brisbane, Australia (2024)
• Lawyer of the Year: Franchise Law, Brisbane, Australia (2021)
• Lawyer of the Year: Defamation and Media Law, Brisbane, Australia (2019)
• Lawyer of the Year: Telecommunications Law, Brisbane, Australia (2018)
• Lawyer of the Year: Intellectual Property Law, Brisbane, Australia (2017)
• Recognized by Doyle’s Guide as a recommended Australian lawyer in Patent Litigation (2017) and IP law (2015 - 2016 & 2020).
• The Legal 500 Asia Pacific has also recognized Tony as a leading lawyer in Queensland's IP legal market, as well as a recommended lawyer in the areas of technology, media, and telecommunications.

Tony’s expertise spans across various domains within intellectual property law, including biotechnology, information technology, and telecommunications. He brings a deep understanding of technical issues to every case he handles, ensuring thorough and effective solutions for his clients. His experience in cross-jurisdictional matters has equipped him with the skills necessary to collaborate effectively across different regions.

Tony's professional approach emphasizes empathy and strategic planning, aiming to provide robust legal counsel that not only meets but exceeds client expectations. He is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where he can work closely with clients to understand their needs, while delivering high-quality legal services tailored to their specific requirements.