Meet Michael Finney

Michael is a Senior Associate with Bennett and Philp, with over 25 years of experience in the intellectual property and technology sector.

Michael’s practice focuses on representing clients in intellectual property matters, with an emphasis on patent, trade mark, designs and copyright litigation in the Federal Court, and contentious proceedings before IP Australia. Michael also advises with respect to patentability and provides freedom to operate analyses and opinions.

In addition, Michael has extensive experience in the licensing and transfer of intellectual property, business structuring and risk mitigation, due diligence, patent portfolio management, and helps companies develop and implement worldwide IP prosecution strategies. His practice also includes transactional due diligence, particularly in the technology area, where he has represented a variety of companies, investment funds, and venture capital and private equity groups in connection with the acquisition of IP assets.

Michael is not only an experienced senior lawyer, but also an accomplished engineer, and counsels clients across a range of industries, based on his in-depth understanding of state-of-the-art technologies in manufacturing, electronics, software & information technology, engineering, health care, medical devices and bio-pharmaceuticals.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) from the University of Queensland, an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales, and a Juris Doctor post-graduate degree in law.  He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Registered Professional Engineer, and has sat on numerous boards as a non-executive director.

Michael has been admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia.