Shannon Platt
PartnerAbout Shannon
Shannon is the National Service Line Leader of the Intellectual Property & Technology Team. She has more than 20 years' experience representing clients in patent, trade mark, copyright and design disputes in the Federal Court and litigation arising from misleading and deceptive conduct and protecting trade secrets.
Shannon was the 2017 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards winner and named Intellectual Property Partner of the Year at the 2016 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards. She was a finalist for the same award again in 2017. Shannon was awarded NSW Patent Litigator of the Year at the 2016 Intellectual Property Awards hosted by Acquisition International and was also recognised as an IP Leading Lawyer by AsiaLaw in 2015 and 2014. In 2015 our IP team was nominated by Lawyers Weekly as "Best IP Team".
What she does
Shannon is a registered Trade Marks Attorney and Notary Public, managing an international trade marks portfolio. She helps her clients with patent litigation, copyright litigation, trade mark prosecution and litigation, protecting trade secrets and breach of confidence, technology licensing, trade promotions, advertising clearance and the commercialisation of intellectual property.
Shannon also advises on brand protection, trade mark registrability and enforcement and acts in opposition and non-use proceedings before the Trade Marks Office.
Who she works with
Shannon's clients are drawn from a diverse range of industries, including engineering, chemicals, FMCG, creative arts, information technology, hospitality and leisure.
What her clients say
"...the advice that I have received from Shannon and her team, has always been sound and relevant to the issue at hand. More importantly, Shannon and her team are proactive in their handling of our issues, resulting in the speedy resolution of these issues. This is the result of many years of experience, in intellectual property matters... my confidence, in the expertise of Shannon and her team, has led me to move the Intellectual Property portfolio, of the said Groups, to Sparke Helmore Lawyers..." Sheila Murugasu, Group Legal Counsel, Hong Leong Group/Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Plc Group
"Shannon Platt and her team have been responsible for the management of our extensive global trade mark portfolio for the past eight years. Shannon has provided excellent service. She is thorough and diligent in her approach and we have been very well looked after. Over the years, Shannon took the time to really get to know our business and this really added value to a very good working partnership." James Williams, Vice President, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Allnex Resins Australia Pty Ltd
For the fourth consecutive year (2014 - 2017), Shannon has led her IP team to be recognised in the World Trade Mark Review's WTR 1000 as a leading national and international trade mark practice. Shannon is recommended in WTR1000 for both trade mark prosecution/enforcement and litigation:
"She is a superior lawyer and a leader in her field. Efficient, responsive and thorough in her approach, she provides excellent service all around." —World Trade Mark Review's WTR1000 2017
"Sparke Helmore's IP services are exhaustive; the firm has some 5,000 marks under its stewardship and extensive experience litigating in all the major venues in Australia. A string of satisfied patrons keep coming back for more, enticed by its keen commercial insight." —World Trade Mark Review's WTR1000 2017
"Muscular domestic commercial firm Sparke Helmore has "shown some flashes of brilliance" in the IP arena recently. With over 4,000 marks and counting under its management, it is proving a prime pick for clients of all stripes. It also has a knack for securing favourable outcomes in IP disputes, with copyright, design, patent, passing-off and trade secret cases, and more, all put successfully to bed. The firm's profile has soared under the watch of master of all trades and division leader Shannon Platt."—World Trade Mark Review's WTR 1000 2016
"The trademark division at Sparke Helmore continues to gain traction and market share from its base in Sydney...the firm has won significant new instructions in the past 12 months, from both the private and public sectors....Platt, who oversees the IP function for the firm's eight Australian offices, brings a wide range of IP insight gained over two decades of practice, including seven years in the United Kingdom. Long-time clients applaud her "sound relevant and proactive counsel".—World Trade Mark Review's WTR 1000 2015
"An intelligent and assiduous litigator with a remarkable success rate"—World Trade Mark Review's WTR 1000 2014
Shannon is recommended by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Intellectual Property & Technology law.
Shannon is recommended as a Leading Trademark Lawyer by Doyle's Guide 2017.
Shannon has been awarded Patent Litigator of the Year (NSW) as part of the 2016 Intellectual Property Awards hosted by Acquisition International.
Shannon is recognised as a Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property – AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers 2015 and 2014.
Qualifications
Shannon has two Master of Laws—one from the University of Technology, Sydney, and one from the University of London. She also has a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a diploma of Trade Mark Law.
Shannon is a member of the International Trade Mark Association (INTA) and its Enforcement Committee 2015, its Roundtables Committee 2015 and its Trade Mark Anti-Counterfeiting Committee 2016 (one of four Australian IP partners appointed). She is also a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ) and the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (IPTA).
Life before Sparkes
Before joining Sparke Helmore in 2012, Shannon was DLA Piper's National Head of Intellectual Property Litigation and led its intellectual property team in Sydney. She is also admitted in England and Wales and practised in London for seven years.
