About Dr Mark Williams
Mark Williams has over forty years experience in the law of technology and arts having graduated B.A.(Hons), LL.B. in 1982 with postgraduate qualifications in intellectual property law from the University of Melbourne (1997) and a D.Phil. on seventeenth-century dramaturgy from the University of Oxford (1989).
After articles of clerkship in 1983, he was admitted to practise in 1984, became a consulting lawyer to major research institutions and universities from 1991. For seven years he was partner in charge of commercial intellectual property and litigation at boutique Melbourne firms before forming his own firm in 2007.
He is a practising lawyer to the arts, commercial and scientific community and the entertainment, information, research and development industries under his own name in a boutique practice in Melbourne – and has been at the forefront of convergence issues including Federal and High Court cases on copyright infringement and the protection of confidential information.
This includes work for software, telecommunications, film, television, computer games, music, stage and visual arts organisations.
Career Highlights
Commercialisation of Furacell™ technologies
Including A$75M placement and A$355M IPO on Euronext Growth Oslo Stock Exchange – 2006- 2024. Including development of five pilot plants for the manufacture of Cyrene™ (dihydrolevoglucosenone) in Victoria and Tasmania 2012-20 and European public listing and launch - 2021.
Refurbishment and re-launch of Her Majesty's Theatre
Melbourne 2001-2019
Winner of the GC O'Donnell Essay Prize 2009
International prize for an essay displaying original thinking regarding copyright and the protection of the interests of authors.
Appointed Adjunct Professor, RMIT University
School of Art – 2009
Spinouts of former Amcor and Australian Paper technologies
2001-2007
Negotiation and management of Technology companies
Major Australian Universities 1995 – present
International Brand registration management
Melbourne-based software developer with third-largest world market-share in its application – 2002-present
Major Department of Defence Acquisition projects
Software platforms, land equipment, aviation construction and delivery up to A$2.7 Bn – 1997-2001
Brand recapture: Life. Be in it
1997-2022
Creation of eMERGE Co-operative Multimedia Centre
Assistance with negotiation and documentation 1995-6
CITRI reconstitution
Due diligence and reconstitution of the Collaborative Information Technology Research Institute – a joint venture between University of Melbourne and RMIT 1995-7
Co-operative Research Centres
Direct involvement in negotiation and creation of six Co-operative Research Centres in First and Second-round funding 1991-3 on behalf of CSIRO
Notable Legal Cases
Alexander v Royal Children's Hospital, Federal Court of Australia No VID 1352 of 2011
Virological diagnostics patent
Catapult Technologies Pty Ltd v GP Sports Systems Pty Ltd & Anor No VID 519 of 2010
Sports performance monitoring technologies
Upton v AC Neilsen, Federal Court of Australia No.VID 844 of 2009
Copyright and business knowhow rights enforcement
Torian Wireless v Gray Innovation Pty Ltd – Supreme Court of Victoria, Commercial List, 2006
iRoamer online audio application rights enforcement
Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd
(2001) 53 IPR 1 (High Court of Australia) and related lower court proceedings – Confidential information – Litigation support
Spincode Pty Ltd v Look Software Pty Ltd
[2001] VSCA 248 – Ethics – advice and related litigation
Westgate Logistics Pty Ltd v National Union of Workers
Federal Court of Australia and Australian Industrial Relations Commission 2002 – litigation management
Gerard Cassegrain Pty Ltd v. CSIRO & Ors
Federal Court NSW General Div. 1992-3 – Litigation management
CSIRO v. South Australian Timber Corporation
High Court and Supreme Court 1991 – Litigation management
Autodesk v. Dyason
Federal Court & High Court Appeals 1990-1 - research and litigation support