Profile
“I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
Ian Finch is recognised as one of New Zealand’s most influential leaders in intellectual property. He has extensive experience advising clients in the filing, prosecution and enforcement of their innovations at all levels and across a range of industries, particularly in construction, manufacturing, electrical engineering, animal health and medical devices.
Finch represents multinational corporations in cross-border patent litigation and in pre-grant patent opposition proceedings in Australia and New Zealand. He led the New Zealand team that acted for ResMed in its recent global dispute with Fisher & Paykel Healthcare. This was one of the most complex pieces of patent litigation in New Zealand to date. He has also worked extensively with Bayer Australia and Bayer New Zealand, running numerous parallel patent oppositions for those companies in those countries. His commercial law qualifications have been called upon by his clients throughout his lengthy career in IP law.
Finch holds and has held a number of executive positions in commercial and administrative roles. These include sitting on the AUT’s TechPark Innovation Board, on an advisory board to a prominent exporter of heavy industrial machinery, on the NZIPA’s Examination Board and its Council (including as president), and as a board member of the Trans-Tasman Intellectual Property Attorneys Board.
Level 3, South British House, 35 Grey Street, Tauranga 3110
+64 7 928 4470
ian.finch@jamesandwells.com
linkedin.com/in/ian-finch-2a9ba34
jamesandwells.com/nz
Ian Finch
Partner
James & Wells
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Bio
Milestones
“To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need”
Ken Dixon,
Dixon Insurance Services
1992–2021
1995–1999
2001–2021
2017–2022
Present
Risk Management Partner and member of James & Wells’ Management Committee: responsible for national litigation and Auckland patent teams
1992–
2021
1995: Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
1999: Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys
1995–
1999
2001–2013: Council Member of NZIPA
2001–2021: Partner at James & Wells
2006: Oversaw, edited and contributed the majority of content to the first edition of James & Wells’ Intellectual Property Law in New Zealand (now in its third edition); appeared as lead counsel in the first copyright case before the New Zealand Supreme Court in Henkel Kgaa v Holdfast NZ Limited
2011–2013: President of the NZIPA
2011–2016: Managing Partner at James & Wells
2013–2020: Member of the NZIPA Examination Board
2001–
2021
2017: Appointed by Hon. Arthur Sinodinos as a board member of the Trans-Tasman Intellectual Property Attorneys Board
2018: Admitted as a Trans-Tasman Registered Patent Attorney 2018; Managing Intellectual Property Asia IP Experts
2020: Admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
2022: Legal 500 (Tier 1); IP Stars, Patent and Trademark Star; Intellectual Asset Management’s World’s Top 1000 Patent Attorneys (Gold Ranking)
2017–
2022
Ranked in the 15th edition of The Best Lawyers in New Zealand’s 2024 Guide
Patent and Trade Mark Star 2023 – IP Stars
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
How does he distinguish himself among fellow brokers?
“I believe all brokers are working very hard in a difficult market,” he says. “However, I have demonstrated continued growth, advocacy and performance on my client’s behalf, which is now recognised [for 10 consecutive years] in the Elite Broker awards.”
In 1990, Dixon got started with FAI, working in claims and as a team leader. From the late 1990s up until 2003, he worked at FAI and Suncorp in underwriting and as an area manager at VACC, CGU (South East Queensland). From 2003 to 2012, he got into broking and eventually started Dixon Insurance in 2013. Since then, he’s accumulated numerous acccolades, including Elite Broker, Diversity and Equity, and Fast Broker awards.
During the pandemic, Dixon challenged insurers over the Quarantine Act application to insurance wordings. His argument was that the Quarantine Act does not apply as an exclusion, as the Biosecurity Act was invoked by the Morrison Government, and this was not a subsequent amendment to the Quarantine Act. The test case in the Appeals court was won for Dixon’s client with a unanimous five-judge verdict.
He remains focused on transport, manufacturing, motor trade, engineering and large farm clients.
What are his plans for the future?
On a business level, “more of the same. I will continue to empower and encourage my staff to perform at their best as I have done for the last decade. I will continue to advocate for my clients, embracing new technology and being open to business and industry changes.”
On a personal level, Dixon invests significant time, effort and funds, along with his GT3, to support many charities through his passion for motorsport. From participating in and sponsoring the Thunderbolt Run (which provides tens of thousands of dollars in support for Beyond Blue and Prostate Cancer), to organising and running the Track Knights for Amira charity night where 28 Exotic Supercars raised funds through passenger laps in wet conditions, Dixon states “this is our time to give back to the community and those in need. My friendships and association with those seeking to do the same, allows us to contribute to those less fortunate and raise funds and awareness”.
He adds: “To be able to give back to the community is rewarding and fulfilling. I am honoured to be in a position where I can raise funds for those less fortunate and in need.”