Dr DAVID McCARTHY

BSc(Hons) MIP PhD FIPTA

Principal
Patent & Trade Mark Attorney

david.mccarthy@ghfip.com.au

David holds a Bachelor of Science (biotechnology and biomedical science) with honours from Murdoch University. During his studies at Murdoch, David conducted research into novel compounds for use as anti-malarial agents, and in his honours project investigated peptides he found to be associated with multiple sclerosis. After graduating from Murdoch, David took up a position at the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (now the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research) researching cell signalling pathways involved in haematopoiesis and blood cancers. Three years later, David was awarded a Dora Lush Biomedical Postgraduate Research Scholarship and began a PhD project characterising a novel Lyn-associated cytoskeletal modulator protein and its role in cell signalling. Upon completion of his project, David graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy from the Department of Medicine, The University of Western Australia.

David entered the patent attorney profession joining a national Australian patent and trade mark attorney firm where he completed his training and graduated from the University of Technology, Sydney with a Masters in Industrial Property Law. David is a registered Australian patent and trade mark attorney and is a Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia. He is also a registered New Zealand patent attorney. David joined Golja Haines & Friend as a Principal in 2013.

David has considerable experience acting for clients in patent and trade mark matters and securing plant breeder’s rights. David has assisted a wide range of clients from sole inventors, start-up companies, universities, and SMEs, through to some of the largest biotechnology, pharmaceutical and enzyme corporations in Europe and North America. He has drafted and prosecuted patent applications across a wide range of technologies, particularly in the fields of life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. David has also prepared patent validity, infringement, and freedom to operate opinions, and has been involved with patent oppositions and litigation in acting for large biotechnology and pharmaceutical corporations. As an avid surfer, David’s clients also include companies specialising in surfboard, fin, and watercraft innovations.

Professional Associations

• Fellow of the Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia
• Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Licensing Executives Society of Australia and New Zealand