Katrina acts for life sciences, medical device, technology and university clients on IP commercialisation, licensing, R&D collaborations, corporate transactions and regulatory compliance.

Biography

Katrina acts for clients across life sciences, medical devices, health, information technology, energy and resources, government and university sectors. Her corporate clients range from startups and spinout companies to publicly listed and international companies. She has over 25 years of practice as a Partner in the Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Regulatory team.

Katrina advises on licensing and commercialisation of IP, trade mark prosecution and oppositions, IP ownership and structuring, R&D collaborations, alliances and joint ventures, sale and purchase of IP assets and companies, IP audits and due diligence, franchise systems, manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements, and general commercial and corporate law. She also advises on protection and enforcement of IP rights, privacy, franchise compliance, therapeutic goods, medicinal cannabis and AI regulation, clinical trials, regulatory disputes, Australian Consumer Law, advertising law and domain name disputes. She has substantial experience advising on the IP aspects of major corporate transactions including sales, acquisitions, IPOs and capital raisings.

Katrina advises Aerovation Technologies (owner of aeronautical tech company Innovaero) on IP licensing and distribution arrangements with BAE Systems, one of the world's largest defence contractors, relating to precision loitering munitions drones for defence sector applications. She leads advice to Queensland University of Technology on the global licensing of the QCAV-4 banana, the world's first genetically modified banana approved for commercial production, including patent and plant breeder's rights licence negotiations with US food giant Del Monte in a cross-border matter with implications for the global USD$20 billion banana industry. She also negotiated a QUT collaboration agreement with a listed biotechnology company over a microbial biobank with comprehensive IP frameworks governing commercial and research access.

Katrina's breadth across IP, life sciences, defence technology and corporate transactions is uncommon in a single practitioner. Her track record in university technology commercialisation and regulated sectors including therapeutic goods, medicinal cannabis and AI reflects depth across some of the most complex IP environments.

Credentials

Academic qualifications:

Katrina's experience

Aerovation Technologies / Innovaero — BAE Systems IP licensing

Advising Aerovation Technologies, owner of aeronautical tech company Innovaero, on IP licensing and distribution arrangements with BAE Systems relating to precision loitering munitions drones for defence sector applications. Completed September 2025.

Queensland University of Technology — QCAV-4 banana global licensing

Leading advice to QUT on the global licensing of the QCAV-4 banana, the world's first genetically modified banana approved for commercial production and the first Australian GM fruit approved for growing in Australia. Negotiating patent and plant breeder's rights licence agreements with Del Monte regarding field trials, commercialisation scope and restructure of Australian licensing arrangements under the Master Commercialisation Agreement. Cross-border: Australia and US. Ongoing.

Queensland University of Technology — Microbial biobank collaboration

Negotiating a Collaboration Agreement between QUT and a publicly listed biotechnology company governing IP rights over a microbial biobank, including Material Transfer and Licence Agreements regulating access and use for commercial and research purposes. Completed July 2025.

IP aspects of corporate transactions

Advising on IP due diligence, structuring and documentation in major corporate transactions including sales, acquisitions, IPOs and capital raisings for listed and private sector clients.

Life sciences and therapeutics regulation

Advising biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies on therapeutic goods regulation, medicinal cannabis, clinical trials and AI regulation.

Awards, recognition and ranking