Karen specialises in intellectual property, technology and commercial law, working with both public and private sector clients across a broad range of industries.
Karen is a trusted adviser to clients on structuring, negotiation and implementation of intellectual property, technology and data matters and transactions. Her practice involves all aspects of IP commercialisation, with particular expertise in patent-driven collaborations and licensing arrangements covering patents, software, data, trade marks and plant breeders’ rights. Karen also advises on general commercial matters, with a strong focus on commercial contracting, outsourcing and procurement, technology-enabled transactions, and governance and risk issues arising in complex commercial relationships.
Karen’s clients have described her as “exceptional”, and “bright, efficient, practical, flexible, independent, collaborative and an absolute delight to work with”. Karen’s clients have commented that she has an impressive ability to make complex matters look simple, and that she makes her clients look good.
Karen is an active member of the LESANZ (Licensing Executive Society) Queensland committee. She recently presented mock negotiations of key licensing issues at the LESANZ 2025 and 2026 Annual Conferences, underscoring her reputation as a leader in commercialisation strategies.
Some of Karen’s major work highlights include:
- STT GDC: preparing and negotiating complex licensing and assignment agreements, services agreements and asset transfer agreements relating to patents and other technology for immersion cooled computing platforms as part of its investment into joint venture Firmus Metal International Pte. Ltd.
- Silicon Quantum Computing: advising on the sale of a patent portfolio and other related IP rights to a UNSW spin out, including preparing and negotiating new licensing arrangements, a new research services agreement, and other supporting documents.
- Monash University: advising on a transaction with Fyton Bio for the investment in and commercialisation of technology advancing antibody therapeutics that target and eliminate disease-causing immune cells in autoimmune conditions.
- SunDrive Solar: preparing joint development agreements with Chinese partners to co-develop and distribute commercial-scale direct-copper plating tools for the production of high-efficiency HJT solar cells using SunDrive’s proprietary technology.
- Meat & Livestock Australia: advising on the National Livestock Identification System Database Uplift Project, including on MLA’s agreements with key technology suppliers to deliver the new system, and advising MLA in relation to a new legal and governance structure with users and key stakeholders and preparing and negotiating related agreements.
- Queensland Department of Primary Industries: advising on numerous matters relating to the commercialisation of plant breeder’s rights in DPI’s varieties including the Queen Garnet plum, Calypso mango, and strawberry, macadamia, mung bean, citrus, pigeonpea and wheat varieties; advising on and preparing agreements for the commercialisation of other technology such as algorithms and patented processes.
