Melanie Kitchin is a senior associate in our intellectual property practice
Melanie acts for and advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters across a range of industries, including pharmaceutical and life sciences, biotechnology, veterinary pharmaceuticals, energy, nuclear technology and mining.
Melanie has particular experience in patent litigation, and has acted for and advised clients in relation to patent infringement, opposition and revocation proceedings, including before the Federal Court of Australia, the Full Federal Court of Australia and at the Australian Patent Office. In particular, Melanie has advised on patent matters relating to biotechnologies (including CRISPR/Cas9), biosimilars, traditional pharmaceuticals (human and veterinary), vaccines and nuclear technology.
In the non-contentious space, Melanie advises a range of clients in the energy, life sciences, healthcare and retail sectors in relation to the licensing and acquisition of intellectual property rights, as well as R&D collaborations. Melanie's non-contentious work also includes advising clients in relation to plant breeder's rights.
Melanie holds dual-qualifications in law and science (chemistry, first class honours) and, before joining Ashurst, spent three years as a researcher at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.