Anna Spies

Anna is an experienced intellectual property litigator and advisor. Since 2011, she has represented clients in a wide range of disputes, including copyright, contract, trade marks, passing off, design, media, confidential information and consumer law.

Previously, Anna represented clients as a barrister for a number of years in disputes across the Federal and NSW State Courts. She has also been a Senior Associate in the disputes team at a large multi-national firm in Sydney and an Associate to Justice Bennett in the Federal Court of Australia.

She also advises clients in non-contentious commercial matters in the arts and entertainment sectors, including contracts and licensing, and previously worked as a Senior Lawyer at the Arts Law Centre of Australia.

While a barrister, Anna was named by Doyle’s Guide as a recommended junior counsel in NSW for Intellectual Property disputes from 2018 to 2022.

Anna has acted across a wide range of disputes in the Federal and State courts. Representative work includes advising on and acting in:

• Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court copyright proceedings, including in relation to music, software, technological protection measures, time shifting exceptions and website blocking.
• Trade mark infringement proceedings and application for removal/revocation in the Federal Court and Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, as well as opposition proceedings in the Trade Marks Office.
• Consumer law disputes in relation to advertising and misleading and deceptive conduct in the Federal Court.
• Confidential information proceedings in the Federal Court proceedings (including obtaining urgent injunctive relief).
• Patent infringement and revocation proceedings in the Federal Court.
• Disputes involving the calculation of damages and account of profits following findings of infringement in the Federal Court.
• Defamation proceedings in the Supreme Court and representing media clients in relation to suppression orders in various courts.
• Contract proceedings in the Federal Court.
• Restraint of trade proceedings in the Supreme Court.
• Royal Commissions and inquests – Anna was appointed Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
• Pre-litigation advice including strategic advice, settlement of disputes and prospects advice.

Anna’s non-contentious work has included advising clients in a range of areas across the arts and entertainment industries, including commission agreements, copyright licensing agreements and the protection of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property.

Anna is a member of the Management Committee of the Copyright Society of Australia.

Anna has authored a number of publications on intellectual property and copyright issues, including being a co-author of Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance on Intellectual Property Disputes.