SUSAN GATFORD

Bar Roll – 2002   
Admitted – 1994

Email – susangatford@vicbar.com.au
Chambers – Level 13, Room 1302, Owen Dixon Chambers East

SUSAN GATFORD

Bar Roll – 2002   
Admitted – 1994

Phone – (03) 9225 7556
Email – susangatford@vicbar.com.au
Chambers – Floor 13, Room 1302, Owen Dixon Chambers East

Admitted to practice in

  • Victoria
  • Federal Jurisdictions

Area of Law

  • Commercial Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Mediation : Accredited Mediator
  • Trade Practices

About

Susan practises in most areas of commercial law and all areas of intellectual property law, and is an experienced advocate with a substantial trial and appellate practice.

Recommended in Doyle’s 2021 Guide to Victorian intellectual property barristers, she is best known for cases that involve complex factual situations and which require a deep understanding of product and industry. Her emphasis is on identifying the key issues and evidence in a dispute, ascertaining the best outcome for the client and designing a strategic approach to achieve that result.

Susan accepts briefs to advise or appear in matters relating to: –

  • partnership, property, contract, general commercial and privacy
  • trade marks and trade practices
  • copyright, moral rights, confidential information and information technology
  • corporations and securities
  • patents and designs
  • administrative law

She appears in all Federal and Victorian courts, but most often in the Federal Court and in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Her intellectual property practice is both local and interstate and is broadly based.

She is also an accredited mediator, and her ability to identify the key issues is often called upon in assisting parties to a negotiated resolution.

Following a science honours degree majoring in botany and genetics Susan completed her LLB and then worked in a commercial law firm in the Melbourne CBD, the last three of her 10 years there as a partner, managing the firm’s intellectual property and information technology practice. During that time Susan completed her Master of Laws and became a registered Trade Marks Attorney.

Click the links below for: –

Solicitors commonly brief Susan for advice and at the earliest possible stage in disputes, as they know that her strategic input can save substantial time and cost. She commonly advises as to and settles pre-issue demand letters, particularly in intellectual property matters, and represents parties outside the court room as well as in it.

Susan regularly presents seminars and webinars, on ethics, advocacy, mediation, evidence and current developments in her subject matter specialities.

 

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation.