Appointments reflect growing diversity and national strength of firm
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – 4 December 2017 – Wrays Pty Ltd, one of Australia’s largest independent intellectual property firms, today announced that it has appointed Dr Linda Kennaugh and Craig Humphris to its board of directors.
Dr Kennaugh is a Principal in Wrays’ Perth office, and is the first female to join Wrays’ board. Mr Humphris is a Principal in Wrays’ Adelaide office, and is the first board member to be based outside of Western Australia.
“Both Linda and Craig are proven performers who have built their own practices and made a significant contribution to our clients’ success and the firm’s continued growth,” says Wrays chairman Gary Cox.
“Their appointments reflect the growth and evolution of Wrays into a diverse, national firm. It is an important milestone in our progress, and I’m confident Linda and Craig will bring new perspectives and ideas to the board to help us better serve our clients and further expand our horizons,” he added.
Dr Kennaugh practises predominantly in life sciences and pharmaceuticals patents across Australia and New Zealand for both local and overseas clients. Her expertise encompasses gaining patent protection, enforcement of patent rights, and assisting with patent litigation.
Prior to joining Wrays in 1999, Dr Kennaugh spent ten years in research. She holds a PhD in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Biochemistry from the University of Western Australia.
“It’s an honour to become part of the board and I’m looking forward to putting my years of experience in both research and the patent profession towards this new opportunity. As the first female appointee, I’m pleased that Wrays and the industry as a whole, is making strides towards reflecting the diversity and contributions of all people within our profession,” says Dr Kennaugh.
Mr Humphris works primarily with clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, with a focus on patent prosecution and patent litigation. He is also the director of Wrays Lawyers nationally and group head for international business development, where he coordinates the firm’s relationships with international clients.
Mr Humphris holds a Bachelor of Law with Honours from the University of Adelaide, a Masters in Industrial Property from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a Bachelor of Biotechnology with Honours from Flinders University.
“It’s a privilege to be the first person outside of WA to join the board, and reflects the transformation of Wrays into a firm with truly national clients and national perspective. I’m looking forward to helping further drive Wrays’ growth both in Australia and overseas,” says Mr Humphris.
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