Qualifications
- Registered Trans‑Tasman Patent Attorney (AU & NZ)
- Qualified South African Patent Attorney (not practising)
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (University of Cape Town)
- Bachelor of Laws (University of South Africa)
- Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (not practising)
- IP Valuation Specialist
Experience
Mike is a Principal of IP Guardian and an accomplished patent attorney with more than 22 years of experience securing thousands of patents and designs for clients across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and internationally. Before entering the IP profession, Mike worked in research and development and project engineering, giving him a practical, industry‑grounded understanding of how innovations are conceived, built, and commercialised.
Since entering specialist IP practice in 2001, Mike has worked across multiple jurisdictions and has drafted and prosecuted patent applications in a wide range of technologies. His background in mechanical engineering, combined with extensive experience in software patents, enables him to support clients across both traditional engineering and emerging technology sectors.
Mike is also deeply committed to education and mentoring. He has lectured and mentored at the University of New South Wales, University of Wollongong, and University of Sydney, and has advised numerous start‑ups through incubators and accelerators on intellectual property strategy, ideation, and commercialisation.
His previous work in IP valuation gives him a strong commercial lens, helping clients understand the strategic and financial value of their intellectual property.
Outside of work, Mike enjoys life with his wife and three teenage/adult children — who describe him as “the coolest Dad on the planet” and say that they "wish they could be more like him." He enjoys walking his two large rescue dogs, off-road driving, exploring and gym.
Specialities
- Patent drafting and prosecution across mechanical, software, and multidisciplinary technologies
- Packaging, consumer products, mining technologies, and industrial processes
- Mechanical devices, robotics, and electromechanical mechanisms
- Fintech, medical devices, naval/marine technologies, defence and weapons systems
- Design registrations and global filing strategy
- Software and AI technology
- IP valuation and commercialisation strategy
- Start‑up advisory: ideation, IP strategy, investor readiness, and portfolio development
