List G Barristers

List G Barristers

Clare has particular expertise in intellectual property litigation, with extensive experience in patent revocation and infringement proceedings (including pharmaceutical patent injunctions) and patent oppositions, trade mark infringement and revocation proceedings, non-use applications and oppositions, and copyright litigation, as well as litigation concerning the misuse of confidential information in the pharmaceutical context.

Clare is listed in Doyle's Guide to Leading Victorian Intellectual Property Barristers (2023) as a pre-eminent junior counsel and in Doyle’s Leading Intellectual Property Junior Counsel – Australia (2023) as a pre-eminent junior counsel.

She is listed in Chambers Intellectual Property: The Bar (2022) and (2023) as a Band 1 practitioner. Her 2022 review reads:

“Clare Cunliffe operates across the IP spectrum, being particularly well known for her exhaustive knowledge of patent law and deep familiarity with the pharmaceutical sector. Interviewees respect her as a barrister who is "really excellent at marshalling large amounts of complex legal and factual material and presenting that in a convincing way," as well as one who "stands her ground and keeps her clients' interests at heart." Sources further note that she is "very prominent and at the top of many people's lists for briefing."

In 2023, she was described as having a “comprehensive knowledge of Australian patent law and is able to get across complex scientific material quickly. She is collaborative and in high demand.”

Clare is also recognised in Who's Who Legal - Australia and New Zealand (2022) for her expertise in trade mark law.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation

Before joining the Bar, Clare was a Senior Associate at Corrs Chambers Westgarth in Melbourne where she practised in intellectual property litigation, focusing on patent litigation, and general commercial litigation. Clare has also worked in the United Kingdom, at boutique intellectual property firm Powell Gilbert, and at Allens. From 2005 to 2018, Clare co-authored the Australian chapter of Kluwer’s Global Patent Litigation. In 2021, she wrote the Australian chapter of a text called Patent Enforcement for Globe Law and Business.

From 2012 to 2015, Clare was the secretary of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ). From 2016 to 2018, she was the Treasurer. From 2018 she became Vice President of IPSANZ, a position she still holds. She has been a committee member of the International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property (AIPPI Australia) from 2013. In 2016 she became treasurer and chair of the continuing professional development committee, a position she still holds.  She is also vice chair of AIPPI’s global amicus curiae committee.

Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (Melbourne)

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (Melbourne)

Diploma Intellectual Property Law (Bristol)