Stephen Stern

Stephen is best known for his extensive patent, copyright and trade mark litigation practice, including his anti-counterfeiting work for many of the world’s most prestigious brands. He is also well-known for his extensive wine law practice and in 2006 was appointed a Chevalier in the Ordre du Mérite agricole by the French government in recognition of his services to the French wine industry.

Listed as a “leading lawyer” in virtually every notable legal guide and directory, Stephen is recognised as Australia’s foremost trade mark lawyer by his clients and the industry.

Stephen’s client list is like a stroll though a luxury department store.

He is a leading authority in intellectual property field, acting for a wide range of clients including luxury goods manufacturers, clothing, footwear and textile producers, pharmaceutical companies, telecommunication and electronic companies.

Patents Law Practice:

Managing a large portfolio of trade marks internationally – as Corrs does for Foster’s, for example – requires the right strategic approach to maximise protection whilst containing costs.

Luxury brands, like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Gucci, Cartier and Hugo Boss rely upon us to cost-effectively contain the ever-present problem of counterfeits, even when that involves extended protection for non-traditional marks such as colours or shapes.

Others, like BlackBerry makers RIM and fashion name Lacoste entrust to us complex enforcement actions against competitors.

Right across the spectrum – whether it is routine enforcement of trade marks against rogue retailers or taking a complex question of trade mark law right up to the High Court of Australia as Corrs did for Gallo, Corrs’ trade mark practice focuses on getting the right results for our clients.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth:

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is a world class law firm committed to driving Australia’s competitiveness and its economic engagement with Asia.

We advise major organisations on the matters most important to them, bridging the gap between business issues and legal practice.

With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth as well as strong partnering relationships globally and throughout the Asia Pacific region, we are ideally placed to support clients whose businesses extend internationally and nationally.

Our lawyers work across geographic boundaries and practice areas to help our clients achieve their strategic business goals. We have the resources necessary to serve our clients’ needs, no matter how large the transaction or complex the issue. We are consistently involved in the highest profile work in the Asia Pacific region and in Australia.

Corrs lawyers are considered to be world class in their fields. We are proud of our reputation for developing talent to deliver legal and commercial excellence.

Corrs is guided by important values, which help us focus on what is essential for success. They help us create an energetic and exciting environment in which our people are motivated and challenged to do their best. We like to think of Corrs as a place with open doors, where any person can feel free to ask questions or talk through an issue. We have a range of policies that guide the way we work together, with our clients and in the community.

Our commitment to engaging our staff and providing them with the opportunity to build successful careers has made us a much sought-after employer. We have received 10 employer of choice awards in the past four years, and are the only large national law firm to be awarded ALB Gold Employer of Choice 2012, for the second year in a row – as voted by our staff in an independent national survey.