Duncan Longstaff is a distinguished intellectual property lawyer, serving as Principal at Spruson & Ferguson, with over 18 years of experience. His expertise lies in IP litigation, particularly in the realm of patent disputes, across various sectors including mining, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, IT, financial services, and consumer goods. His prowess as a litigator is demonstrated through his involvement in major complex IP litigation in both the Federal Court and the High Court of Australia. Notable cases include significant litigation for industry leaders like Dyno Nobel, Otsuka, Lundbeck, Zoetis, Ecolab/Nalco, InfoTrack, and Fuchs. Duncan also excels in conducting patent oppositions within the Australian Patent Office, representing renowned clients such as James Hardie, Zoetis, Johnson & Johnson, Dyno Nobel, Manildra Milling Corporation, and EMD Millipore. Beyond his legal tactics, Duncan is actively engaged with several prestigious organisations, holding memberships with the Law Council of Australia's Intellectual Property Committee and the Energy & Resources Law Association's South Australian Committee. He is also affiliated with the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand, and attends key industry events by the International Trade Mark Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, among others. Recognised consistently by leading legal publications like Chambers & Partners, Best Lawyers, Legal 500, and IAM Patent 1000, Duncan's accolades speak volumes of his contributions to the legal field. He has previously held significant roles at Shelston IP, Finlaysons, and Ashurst, where he honed his focus on patent litigation and intellectual property disputes. Duncan’s educational background includes a Master of Intellectual Property Law from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University, where he graduated with First Class Honours. His academic pursuits are complemented by a solid grounding in biochemistry and molecular biology, further enriching his legal expertise.
Committee Member
Energy & Resources Law Association
Jun 2024 - Present • 2 years 4 months
Committee Member
Law Council of Australia
Mar 2023 - Present • 3 years 7 months
Principal
Spruson & Ferguson
Nov 2021 - Present • 4 years 11 months
Principal
Shelston IP
Jul 2019 - Nov 2021 • 2 years 4 months
Senior Associate
Shelston Lawyers
Aug 2016 - Jun 2019 • 2 years 10 months
Senior Associate
Finlaysons
Apr 2015 - Aug 2016 • 1 year 4 months
Intellectual Property Counsel (on secondment)
Sensis Pty Ltd
Jan 2010 - Present • 16 years 9 months
Senior Associate
Ashurst
Mar 2007 - Apr 2015 • 8 years 1 month
Research Assistant
Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute
Jan 2004 - Jan 2006 • 2 years
Administrative Assistant
National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health
May 2002 - Jul 2003 • 1 year 2 months
Retail Salesworker
The Wine Shed
Dec 2000 - Dec 2005 • 5 years
Lifeguard
Big Splash Water Park
Sep 1999 - Dec 2000 • 1 year 3 months
Retail Salesworker
McDonald's
Oct 1997 - Dec 1998 • 1 year 2 months
Master of Intellectual Property Law
University of Melbourne
2009 - 2014
Bachelor's degree
University of Toronto
2003 - 2004
Bachelor's Degree
The Australian National University
2001 - 2014
Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
The Australian National University
2001 - 2014
Hawker College
1999 - 2000
“Band 4”, Intellectual Property: Patents
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific Guide
“Up and Coming Practitioner”, Intellectual Property: Patents
Chambers & Partners Asia-Pacific Guide
“Rising Star”, intellectual property
Managing Intellectual Property
“Next Generation Lawyer”, intellectual property
Legal500
