Stewart has extensive legal qualifications and experience in international trade mark opposition proceedings, including representation of Australian ugh boot manufacturers in 2006.

He has negotiated and drafted commercial agreements involving technology and IP, acting for tertiary institutions, banks and media organisations, including software, multimedia and video games.

Stewart also has IP litigation experience, having appeared in the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the Federal Court. He is a published author and has lectured at the Australian Graduate School of Management’s MBA program in Hong Kong and Murdoch University’s Master of Laws program.

The new special counsel also speaks Japanese. As well, he is a registered trade mark attorney, allowing Freehills to provide a locally-based trade mark service in Perth.

Stewart will work in two combined practice areas — commercial and corporate transactions involving technology and IP, and specialised IP services in relation to trade marks, copyright, designs and patents, including the commercialisation, protection and enforcement of those rights.