The pair will join the firm’s Sydney office, with Ms Crooks returning to the firm where she last worked in 2021 and Ms Erin Valassakis set to join on 31 October 2022. 

“We see Katrina rejoining the IPH group as a significant mark of our success in creating a dynamic and rewarding workplace, with exposure to some of the best work in the country, alongside Australia’s largest patent attorney practice,” head of Spruson & Ferguson legal practice Chris Bevitt commented. 

Ms Crooks is recognised as a leading IP litigator with 25 years of IP experience gained from leading IP boutique firms in Australia, New Zealand and Europe, the firm said in a statement.

The firm described Ms Erin Valassakis’ appointment as a “perfect fit” for that role, as she holds a bachelor of science majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Queensland. 

She also has a master of intellectual property from the University of Technology Sydney and a diploma of legal practice from the College of Law Australia. 

Ms Valassakis arrives from her previous role as a lawyer of intellectual property of Corrs Chamber Westgarth. 

Ms Crooks also graduated from Oxford with first-class honours in law as well as a bachelor of commerce and a bachelor of law from the University of Canterbury. 

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“I am excited to rejoin this network, and work together with the deep talent at Spruson & Ferguson to provide holistic IP solutions for our clients as well as having the opportunity for our clients to take advantage of the leading technical expertise of our patent attorneys in litigation matters,” Ms Crooks commented. 

“Spruson & Ferguson is a pre-eminent Australian IP firm offering tailored IP service offerings to its clients from around the globe.”