Griffith Hack is proud to announce seven promotions for 2025, including the promotion of Simone Shu-Yen Lee and Simon Gapes to Principal. The promotions are effective 1 July 2025.
Simone is a practitioner in Griffith Hack’s Engineering & ICT team, and is based in Melbourne. She has a PhD in quantum optics, and has worked as a patent attorney since 2013.
“I’m grateful to all the Principals at Griffith Hack for their guidance, support and teachings over the past few years. The Griffith Hack team are not only great people but also actively support and celebrate women in STEM, and it makes me particularly proud to be part of such a strong representation of female Principals,” said Simone.
Simon Gapes joined Griffith Hack in 2011, and is part of the firm’s Law and Trade Marks team. He is based in Melbourne.
“Since joining Griffith Hack, I have been fortunate to enjoy the support of many colleagues and clients who have helped me grow my career here. It has been a privilege to work with experts across such an interesting and wide range of areas. I look forward to the opportunities and challenges which my new role will provide,” said Simon.
In addition to the two Principal promotions, further promotions have been made within the firm’s Chemical & Life Science, Engineering & ICT, and Law and Trade Marks teams.
Griffith Hack Managing Director, Aaron LePoidevin, said “Congratulations to those who have been promoted this year. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to recognise the expansive breadth and depth of talent at Griffith Hack in this way, and look forward to seeing each of our promoted colleagues continue to grow and provide our clients with the highest quality IP services.”
Principal in the Chemical & Life Science team, Dr Toby Thompson, has also been appointed to the Practice Group Leader position from 1 July. Aaron said, “I’m confident Toby will bring new perspectives to the leadership team given his experience in industry and in IP services here in Australia and overseas.”
Find out more about our team:
Principal
Dr Simone Shu-Yen Lee is a patent attorney based in Melbourne. She has a strong background in physics and specifically optical physics. She enjoys working on a wide range of technologies from mechanical, electrical and software. She is particularly strong working in IT, optics, medical devices, manufacturing, building and construction, and general mechanical devices. She also has extensive experience in design protection.
Simon is a lawyer and trade marks attorney based in Melbourne. He has experience in managing global trade mark portfolios and brand protection strategies, including trade mark clearance and prosecution, prosecuting and defending trade mark opposition and removal actions in Australia, New Zealand and internationally, and trade mark infringement advice. Simon is recognised as a WIPR Leader for 2025.
Special Counsel
Jessica is a patent and trade marks attorney based in Sydney. She has inter-disciplinary experience in both research and industry, with a technical background in electrical engineering and biomedical engineering, machine vision, signals and image processing, and control algorithms.
Senior Associate
Sara is a lawyer and trade marks attorney based in Perth. She is experienced in all aspects of intellectual property from protection strategies and trade mark prosecution through to commercialisation advice and enforcement. She works across all industries to help clients harness and protect their intellectual property.
Associate
Yasra is a dedicated patent attorney based in Melbourne, bringing her strong technical knowledge in chemical engineering and process engineering to her role. With a keen interest in sustainable processing and chemical research, Yasra is passionate about leveraging unconventional engineering processes to drive innovation.
Dr Craig Don Paul is a patent attorney based in Melbourne. He has a strong background in biochemistry and molecular biology. His enthusiasm for research and novel discoveries helps clients complete the patent process and empower their commercialisation strategy
Dr Mitchell Nothling is a patent attorney based in Melbourne. He has a diverse background in industrial chemistry and materials science, spanning industry and academia. He brings a wealth of commercial experience in industry with expertise at the interface of new chemical research and commercial translation, assisting clients to accelerate their inventions from the lab bench into the market.
Dr Toby Thompson – Practice Group Leader
Dr Toby Thompson is Practice Group Leader of our ChemLife team and is based in Melbourne.
Toby provides a range of patent services for clients, including advising on global IP strategy, portfolio management, and patent drafting and prosecution. He understands complex legal and technical issues, provides pragmatic solutions, and achieves results. Alongside counselling clients on protecting their technology, Toby’s practice includes conducting freedom to operate studies and advising on infringement and patent invalidity. He is also a patent opposition specialist, with considerable experience of opposition practice before the Australian and New Zealand patent office.
