Peter Francis

Background

About Peter Francis

Peter is Maddocks' General Counsel. He chairs the firm’s risk management committee, provides guidance to Maddocks’ lawyers in relation to ethics and professional responsibility (topics on which Peter has lectured widely), ensures Maddocks’ compliance with its legal and regulatory obligations and services the other legal requirements of the firm. Peter has more than 40 years’ experience as a commercial lawyer. As a partner in the commercial team, he practises primarily in the area of intellectual property. He has a particular interest in providing strategic advice in relation to intellectual property protection. He is experienced in the licensing of copyright, trade marks, know-how and patents. For a client which owns well-known consumer brands, he has conducted numerous infringement cases, including one matter which progressed to the High Court. Peter’s passion for these areas of practice remains, although the demands of his General Counsel and pro bono roles has limited the time he can give to them. Peter also heads the firm’s pro bono program. Maddocks is a signatory to the pro bono target of the Australian Pro Bono Centre and Peter coordinates pro bono activities of a large number of lawyers in the firm, working to achieve this target each year.