Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property
Henry Hughes IP is a privately owned Wellington-based intellectual property law firm, New Zealand's first patent attorney firm, offering patent, trade mark, design, copyright and plant variety rights services to start-ups, SMEs and global businesses across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Region.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property does
Henry Hughes IP Ltd is a privately owned, Wellington-based intellectual property law firm described as New Zealand's first firm of Patent Attorneys, providing the full spectrum of IP legal services — patents, trade marks, registered designs, copyright, plant variety rights, searches and investigations, border protection, dispute resolution, domain names, licensing and technology transfer, and enforcement. The firm operates through two related entities: Henry Hughes IP Ltd, a patent attorney firm regulated by the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board, and an associated law firm, Henry Hughes Law Ltd, which conducts IP appeals and litigation. Its attorneys are registered in both Australia and New Zealand, enabling direct filing and prosecution with IPONZ and IP Australia, and the firm maintains long-standing referral relationships with like-minded attorneys worldwide to coordinate international IP protection.
The firm is staffed by nine qualified practitioners supported by a wider team of trade-mark executives, legal executives and administrative staff, with directors (David Moore, David Nowak, Elena Szentiványi) each bringing 20+ years of IP experience. Sector specializations cover mechanical engineering, electronics and IT, life sciences, chemistry, food and beverages, construction, marine technology and the wine industry (including plant variety rights). Customers range from start-ups and SMEs to global businesses, engaged through a free 30-minute consultation on qualifying patent, trade mark and registered design matters, followed by time-and-labour fee billing with 30-day net payment terms.
The firm monetizes entirely through professional-services fees for IP prosecution and advisory work, with revenue, ownership structure and pricing schedules not publicly disclosed. Marketing is content-led (a 'New to IP?' educational hub, quarterly ezine newsletter, LinkedIn presence, case studies and thought-leadership news), and the firm was recognized in the IAM Patent 1000 Rankings 2025. Operations are headquartered at Level 7, 158 Victoria Street, Te Aro, Wellington, with no disclosed offices outside New Zealand despite cross-Tasman registration and global referral coordination.
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property
- Legal name
- Henry Hughes IP Ltd
- Website
- https://henryhughes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Henry Hughes IP is a privately owned Wellington-based intellectual property law firm, New Zealand's first patent attorney firm, offering patent, trade mark, design, copyright and plant variety rights services to start-ups, SMEs and global businesses across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Region.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intellectual Property Legal Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Intellectual Property (IP) Law (BPAHAAAF), Copyright Services & Content Protection (BPAHAMAC), IP Due Diligence & Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Analysis (BPAHAMAG), IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration (BPAHAMAJ), IP Compliance, Anti-Counterfeiting & Enforcement (BPAHAMAK), IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAMAE)
Keywords
Where Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Patent Services: Patents - searches and advice, drafting of specifications, filing and prosecution of New Zealand and foreign patent applications
- Trade Mark Services: Trade mark searches, advice, and registration assistance in New Zealand and overseas markets
- Design Registration: Design registration including searching, filing and prosecuting design applications in New Zealand and other countries
- Copyright Services: Advice on copyright including licensing of copyright works in New Zealand and other countries
- Licensing, Assignments & Tech Transfer: Advice and assistance licensing intellectual property rights including inventions, designs, trade marks and copyright works
- Searches and Investigations: Clearance, novelty, and freedom to operate searches, as well as enquiries as to whether a trade mark is being used in New Zealand
- Border Protection: Lodging Border Protection Notices with the New Zealand Customs Service to prevent counterfeit goods from being imported
- Dispute Resolution: Proceedings before the Commissioner, litigation or agreement-based dispute resolution
- Plant Variety Rights: Protection of plant varieties including searching and registration in New Zealand and overseas
- Domain Names: Assistance determining whether a trade mark is registrable as a domain name in the .nz domain, including retrieval of improperly registered domain names
- Enforcement: Monitoring and protection of IP rights including watching briefs, border protection notices, oppositions, revocations, and litigation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Free 30-Minute Consultation |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Invention Disclosure Form |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Henry Hughes IP is New Zealand's first firm of Patent Attorneys, providing intellectual property legal services across patents, trade marks, registered designs, copyright, and plant variety rights. The firm files and prosecutes IP applications directly with IPONZ and IP Australia, and supports clients internationally through a network of like-minded attorneys. An associated law firm, Henry Hughes Law Ltd, handles IP litigation and appeals.
Product overview
Henry Hughes IP is New Zealand's first firm of Patent Attorneys, offering a comprehensive suite of intellectual property legal services. The firm operates as a unified practice with two entities: Henry Hughes IP Ltd (patent attorney firm regulated by the Trans Tasman IP Attorneys Board) and Henry Hughes Law Ltd (associated law firm specializing in IP litigation). The core services include Patents, Trade Marks, Designs, Copyright, and Plant Variety Rights, supported by specialized services for Searches & Investigations, Border Protection, Dispute Resolution, Domain Names, Licensing & Tech Transfer, Enforcement, and International IP Protection. The firm serves clients from start-ups and SMEs through to global businesses across New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Region, with long-standing relationships with international attorneys for global coverage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Patents Patent searches, advice, drafting of specifications, and filing/prosecution of New Zealand and foreign patent applications, including international protection through a network of like-minded attorneys.
- Trade Marks Trade mark searches, advice, and registration assistance in New Zealand and overseas markets, including brand protection strategy and trade mark prosecution.
- Designs Expert advice on registering designs in New Zealand and other countries, including searching, filing, and prosecuting design applications.
- Copyright Advice on copyright matters, including how to license copyright works in New Zealand and other countries.
- Searches and Investigations Wide range of IP searches, including clearance, novelty, and freedom to operate searches, as well as enquiries as to whether a trade mark is being used in New Zealand.
- Border Protection Advice and lodgement of Border Protection Notices with the New Zealand Customs Service to prevent counterfeit goods from being imported into New Zealand.
- Dispute Resolution Resolution of IP disputes through proceedings before the Commissioner, litigation, or agreement. Associated law firm Henry Hughes Law handles appeals to courts and IP litigation.
- Domain Names Assistance in determining whether a trade mark is registrable as a domain name in the .nz domain, including retrieval of domain names improperly registered by third parties.
- Licensing, Assignments & Tech Transfer Advice and assistance licensing intellectual property rights, including the right to use inventions, designs, trade marks, or copyright works in New Zealand.
- Plant Variety Rights (PVR) Protection of plant varieties including searching and registration in New Zealand and overseas.
- Enforcement Development of suitable enforcement strategies including watching briefs, border protection notices, oppositions, revocations, and litigation for IP rights.
- Protecting Your IP Internationally International IP protection services with attorneys registered in Australia who routinely file and prosecute patents, trade marks, and designs directly with IP Australia, and coordinate globally through partner attorneys.
- Submissions on Proposed Legislation in NZ Preparation of submissions to Parliament in relation to proposed legislation. Appeared before the Commerce Select Committee on behalf of INTA for the Trade Marks Bill 2001.
Companies that use Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- International IP Attorney NetworkcoreHenry Hughes has long-standing relationships with like-minded patent and trade mark attorneys around the world to ensure clients' IP needs are met globally. This network enables the firm to assist with IP protection across multiple international jurisdictions beyond New Zealand and Australia.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Marks & Clerk: Global intellectual property law firm with offices across Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific providing patent and trade mark attorney services. Comparable IP practice but operating as a much larger international network, with presence in Australia and serving multinational clients globally.
- Spruson & Ferguson: Large Australian-headquartered IP firm with offices across the Asia-Pacific providing patents, trade marks, and IP litigation. Comparable Trans-Tasman IP practice but operating at significantly greater scale, with broader service portfolio and corporate backing.
- Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick: Australian IP firm with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra providing patents, trade marks, and IP litigation services. Comparable Trans-Tasman IP practice competing for ANZ clients but operating as part of a larger national group.
- Shelston IP: Established Australian intellectual property firm providing patent, trade mark, and design services with Sydney-based headquarters. Comparable Trans-Tasman IP competitor with broader geographic footprint and longer corporate history than Henry Hughes.
- Davies Collison Cave: Major Australian IP firm with offices across Australia and Asia providing patent, trade mark, and IP litigation services. Comparable Trans-Tasman IP competitor operating at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach than Henry Hughes.
Direct peers
- Ellis Terry: New Zealand intellectual property firm providing patent and trade mark attorney services with offices in Auckland and Wellington. Comparable boutique IP practice directly competing for the same SME, startup, and enterprise client segments in NZ.
- Baldwins Intellectual Property: New Zealand-headquartered IP firm offering patents, trade marks, and IP legal services with offices across NZ and Australia. Comparable Trans-Tasman boutique competing with Henry Hughes for SME, startup, and multinational clients in the ANZ region.
- AJ Park: Auckland-based intellectual property firm in New Zealand providing patents, trade marks, designs, and IP litigation across NZ and internationally. Most direct competitor to Henry Hughes IP within the NZ market with comparable full-service IP offering and overlapping client base.
- James & Wells Intellectual Property: New Zealand IP firm headquartered in Christchurch with offices in Auckland, providing patents, trade marks, and IP legal services to NZ and international clients. Closely comparable boutique IP firm competing for similar SME and enterprise clients in the NZ market.
- Catalyst Intellectual Property: New Zealand-based IP firm providing patent, trade mark, and design services to inventors, SMEs, and larger companies. Comparable boutique IP practice directly competing for similar early-stage and SME IP work in the NZ market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property social profiles
Digital presenceHenry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property
What does Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property do?
Henry Hughes IP is New Zealand's first firm of Patent Attorneys, providing intellectual property legal services across patents, trade marks, registered designs, copyright, and plant variety rights. The firm files and prosecutes IP applications directly with IPONZ and IP Australia, and supports clients internationally through a network of like-minded attorneys. An associated law firm, Henry Hughes Law Ltd, handles IP litigation and appeals.
Is Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property a public or private company?
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property founded?
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property based?
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property make money?
Eleven revenue lines are on record. Patent Services are the primary driver. The others are trade Mark Services, design Registration, copyright Services, licensing, Assignments & Tech Transfer, searches and Investigations, border Protection, dispute Resolution, plant Variety Rights, domain Names and enforcement.
Who are Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Marks & Clerk, Spruson & Ferguson, Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick, Shelston IP and Davies Collison Cave. Direct peers are Ellis Terry, Baldwins Intellectual Property, AJ Park, James & Wells Intellectual Property and Catalyst Intellectual Property.
Does Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property have an API?
No public API is recorded for Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property.
What industry is Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property in?
Henry Hughes Ip, Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys, Intellectual Property's product category is Intellectual Property Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAMAA, Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management, with a secondary code of BPAHAAAF, Intellectual Property (IP) Law. Its NAICS code is 541110 and its SIC code is 8111.