Nicholas is a patent attorney who genuinely enjoys what he does — helping Australian inventors and businesses turn good ideas into protected, commercially valuable assets, both at home and around the world. Across more than 18 years in the profession he has drafted over 1,500 original patent specifications and filed applications in more than 80 countries, giving him a rare depth of practical, hands-on drafting experience.
What clients value most is his ability to make a complex, often intimidating process feel straightforward. He takes the time to understand not just the invention but the commercial thinking behind it, and he explains each stage in plain language so you always know where you stand and why. Clients consistently describe him as approachable, pragmatic, and meticulous — qualities reflected in over 180 five-star Google reviews.
Background
Before entering the patent profession, Nicholas worked as a registered professional engineer in the mining industry, designing and building software and hardware for measurement and control systems. That background means he understands inventions the way an engineer does — from the inside out — and it translates directly into patent specifications that are more technically precise and harder to design around.
Nicholas holds degrees in both engineering and law, complemented by a postgraduate specialisation in intellectual property. This combination of technical depth and legal expertise is uncommon in the profession, and it means he is equally at home discussing the intricacies of a mechanical design, a software architecture, or a complex electrical system — and drafting claims that capture what genuinely matters about each.
Founding Patentec
In 2015, Nicholas founded Patentec with a clear goal: to build a patent process that is genuinely client-focused — transparent about cost, well-structured, and engineered to deliver the strongest possible protection at every stage.
Central to this approach is drafting even initial provisional applications to a full patent specification standard, with tiered claim sets and optional International-type searches that surface potential validity issues early. The aim is to give clients a clear, honest picture of their prospects from the outset — so that every decision that follows, whether to proceed to a complete application, file internationally, or refine the claim strategy, is made with full information and real confidence.
Qualifications, associations, and registrations
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Electrical Engineering, First Class Honours
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)
- Master's Degree in Intellectual Property (MIP)
- Registered Australian Patent Attorney
- Registered New Zealand Patent Attorney
- Registered Australian Trade Marks Attorney
- Member of The Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia
- Member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand
Get in touch
If you have an invention you would like to discuss, Nicholas offers a complimentary initial consultation to assess your idea and map out the most sensible path forward — with no obligation and no jargon. Get in touch; he is always happy to have a straightforward conversation about what patent protection could mean for you and your business.