Sarah Verstak Partner
BA LL.B Cert IV ID

Sarah Verstak is a Partner with mdp McDonald Partners. Sarah has significant experience in the area of intellectual property (IP) including advising on registrability of trade marks and making trade mark applications both in Australia and internationally, IP structuring and licensing.

Sarah's experience includes overcoming trade mark objections issued by IP Australia and dealing with trade mark oppositions by third parties. Notably, she is responsible for the worldwide trade mark portfolios of Kylie Minogue, Dannii Minogue and First National Real Estate.

Sarah also has extensive litigation experience with a particular focus on enforcement of IP rights including running disputes over trade mark infringements and design infringements. For instance, she has successfully run a Federal Court trade mark infringement matter on behalf of First National Real Estate against one of its former members for misuse of the 'First National' brand.

In addition, Sarah is responsible for drafting commercial documents such as IP licences, software licences, IP assignments (transfers), manufacturing agreements, confidentiality deeds and terms and conditions. In particular, Sarah has drafted copyright licences for Porter Davis Homes. Sarah was also responsible for the incorporation and trade mark protection of Water Australia.

In addition to her general commercial duties, Sarah is the firm's knowledge manager for Franchising. Mdp McDonald Partners joined the Franchising Council of Australia in 2011 and Sarah is our primary lawyer for these matters. Recent examples of her franchising experience include advising on entering into a Harcourts Real Estate franchise; advising on getting out of a Hocking Stuart franchise agreement; and running a complex franchising dispute for Caltex against a franchisee.

Sarah has conducted litigation matters for many years in respect of contractual disputes including franchise and leasing matters and WorkCover litigation. She also acted for one of the former senior employees of Australian Wheat Board in the Oil-For-Food Inquiry.

Sarah is a member of the International Trademark Association, Design Victoria and the Victorian Writers' Centre. She has also been a guest speaker at the Melbourne Business School (MBS) and a judge in the Melbourne University Entrepreneurs' Challenge.

Sarah's study of Interior Design gives her a practical understanding of the intellectual property issues involved in the industry.

Outside work Sarah is a busy mum and is a budding author, currently writing her first children's novel.

Sarah Verstak can be contacted on +61 3 9620 9660 or via email at sverstak@mdplaw.com.au