Chua, Rachel
Senior Executive Lawyer
Rachel has over 22 years’ experience in intellectual property (IP), technology and commercial law, and has been a senior and strategic advisor to Commonwealth agencies on significant and high profile matters in these areas. She is the co-leader of AGS’s National Technology and IP Network.
Rachel assists agencies to manage complex legal issues, including in respect of IP and related rights, ICT, technology, ecommerce, social media, data and information management and emerging technologies. She advises on the protection, management, licensing and enforcement of IP, including copyright, Crown copyright, moral rights, trade marks, domain names, patents, confidential information, and Indigenous IP, and has prepared Commonwealth guidance on online legal issues.
Rachel has particular experience in Commonwealth IP management, having assisted many Commonwealth agencies with their IP reviews, policies and guidelines. She has wide expertise in drafting and advising on complex Commonwealth contracting arrangements including in relation to ICT, licensing, publishing, data, research, sponsorship, grants and intergovernmental agreements and other ‘novel’ arrangements.
Rachel has advised on strategic branding protection and management in Australia and overseas in respect of various Commonwealth initiatives, including in relation to high profile Commonwealth certification trade mark schemes, and has acted for agencies in successful trade mark opposition proceedings.
She has been involved in IP reform processes involving interdepartmental consultations on Commonwealth IP reforms including those relating to copyright access, which follow various reviews and recommendations in this area.
Rachel has written extensively on IP and technology issues in AGS publications, including AGS Express Law, AGS Commercial notes and AGS Legal briefing. She has been a key organiser of, and contributor to, AGS’s Intellectual Property Forum since 2004. Rachel has also been an examiner for the undergraduate IP course at the Australian National University.