Christine Ecob Partner

Christine is a specialist in the life sciences technology area who advises clients on complex transactions and regulatory requirements including privacy issues.

She advises on a variety of complex transactional matters often including intellectual property issues.

Christine works with clients on product development and product launches, advising on packaging, labelling, mandatory standards, brand protection, vetting of advertising and the drafting of manufacturing, licensing, distribution and service agreements.

Her technology experience includes technology licensing and service agreements for major IT vendors and clients acquiring technology products and services (including cloud services).

Christine also has extensive experience assisting developers and suppliers of health products and services including medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies.

Experience

Regulatory

Boehringer Ingelheim Australia

Advising in relation to a wide variety of regulatory and commercial matters related to its human health business, including assistance regarding research and collaboration agreements with hospitals foundations, universities and medical research institutes; its animal health arm in relation to the regulation of advertising and promotional material that can be provided to veterinary surgeons; and in relation to privacy compliance and medical records obligations.

Alessa Therapeutics, Inc

Advising in relation to its clinical trials in Australia. This involved: reviewing offerings from potential CROs and then in the negotiation and drafting of a CRO services agreement with the preferred CRO; advising on the requirements for clinical trials in Australia, including the template clinical trial agreement used in Australian east coast hospitals; and drafting an inter-company agreement for the conduct of clinical trials.

Australian Private Hospitals Association

Advising on various privacy issues for its members.

StraxCorp Pty Ltd.

Advising this new company that has invented an exciting software application that can provide highly detailed analysis of bone scans. A fundamental agreement for StraxCorp in order to secure funding for the ongoing development of its products and secure access to a worldwide market, was a product collaboration agreement with CurveBeam, LLC.

Visioneering Technologies, Inc.

Advising on the regulatory aspects and IP protection relating to its Australian IPO and ASX-listing.

BSN Medical

Negotiating and drafting a Transition Services Agreement with the outgoing exclusive distributor for ANZ; advising on and drafting distribution agreements for Australian wholesalers; and brand protection advice.

BSN Medical (Aust.) Pty Ltd t/as Essity Australia

Acting for Essity in the negotiation of an exclusive supply agreement with San-M Package Co. Ltd, Japan for the manufacture of medical devices for supply by BSN medical in Australia and potentially other Essity companies in other parts of the world.

Cochlear

Drafting development agreement and related IP licence.

EnGeneIC

Drafting and negotiating a clinical trial agreement in relation to its delivery system for a pharmaceutical; drafting a non-disclosure agreement for their use.

Australian Private Hospitals Association

Advising on various privacy issues for its members.

McCusker Alzheimer Research Foundation

Advising in relation to its privacy compliance and documentation.

ResMed

Acting in relation to manufacturing and collaboration agreements in relation to its medical device products and advising on product information materials and warranties.

TEVA

Working on the termination of distribution arrangements with its exclusive Australian distributor and the establishment of different distribution arrangements in Australia through a subsidiary company.

Teva Pharmaceuticals

Providing advice on Australian privacy law with regard to a patient support program.

ReAlta Life Sciences, Inc

Provided advice in relation to clinical trials conducted in Australia. We reviewed a proposed CRO agreement and amended the documents. We also assisted with brand protection in Australia.

ProSciento, Inc

Assisted in the establishment of its Australia operations, including funding arrangements for its Australian subsidiary and in the preparation of template clinical research agreements, including a Master Clinical Services Agreement and a Master Vendor Services Agreement. We also assisted in the preparation of related consultant agreements.

Three Peaks Medical Pty Limited

Acted in the negotiation and documentation of a license of its patented technology and confidential information to Procyrion Inc and the provision by Procyrion Inc of services to assist in seeking FDA approval for the Three Peaks sheath device.

Siolta Therapeutics

Provided regulatory advice on clinical trials in Australia and drafted an appropriate intercompany agreement to document arrangements for the conduct of clinical trials in Australia and arrangements in relation to intellectual property.

Woven Orthopedic Technologies, LLC

Assisted with a change in its distribution arrangements in Australia, including contract advice and advice on the impact of contract changes on sponsorship arrangements for Woven’s product.

Cartula International Pty Ltd

Assisted in relation to a software licence agreement entered into with Sydney Children’s Hospital in 2020.

Privacy Law

Commonwealth Department of Resources Energy & Tourism

Reporting to the Commonwealth Department of Resources Energy & Tourism, in conjunction with Seed Advisory Services, in relation to privacy issues raised by the advanced metering infrastructure program.

Beiersdorf Australia

Working with Beiersdorf on its privacy compliance audit and assisting in the drafting of relevant documents including its privacy policy.

IP – Commercial & Advisory

Ferrero SpA and Ferrero Australia

Acting for Ferrero SpA in relation to trade mark matters in Australia dealing with labelling, packaging and advertising of products; drafting advertising agreements and advising on advertising codes.

L Capital Asia

Providing a detailed review of all Australian intellectual property aspects of the 2XU sports products business.

Beiersdorf Australia

Advising on, and drafting advertising/promotional agreements including sponsorship agreements, talent agreements, creative services agreements and Terms and Conditions for trade promotions; advising in relation to advertisements in various media.

Systagenix

Assisting in the preparation of a distribution agreement and IP licence for Australia.

IT

Microsoft

Working with the Microsoft legal team on various contracts including one with a major telecommunications company and another with an international accounting firm.

Barrick Gold

Drafting and negotiating a major outsourcing agreement.

Hewlett-Packard

Working with Hewlett-Packard legal team on an outsourcing agreement for an Australian bank.

Multinational IT Systems Integrator

Drafting contracts for a $30 million project to update the core platform for a financial institution.

IP – Litigation

Japan Tobacco International v Commonwealth

Acting for JTI in relation to intellectual property issues in the Constitutional challenge in the High Court of Australia to plain paper packaging legislation.

Unilever v Procter & Gamble

Acting for Unilever in trade mark proceedings in the Federal Court.

Dick Smith Investments Pty Ltd v Ramsey

Acting for Dick Smith Investments in relation to trade mark proceedings in the Federal Court.

Recognition

Career & qualifications

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts, Macquarie University
  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Macquarie University
  • Master of Laws, University of Sydney

Memberships

  • The Society for Computers and the Law, United Kingdom
  • The Intellectual property Society of Australia & New Zealand Inc.
  • International Trade Mark Association
  • Competition and Consumer Law Committee on the Law Council of Australia
  • Copyright Society of Australia

Appointments

  • Panel member of the Advertising Standards Board

Insights Read more insight

Payment times reports due 31 March 2024

An increase in enforcement action by the Regulator under the Payment Times Reporting Act 2020 (Cth) (PTR Act) has been happening over the last 12 months. Companies covered as reporting entities...

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Does failure to investigate amount to copyright infringement authorisation? High Court has final say

The High Court unanimously overturned a 2022 Full Court decision and found that a failure to investigate third-party allegations of copyright infringement by a contractor does not automatically...

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Privacy reforms for a digital age

The government has delivered the next step in the ongoing Privacy Act Review by releasing the exposure draft of the Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Online Privacy and Other Measures) Bill...

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News

External publications

  • Signing documents in the digital age: IDM Magazine (by Christine Ecob & Georgina Xiradis, Johnson Winter & Slattery, March 2017)

Podcasts

  • Tax Talks: episode 62 (electronic signatures, August 2018)