Jason Sprague

Jason is a commercial, corporate and intellectual property lawyer with more than 25 years' experience in mergers and acquisitions; business structuring; intellectual property commercialisation and protection; information technology development, licensing and procurement; and a range of cross-border transactions.

Jason has a wealth of experience in advising SME businesses, large multinational organisations and government agencies. He has worked with Australian and international companies across a range of industries including manufacturing, biotechnology, retail, FMCG, IT, fashion, transport, professional services, and construction and infrastructure.

Given his diverse sector experience and understanding, Jason is well placed to provide commercially pragmatic advice, and he works hard to find creative solutions that help meet his clients’ objectives across the full lifecycle of their business.

 

Qualifications/Memberships

• Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Science (Macquarie University)

• Member Australian Institute of Company Directors

• Member Licensing Executives Society International

• Member Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand 

 

A word from Jason

I enjoy partnering with my clients on their journey, learning about their business aspirations, and providing sound, strategic advice to help them succeed. I value the relationships that I’ve built over the years, and I am honoured to have the enduring trust of my clients. I love the variety of my work, whether negotiating complex sales or acquisitions to advising clients on brand strategies and trademark rights. Not only is it fascinating to work with different clients across many industries, but it also means I can bring insights and better value to my clients. I love a challenge and won’t give up until I find your solution!

 

Career highlights

• Acting for Austrade on all trade mark and intellectual property aspects of its Brand Australia campaign including trade mark due diligence and advice; advising on copyright issues; negotiating licence contracts and managing the trademark portfolio for the 'Australia Unlimited' brand, which included filing and registration in 26 countries, including 300 trade marks.

• Acting for Tribal Group plc and their local subsidiary on acquisitions of Sky Software and Human Edge (combined deal value $50M); and for Tribal Group plc in contract negotiations with the NSW Department of Education and Communities for the provision of a student management and timetabling solution for all NSW schools (totalling around 2,200) and TAFEs under the learning management and business reform (LMBR) programme.

• Various franchising matters, including acting for WHSmith on franchise disputes; and acting for Hyundai Motor Corporation Australia Pty Limited on changes to their dealer franchise network, including redrafting of master dealer franchise agreements and advising on the termination of non-performing franchisees.

• Acting for Campbelltown City Council, Wollongong City Council and (the former) Great Lakes Council on ICT procurement processes including probity advice; the preparation and negotiation of tender agreements and GITC IT Procure based IT contracts.

• Advising Yarra Valley Water on its 'Choose Tap' initiative, helping build this innovative project from the ground up, including advising on IP and IT issues, and developing a suite of brand licensing and member agreements with local councils and government utilities. The ‘Choose Tap’ initiative is a huge success and has now been rolled out interstate and internationally.

 

Specific areas of focus

• Consumer Law – misleading and deceptive conduct, unfair contract terms, unfair practices, consumer guarantees, safety of consumer goods, liability of manufacturers

• Corporations law

• Data Protection and Privacy – collecting, storing and the use and disclosure of personal information

• Information Technology – development, supply, licensing, managed services, outsourcing and ‘as a service’ agreements

• Intellectual property – trademarks, copyright, franchising, intellectual asset management, commercialisation

• Mergers, amalgamation and acquisitions