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title: MFAT X Buddle Findlay Intellectual Property and Global Trade discussion
---

[![BuddleFindlay-horizontal-logo-white](https://campaigns.buddlefindlay.com/hubfs/BuddleFindlay-horizontal-logo-white.png)](https://www.buddlefindlay.com?hsLang=en)

# Intellectual property and global trade discussion with Buddle Findlay and MFAT

**Join MFAT’s intellectual property experts and Buddle Findlay’s intellectual property team for a discussion on intellectual property and global trade.**

Join New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s intellectual property experts Kate Neilson and Bernadine Eves, alongside Buddle Findlay intellectual property specialists [Hamish Selby](https://www.buddlefindlay.com/people/hamish-selby/?hsLang=en) and [Sophie Thoreau](https://www.buddlefindlay.com/people/sophie-thoreau/?hsLang=en), to understand the international agreements and diplomatic efforts that help protect your intellectual property in international markets. Get an understanding of the foundational Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), learn how the New Zealand government negotiates intellectual property chapters in international Free Trade Agreements (including the most recent FTA with India), and find out what role Geographical Indications play.

Hamish and Sophie will bring this to life from a client perspective, sharing how they work directly with businesses day-to-day to protect and commercialise their intellectual property domestically and in international markets, and translate these international frameworks into practical, on-the-ground protection strategies.

## Event details:

**In-person  
Date:** Thursday 12 November 2026**Time:** 12.30pm - 2.00pm.  Lunch on arrival, with discussion commencing at 1.00pm   
**Venue:** Buddle Findlay, Level 18, HSBC Tower, 188 Quay Street, Auckland 

## Presenters:

| ## [![Hamish\_Selby](https://campaigns.buddlefindlay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Liaison%20Partners/Hamish_Selby.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Hamish_Selby.jpg)](https://www.buddlefindlay.com/people/hamish-selby/?hsLang=en) | **[Hamish Selby](https://www.buddlefindlay.com/people/hamish-selby/?hsLang=en)** Hamish Selby is a Partner at Buddle Findlay and leads the intellectual property team. He specialises in IP and has over 25 years experience advising clients in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands and overseas. Hamish advises clients about all aspects of IP, including creation, development, protection, commercialisation, enforcement and management, including copyright, trade marks, registered designs, patents and domain names. He acts in non-contentious, contentious and transactional IP matters. Hamish has a wide array of clients across almost all areas of business, which provides him with extensive and specific business sector expertise. Hamish has acted for some of the world's largest multi-national companies, large New Zealand companies, small-medium sized companies and local and central government clients as well as start-up/early stage businesses. |
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| ## [![Sophie\_Thoreau](https://campaigns.buddlefindlay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Liaison%20Partners/Sophie_Thoreau.jpg?width=150&height=150&name=Sophie_Thoreau.jpg)](https://www.buddlefindlay.com/people/sophie-thoreau/?hsLang=en) | **[Sophie Thoreau](https://www.buddlefindlay.com/people/sophie-thoreau/?hsLang=en)** Sophie Thoreau is a Special Counsel at Buddle Findlay and specialises in intellectual property and provides expert commercial advice within an IP context. With over 20 years of experience across domestic and international markets, Sophie has advised on the entire spectrum of IP matters – from development, protection and strategic planning to commercialisation, enforcement, transactional matters and complex IP disputes. Sophie's deep understanding of IP law has enabled her to serve a diverse range of sectors including FMCG, technology, building and construction, and primary industries, notably in honey production. Her guidance is particularly valuable in helping innovators and businesses navigate the complexities of IP rights and optimise their operations. |
| ## ![Kate Neilson](https://campaigns.buddlefindlay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Kate%20Neilson.png?width=150&height=164&name=Kate%20Neilson.png) | **Kate Neilson** Kate Neilson is the Lead Adviser, Intellectual Property, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, where she negotiates and provides advice on international intellectual property issues. She has experience in trade policy and negotiations, international law, law of the sea, and counterterrorism. She was the Services Trade Lead in the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations with United Kingdom and European Union. Kate has been posted in Mexico City as Deputy Head of Mission and Consul, in Geneva as Acting Deputy Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation and in New York as First Secretary/Legal Adviser at the New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations.  She has a Master of Laws in Public International Law from the University of Leiden and has been admitted as a barrister and solicitor to the High Court of New Zealand. |
| ## ![Bernadine Eves-1](https://campaigns.buddlefindlay.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bernadine%20Eves-1.jpg?width=150&height=173&name=Bernadine%20Eves-1.jpg) | Bernadine Eves Bernadine Eves is a Senior Trade Policy Adviser for the Agriculture and Goods unit in MFAT’s Trade Policy and Negotiations Division. Bernadine has been with MFAT for five years and has worked on the negotiations of IP chapters in free trade agreements (FTAs), as well as accessions to FTAs such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Outside of her IP work Bernadine works on goods trade issues, including New Zealand's response to US trade and tariff policy. Prior to joining MFAT Bernadine worked at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand and was a Madrid Fellow at the World Intellectual Property Organisation. |

### Register here