Melissa Hanbidge
Melissa specialises in general commercial litigation with a particular focus on intellectual property disputes and enforcement, defamation, product liability, information technology disputes and Australian Consumer Law (ACL) issues. Melissa also advises clients in relation to marketing and media material and brand management.
Melissa assists clients in a variety of industries and sectors including Government, health care, not-for-profit, franchising, media and property and development.
Melissa has experience acting for clients in the Supreme, District and Federal Court jurisdictions.
Experience
Melissa’s experience includes advising:
- The State of Queensland through the Queensland Government Department, Queensland Health (Qld Health) in litigation commenced by Qld Health against international medical equipment manufacturer, Medtronic, in relation to the purchase of 29 defective ICU ventilators. The matter was resolved ahead of trial;
- The State of Queensland through the Queensland Government Department, Transport and Main Roads (TMR) in a dispute involving the termination of an ITC contract;
- The State of Queensland, Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) in a dispute involving the termination of an ITC contract;
- Container Exchange (Qld) Pty Ltd (COEX), being the product responsibility organisation appointed under the Waste Reduction and Recycling Act 2011 (Qld) in two Supreme Court of Queensland matters commenced by former container refund point operators;
- Abell Point Marina in a copyright dispute in the Federal Circuit Court regarding the use of drone footage of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race;
- The general purpose liquidators of Queensland Nickel (in liquidation) in Supreme Court of Queensland proceedings against Clive Palmer and his media adviser for defamation arising from in excess of 20 separate publications of defamatory material against them;
- A variety of Australian franchisors in disputes (and mediations) with franchisees;
- Various clients on reviewing TV, print, radio and online advertisements as well as advising on their obligations under the ACL, as well as drafting disclaimers for such advertisements (where necessary); and
- Clients in respect of the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 and their obligations when running competitions and/or other promotions.