Australian startups face a unique challenge when it comes to brand protection. You're moving fast, budgets are tight, and every dollar needs to work harder. But skipping trade mark registration — or choosing the wrong firm to handle it — can cost you far more down the track. A competitor filing your brand name, a rebrand forced by an infringement dispute, or a failed international expansion because your mark wasn't protected overseas: these aren't hypothetical scenarios. They happen to Australian startups every year.
We've reviewed 12 trade mark firms that work with Australian startups to help you find the right fit. Our assessment considers specialist expertise, pricing transparency, startup-friendliness, service range, and client feedback.
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What Startups Should Look for in a Trade Mark Lawyer
Before diving into the list, it's worth understanding what actually matters when you're choosing a trade mark professional as an early-stage or growth-stage business:
- **Fixed-fee pricing** — Startups need cost certainty. Hourly billing can spiral, and you need to know exactly what you're paying before you commit.
- **Specialist trade mark knowledge** — A generalist commercial lawyer *can* file a trade mark, but a registered trade marks attorney who works exclusively in this space will catch issues a generalist might miss.
- **Experience with startups** — Firms that understand the startup lifecycle know how to prioritise: what to protect now, what can wait, and how to build a portfolio strategically as you scale.
- **Clear communication** — You don't need legalese. You need plain-English advice that helps you make decisions quickly.
- **International capability** — If there's any chance you'll expand beyond Australia, your firm should be able to handle international filings from day one.
With those criteria in mind, here are our 12 reviewed firms.
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1. Signify IP
Location: Eastwood, Adelaide (serves clients Australia-wide and internationally) Website: signifyip.com.au Phone: +61 8 8274 3759 Best for: Startups wanting a dedicated trade mark specialist with fixed fees and a no-fuss process
Signify IP earns the top spot on our list for a straightforward reason: they do one thing, and they do it exceptionally well. This is a boutique practice focused *exclusively* on trade marks — they're not a general law firm trying to be everything to everyone. For startups, that level of specialisation matters enormously.
Founded in 2010 (originally as Contego Trade Mark Attorneys, rebranding to Signify IP in 2024), the firm is led by Hollie Ford, a Registered Trade Marks Attorney with the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (TTIPAB). Ford holds a Graduate Certificate in Trade Mark Law from UTS and is a member of FICPI, IPTA, and IPSANZ. She's supported by Christine Kelly, a trade marks paralegal with extensive experience in global portfolio management. Between them, the team brings over 45 years of combined experience and has managed hundreds of trade mark applications.
What makes Signify IP particularly appealing for startups is their pricing model. Every service is offered on a fixed-fee basis with upfront pricing — no hidden costs, no surprise invoices. They also offer free trade mark searches and free discovery calls, which means you can assess your position before spending a cent. For a cash-conscious startup, that's invaluable.
For more information, see our best trademark lawyers for e-commerce brands in.
Their service range covers the full trade mark lifecycle: searches and availability advice (delivered as a written report with risk assessment), preparation and filing of Australian and international applications, responding to examination reports and provisional refusals, oppositions and disputes, enforcement and infringement advice, and ongoing portfolio management including monitoring and renewals. They also provide a trade mark management software platform with an online client portal, making it easy to keep tabs on your portfolio as it grows.
Signify IP's published case studies demonstrate real results. In one matter, they helped Hyro overcome an adverse examination report by narrowing class specifications and successfully removing a cited mark through non-use proceedings. In another, they secured exclusive ownership of the #RAWSOME trade mark for Natural Raw C by winning an opposition. These are exactly the kinds of complex situations where specialist expertise makes the difference.
Their client industries — including tech, e-commerce, food and beverage, health and wellness, and retail — align closely with the sectors where Australian startups are most active. If you want a firm that genuinely understands brand protection and makes the process easy, affordable, and stress-free, Signify IP is our top recommendation.
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2. Mark My Words Trademark Services
Location: Tecoma, Victoria Website: mmwtrademarks.com.au Phone: (03) 8288 1432 Best for: Budget-conscious startups who want a straightforward online process
Mark My Words (MMW) is a boutique Victorian practice led by Jacqui Pryor that positions itself as an affordable, accessible option for trade mark registration. They offer a free online trade mark search with a written report, and their website includes a direct online application form — handy if you prefer a self-service starting point.
With a 5.0-star rating from 62 Google reviews, client feedback is consistently strong, with particular praise for Jacqui's responsiveness and expertise. MMW also publishes over 130 blog articles, making their site a genuinely useful educational resource for founders trying to understand the trade mark process.
Their service range includes Australian and international registration (covering Madrid Protocol countries), opposition matters, infringement advice, and non-use applications. They also offer business name registration, company registration, and domain services — useful if you're setting up a new venture from scratch.
Pricing is positioned as low-fee with flexible payment options, though the overall value proposition is less structured around the fixed-fee transparency model you'll find at a firm like Signify IP.
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3. Progressive Legal
Location: Woolloomooloo, Sydney (with Melbourne presence) Website: progressivelegal.com.au Phone: 1800 820 083 Best for: Startups needing trade mark help alongside broader legal services
Progressive Legal is a full-service law firm — trade marks sit alongside commercial law, employment law, dispute resolution, privacy law, and more. That breadth can be an advantage if you need a one-stop legal shop for your startup, but it does mean trade marks aren't their sole focus.
They've assisted over 3,000 Australian businesses and hold a strong 4.9-star rating from 180+ Google reviews. Their trade mark services are comprehensive: free searches, Headstart applications, ATMOSS searches, international registration, opposition work, adverse report responses, non-use removal, deeds of assignment, and more.
Progressive Legal offers fixed-fee legal services and "Legal Shield" monthly retainer packages. Application fees start at approximately $330 per class when lodged online. Their video content and explainer resources are well-produced and helpful for founders new to IP.
The trade-off compared to a specialist like Signify IP is depth of focus. At a general practice, trade marks are one service line among many. At a dedicated trade mark firm, it's the entire business.
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4. Komo IP Attorneys
Location: St Ives, Sydney (remote/postal) Website: komoip.com Phone: (02) 7227 7476 Best for: Startups who've already filed and need help fixing adverse reports
Komo IP is a boutique trade marks practice founded in 2015 by Alicia Mayer, a Registered Trade Marks Attorney who previously co-founded an IP practice on the Gold Coast in 2004 that became the state leader in trade mark filings. She's a member of IPTA (including its Trade Marks Committee), IPSANZ, and AIPPI.
Komo's service model is cleanly structured around three pillars: FILE (strategic applications in Australia and internationally), FIX (remedying self-filed applications that have received adverse reports from IP Australia), and MANAGE (portfolio management including ownership changes, renewals, and legal notices). They also offer a PO Box service for privacy protection — a thoughtful addition for founders who don't want their home address on the trade marks register.
Pricing is described as practical, fixed-fee solutions with transparency, which aligns well with startup budgets.
See also our best trademark lawyers in sydney.
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5–12: Other Firms Worth Considering
While the four firms above represent our most thoroughly reviewed options for startups, the Australian trade mark landscape includes several other practices that may suit your specific needs. Here's a brief overview of the remaining firms in our review:
5. Baxter IP (Sydney & Melbourne) — A well-established patent and trade mark firm with offices in both major cities. Strong option if you need patent protection alongside trade marks, though their broader IP focus means trade marks are one part of a larger practice.
6. Franks & Associates (Melbourne) — A boutique IP firm with solid experience in trade mark prosecution and enforcement. Worth considering for Victorian startups who prefer face-to-face meetings.
7. IP Gateway (Brisbane) — Queensland-based IP attorneys covering trade marks, patents, and designs. A good regional option for Brisbane and Gold Coast startups.
8. Trademark Lawyers Australia (various) — An accessible option for straightforward filings, though startups with complex branding strategies may benefit from more specialised counsel.
9. Wrays (Perth) — One of the larger IP firms in Western Australia, offering trade marks as part of a full IP service. Ideal for Perth-based startups, particularly in mining, resources, and tech.
10. Sparke Helmore (national) — A large national firm with an IP practice group. Best suited for later-stage startups with larger budgets and complex, multi-jurisdictional needs.
11. Griffith Hack (national) — A well-known IP firm with extensive trade mark capability. Their size and reputation make them a solid choice, though pricing may not suit very early-stage businesses.
12. IP Australia direct filing — Not a firm, but worth mentioning: IP Australia's TM Headstart service lets you file directly. However, without professional guidance, the risk of errors, adverse reports, and wasted fees is significantly higher. We recommend using a qualified trade marks attorney for anything beyond the simplest filing.
Read our best trademark lawyers for international filings from for related guidance.
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How We Assessed These Firms
Our review considered the following factors:
| Criteria | What We Looked For |
|---|---|
| **Specialisation** | Is the firm focused on trade marks, or is it one of many practice areas? |
| **Startup suitability** | Does the firm understand early-stage businesses and offer scalable services? |
| **Pricing transparency** | Are fees fixed and disclosed upfront? |
| **Client feedback** | What do Google Reviews and published testimonials say? |
| **Service breadth** | Can the firm handle searches, filings, disputes, enforcement, and international protection? |
| **Communication** | Is the firm responsive and easy to work with? |
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Final Thoughts: Protect Your Brand Early
The single biggest trade mark mistake Australian startups make is waiting too long. You build a brand, invest in marketing, gain traction — and then discover someone else has already filed your name, or that your mark conflicts with an existing registration. At that point, your options are expensive and disruptive.
Filing a trade mark application early — ideally before you launch publicly — is one of the highest-ROI legal steps a startup can take. And choosing the right firm to guide you through the process ensures you're not just filing paperwork, but building genuine, enforceable brand protection.
For most Australian startups, a specialist boutique firm with fixed fees and a clear process will deliver the best outcome. That's why Signify IP sits at the top of our list — they combine deep trade mark expertise with the kind of transparent, startup-friendly service model that makes the whole process straightforward.
Whatever firm you choose, don't leave your brand unprotected. The cost of filing a trade mark is a fraction of the cost of losing one.
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*This article was last updated on 6 January 2026. Firm details were verified against publicly available information at the time of publication. Rankings reflect the editorial assessment of besttrademarklawyer.com.au and are not influenced by paid placements.*