The BL Team
Shaun Creighton
Practice Director & Principal Lawyer
Shaun Creighton is a commercial lawyer with specialist expertise in the identification, protection and commercialisation of intellectual property rights. Shaun joined Buchanan Law as a Senior Lawyer in July 2006 and became Principal Lawyer in 2009.
During roles as in-house Legal Counsel at the Australian Sports Commission, the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Corporation, the Melbourne Stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race and Airservices Australia, Shaun developed expertise in providing legal advice on major procurement activities and projects. Such expertise includes advising on IT, construction and telecommunications procurement activities together with drafting / negotiating agreements to govern such transactions and advising on associated regulatory obligations.
At the other end of the spectrum from major projects, Shaun regularly assists small and start up businesses as part of Buchanan Law’s Start Me Up!™ offerings. Typically this may entail identifying a client’s initial legal requirements (e.g. shareholders’ agreement, trade mark registration, standard trading terms & conditions) and packaging these needs into a cost-effective solution.
As a former franchise owner in the fitness industry, Shaun has extensive “first hand” experience in providing legal services and advice to franchisors and franchisees together with small business operators in all industries.
As a dual Olympian, Shaun has an extensive network in the sports and events industries. As part of Buchanan Law’s thriving sports law practice group, we represent professional athletes, national sporting organisations, media outlets and event organisers on matters ranging from drafting sponsorship and merchandising agreements to broadcasting rights disputes, copyright advice, trade mark registration services, selection appeals, privacy, governance advice and Trade Practices Act issues.
Shaun is the current President of the Olympians Club of the ACT, a Committee Member of the ACT Olympic Council and a Committee Member of the Canberra International Film Festival. He has previously been a Board Member of Athletics Australia, ACTSport, Fitness ACT and ACT Athletics.
Shaun’s qualifications include Bachelor of Applied Science, Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws (Intellectual Property) and Master of Business Administration (Sports Marketing and Management).
As part of the strong BL trade mark team, Shaun is a Registered Trade Marks Attorney.
James O’Connell
Lawyer
James O’Connell graduated from the Australian National University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Drama). In October 2008, James was admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Australian Capital Territory. Prior to joining BL in 2008, James worked as an Examiner of Trade Marks at IP Australia where he gained superb firsthand experience in the trade mark application and registration processes. In his role at Buchanan Law, James works together with the rest of the Team to provide clients with vital insights into a wide range of issues affecting trade mark, designs and related commercial matters.
Scott Hogan
Graduate Lawyer
Scott graduated with a Bachelor of Sports Media in 2007, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 2010 and is seeking admission to the Supreme Court of the ACT in December this year. Scott’s sports media qualifications add great value to his contributions in the Buchanan Law media, sports and entertainment law practice areas. In addition, Scott also has a strong interest in corporate governance, and, as a result, he has recently completed his Honours thesis on regulation of corporate insider trading within Australia; as such, Scott is well placed to provide services and support in this important and growing area. Scott is currently developing strong experience in trade mark law including filing trade mark applications, drafting pre-filing clearance advice, recommending classes / specifications and assisting with drafting of submissions in response to Examiner adverse reports and opposition proceedings.
Margaret Grant
Graduate Lawyer
In addition to working part-time as a Graduate Lawyer at Buchanan Law, Margaret is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Physiotherapy Council. With qualifications in law, physiotherapy and education coupled with extensive practical and managerial experience in the health sector, Margaret has taken her place as an important team member in our emerging Health, Fitness and Wellbeing practice. Margaret has a particular interest and expertise in the law relating to regulation of the health and related professions, together with privacy law (including issues surrounding health information as personal information).
Kim Crow
Graduate Lawyer
Kim graduated with a Bachelor of Media and Communications and Bachelor of Laws from Melbourne University in 2010. Kim works part-time at Buchanan Law while training and competing as an elite rower (where she is a 2008 Olympian and striving for success in the London 2012 Olympic Games). Despite being a recent graduate, Kim has considerable experience in sports law, having completed an internship at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne in 2009. It is not surprising that with this experience, Kim plays an important role in the Buchanan Law sports law practice, including providing services and advice in relation to sports tribunal matters. Kim’s media and communications qualifications add value to her contribution in the Buchanan Law media, telecommunications, broadcasting, sports and entertainment law practice area. Kim also has a strong interest in trade mark law and provides services in Buchanan Law’s trade mark practice.
Gary Lea
Consultant (Overseas Associate & Trade Marks)*
Gary handles a variety of overseas legal and trade mark issues. He also provides internal research, drafting and technical support to the firm across both its domestic and international operations. Gary has previously worked both in Australia and the UK as a Trade Mark Assistant, Lecturer in IP, Senior Research Fellow in IP, Senior Lecturer in Business Law, consultant and author. Over the years, he has additionally undertaken teaching, training and advisory roles for a broad range of private and public sector bodies.
*Please note that Under the ACT Law Society titles and related guidelines (December 2006), Gary is an overseas associate. He is not an Australian qualified lawyer and he cannot advise on Australian law.