Our Principal

Background & experience

Pritesh is the founder of IPZEAL and a registered Patent Attorney in Australia and New Zealand, as well as a registered Trade Marks Attorney in Australia. With more than 16 years of experience in intellectual property, he advises innovators, startups, research organisations, SMEs, and multinational companies on protecting, managing, and commercialising their intellectual property assets.

His career began at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ), where he worked as a Patent Examiner before moving into private practice. Over the years, he has held senior positions within two well known intellectual property firms in Australasia, including serving as a Partner in one of them. This combination of government and private practice experience provides him with a unique perspective on the patent system and the practical realities of securing and enforcing intellectual property rights.

Pritesh has worked for clients ranging from first-time founders and emerging businesses through to universities, research institutions, and global corporations. He has worked extensively with clients across New Zealand, Australia, Europe, the United States, China, and other international markets, helping them build, manage, and protect valuable intellectual property portfolios worldwide. He has also provided IP support to many startups from the early stages of development, with some of them going on to become successful and established businesses.

His expertise includes patent drafting and prosecution, international patent strategy, freedom-to-operate assessments, patentability advice, design protection, portfolio management, and intellectual property dispute matters. He has experience assisting clients with oppositions, revocation proceedings, and hearings, providing commercially focused advice that suits each client's objectives.

As a former Patent Examiner at IPONZ, Pritesh understands firsthand how patent applications are assessed and examined. This helps him to anticipate examination issues, develop effective prosecution strategies, and position applications to maximise the prospects of successful grant while maintaining commercially meaningful protection.

Pritesh's technical experience on patents spans a diverse range of technologies, including mechanical engineering, electronics, software, robotics, fintech, artificial intelligence, manufacturing systems, consumer products, and industrial technologies. His multidisciplinary background allows him to work effectively with both highly technical innovations and commercially driven businesses seeking practical intellectual property solutions.

At IPZEAL, Pritesh is committed to delivering clear, commercially focused advice and building long-term relationships with clients, helping them protect innovation, create value, and achieve their business objectives both locally and internationally.

Working style

Pritesh works closely with clients to help them treat IP as more than just protection. For Pritesh, IP is a valuable business asset that can support growth, attract investment, strengthen market position, and create long term advantage when used properly.

Clients value Pritesh for his down to earth and practical approach. He is easy to deal with, explains things clearly, and gives honest advice without overcomplicating matters or pushing unnecessary work. He takes the time to understand what clients are trying to achieve and works alongside them to get there in a sensible and efficient way.

Outside of work

Pritesh enjoys cycling and is a keen world traveller who has travelled extensively across Europe, Asia and the Americas.  An IP enthusiast even while on a holiday, he once took a day trip from Zurich to Geneva just to see World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). He enjoys discovering new places, good food, and different ways people build and grow things.

Academic Qualifications

In addition to being a registered Patent Attorney in Australia and New Zealand, and Registered Trade Mark Attorney in Australia, Pritesh also holds the following qualifications:

• Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Mechatronics (Massey University)
• Master of Engineering in Mechatronics (Massey University) 
• Bachelor of Laws (University of Auckland)

Other Affiliations

Fellow- New Zealand Intellectual Property Attorneys Inc. (NZIPA)

Member- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)

Member- Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia (IPTA) 

Member- Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand (IPSANZ)

Member- Asian Patent Attoreneys Association (APAA)

He regularly attends industry events in New Zelaland and overseas, including the AIPPI World Congress.