Tumu Whakahaere | Managing Partner, Kahui Legal

For over 30 years, Lynell has specialised in all aspects of trade mark protection, management and enforcement. She has acted for a diverse range of clients around the globe, including sole traders, start-ups, whānau, hapū, and iwi organisations in New Zealand, and multinational companies across North America, South America and Asia.

Lynell is regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading experts on indigenous intellectual property (IP) law in New Zealand and the Pacific. She specialises in advising Māori organisations on IP issues and is passionate about helping Māori navigate the IP system. She is the immediate past chair of the Indigenous Rights Committee for the International Trademark Association. In 2018, she was a member of the organising team for the first Ngā Taonga Tuku Iho conference.

Lynell has also written advice for Māori on the Plant Variety Rights Act review and is co-author of the paper entitled Māori Interests and Geographical Indicators – Strategic Intellectual Property Management enabling Māori whānau development. Lynell is also an experienced board member, having served in a number of governance positions. Lynell and her husband also own a foundation construction business in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and have three sons and three mokopuna.