Wrays brings specialisms in patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, confidential information & trade secret protection
- The Rouse Group expands Asia Pacific footprint by joining with The Wrays Group, an IP firm with operations in Australia and New Zealand, and specialisms in patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, confidential information and trade secret protection.
- This deal follows a burst of M&A activity for Rouse in 2024
The Rouse Group ("Rouse"), a leading international IP services business headquartered in London, is expanding into the Australian and New Zealand legal markets by joining with one of the largest independent IP specialist businesses in Australia and New Zealand, The Wrays Group ("Wrays").
The deal, which was completed in August 2025, aligns with Rouse's strategic objective of greater integration and alignment of IP services globally. Wrays, and IP searching firm Aperture Insight, has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide (Australia) and works directly into New Zealand. Wrays brings a wealth of expertise across the IP value chain, including a leadership position in life sciences and pharmaceutical litigation.
This is a highly strategic deal connecting the Australian and New Zealand markets to Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe in a manner not previously seen, and it will support clients' evolving needs across this dynamic region. It continues Rouse's powerful impetus to combine deep on-the-ground expertise with broad international experience. Wrays' existing clients will benefit from Rouse's international coverage and industry-leading talent, while Rouse's clients will benefit from Wrays' strong patent practice and expertise in the life sciences, pharmaceuticals, engineering, technology and natural resource sectors. These benefits will be felt on the ground in Australia and internationally.
As part of the deal, Wrays and Aperture Insight will operate as a part of the Rouse Group, while maintaining their independent brands. Several Wrays leaders are taking on broader senior roles at Rouse.
Luke Minford, Chief Executive Officer at Rouse, said: "This isn't just another deal; it's a strategic leap that will shake up the IP landscape in Asia Pacific. Australia is a critical piece in the building of a regional IP powerhouse, and so combining the depth of capability that Rouse has in Asia with the quality of talent and expertise Wrays has in Australia, creates a unique offering that will disrupt the status quo. I'm excited to see how we can leverage this partnership to deliver more value to our clients and drive innovation across the region."
Gary Cox, Executive Chairman & Principal at Wrays said, "Wrays has always been driven by a vision to lead in the Australian IP market. We believe joining Rouse will be the catalyst that propels us onto the global stage, and we're excited to deliver additional value to our clients thanks to Rouse's international network and resources."
Paula Adamson, Chief Executive Officer at Wrays, added: "This isn't just about expansion; it's about offering our clients unparalleled access to expertise, technology and markets. This is a golden opportunity to support our clients who are looking to expand into international markets and protect their intangible assets globally."
The Wrays deal marks another step in the Rouse Group's global expansion, following Swedish management consultancy, Konsert Strategy & IP and European IP consultancy, aera joining the Rouse Group in 2024.