He joins from IP firm Davies Collison Cave, where he worked for two decades
James & Wells has announced the appointment of Dr Sam Mickan as a partner in the Australian patents team in an effort to improve the intellectual property firm’s ability to address complex and technology-driven IP matters.
“Sam’s appointment is an exciting step in the continued growth of our Australian patents practice and our broader Australia and New Zealand offering,” said Adam Luxton, James & Wells partner, in a news release.
Based in the firm’s Melbourne office, Mickan has offered commercially focused advice and assisted with securing and leveraging IP assets.
“He combines deep technical expertise with a sophisticated understanding of the commercial drivers that matter to innovative businesses, which aligns perfectly with the way James & Wells supports its clients,” Luxton said.
Mickan has advised a wide array of innovative clients, including emerging technology companies and large multinational organisations.
“Sam has worked with an excellent and highly engaged client base, and we look forward to working with him to further strengthen the services we provide to Australian and international clients operating in complex technology sectors,” Luxton said.
According to James & Wells, Mickan will help:
“At James & Wells, I believe I can provide clients with the very best technical and legal expertise immediately and long into the future,” Mickan said in the firm’s news release.
Mickan added that James & Wells has expanded in Australia beyond its New Zealand roots, led by co-founder Ceri Wells. He added that the firm aims to remain attorney-owned, as one of the few large independent IP firms left in Australasia.
According to his LinkedIn page, prior to joining James & Wells, Mickan worked at IP firm Davies Collison Cave in Melbourne from July 2005 to September 2025.
At the University of Melbourne, he has been a senior fellow. At the University of Adelaide, he has served as a senior lecturer and as an adjunct senior lecturer.
His background has encompassed electrical and electronic engineering. Before becoming a patent attorney, he worked in physics research labs in Troy, New York. He is fluent in German.
