Tania Goatley

Partner, Auckland

Contact

+64 9 916 8766 +64 21 326 731 tania.goatley@bellgully.com

Expertise

Tania Goatley is an experienced commercial litigator with more than two decades specialising in intellectual property and has a market-leading media law practice.

Tania regularly assists clients with all aspects of intellectual property law, including copyright, trade mark infringement, passing off, designs and patent litigation issues. She is experienced at assisting clients with consumer and competitor complaints, along with all forms of intellectual property disputes and litigation. Her holistic approach to IP strategy and brand development, taking into account the full gambit of potential intellectual property issues from inception of brand to use strategies, is recognised by her clients as invaluable.

Tania advises on all aspects of advertising promotions, including impacts of the Gambling Act, Fair Trading Act and Privacy Act. She is also experienced in advising on food and wine labelling issues, involving advice on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Code, the Food Act, the Wine Act and related regulations and industry codes.

She has a strong media law background, advising on defamation claims, appearing in Court on name suppression issues, and providing media law training to journalists. In addition to her particular areas of expertise, Tania provides general advice on commercial and contractual disputes and litigation with successful outcomes for her clients.

Qualifications

LLB (Hons), BA University of Auckland

2001 Admitted New Zealand

Professional experience

Member AIPPI

Member IPSANZ

^{Chambers Asia Pacific 2025 Intellectual property, '}Leading lawyer'.

^{Chambers Asia Pacific 2025}^{Technology, media and telecommunications, 'Leading lawyer'.}

^{The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025 Data protection and cyber security, 'Leading partner'.}

^{Women in Business Law Awards APAC 2023 Media and Entertainment Lawyer of the Year and Trademark Lawyer of the Year, shortlisted.}

Liability issues for FMCG companies

Advises fast moving consumer goods companies on liability issues; issues relating to food and drink packaging, labelling and advertising, including compliance with the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Code; and all aspects of sales, promotions and intellectual property.

Intellectual property

Advised Goodman Fielder, Downlights, Colenso and innumerable other clients on the intellectual property aspects of franchise agreements and assisting in resolving disputes with current and former franchisees.

Frucor Suntory New Zealand

Advises all IP matters for Suntory Beverage and Food New Zealand and Frucor Brands International B.V in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands, and responsible for its design portfolio, which includes their Mizone sports drinks, V energy drinks and h2go water.

Frucor Suntory New Zealand

Advised on the classic V energy drink, in a dispute concerning Frucor's trade mark registration for its distinctive 'V Green' colour.

PepsiCo Inc. and Frucor Beverages

Advised PepsiCo Inc against claims by Coca-Cola that Pepsi and Frucor had sold Pepsi, Pepsi Max and 7UP products in glass bottles that had the same characteristic shape and silhouette as Coca-Cola's distinctive bottle.

Media

Advised a range of media clients on the ownership of intellectual property in various information, film and other data generated for and from broadcast, including in relation to sports development and the use of AI in connection with copyright works.

Privacy and cyber security advice

Assists with breaches and privacy issues, including a breach that involved the public disclosure of phone numbers that were designated as 'unlisted'; how to deal databases containing customer information across multiple jurisdictions for an organisation in receivership.