Research Legal Services

Research Legal Services (RLS) provides specialist legal services to support University research and its translation to industry and the community.

We answer questions about the intellectual property our researchers create or use, and review the grants that fund future-shaping research. We advise on contracts with government and industry for research, consulting and commercialisation, enabling the University research to have impact in Australia and overseas. We form a key part of project teams spinning out University technology into new start up enterprises, and shape collaborations allowing our researchers to work with partners around the world.

How we work

We work primarily with Division of Research and Innovation staff to provide comprehensive project support for researchers.

If you require RLS support, please contact in the first instance:

What we do

We work with University researchers, business managers and others to identify, advise and provide solutions on legal matters relating to the University鈥檚 research and consultancy activities in the following areas:

  • Research grants

    RLS supports the Division of Research and Innovation and the Research Grants Unit (RGU) by providing legal advice and solutions and in drafting agreements in connection with major research funders and research collaborations. These activities include:

    • Membership of research consortia both nationally and internationally
    • Establishing strategic alliances, partnerships subordinate agreements
    • Support for international research engagements including establishment of Memorandums of Understanding and other collaborative research agreements with a broad range of companies and universities in accordance with the International Agreements Policy
    • Working with the RGU to complete funding and subordinate agreements across a range of schemes that includes:
    • State funding agencies such as the Department of State Development for projects of strategic interest to the State; e.g. the Premier鈥檚 Research & Innovation Fund Program and Photonics Catalyst Program
    • Federal Government agencies such as Australian Research Council and its major strategic research programs including Co-operative Research Centres, Industrial Transformation Training Centres, Industrial Transformation Research Hubs and ARC Linkage projects
    • Research & Development Corporations such as the Grains Research & Development Corporation, Meat and Livestock Australia and others including subordinate arrangements
    • National Health and Medical Research Council including commercially focused Development Grants
    • Complex grant funding programs such as ARENA involving multiple parties, including advising on structuring of intellectual property ownership, commercialisation and governance arrangements.
    • Support for university research relationships with Health Area Networks and SAHMRI
    • Advising on compliance issues including with respect to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and other obligations
    • Reviewing and advising on clinical trials both university sponsored and industry sponsored

  • Contract Research and Consultancies

    RLS supports Business Development聽through the provision of advice and other legal services with respect to contract research and consulting activities through which the expertise of University researchers is provided to government, industry and the community. These activities include:

    • Master services agreements and single consultancies
    • Establishing contract research agreements
    • Advising and structuring collaborative research agreements
    • Advising and drafting strategic partnerships with industry and various subordinate agreements
    • Supporting specialised business unit activities
    • Establishing access to University testing and analytica