Posted on October 01, 2026
We are delighted to announce the promotion of Edward Nation, Gavin Hackett, Matthew Laffan and Natasha Perks to the position of Partner.
You can read more about their professional backgrounds below, and we are delighted to be sharing news of these well-deserved promotions and wish Ed, Gavin, Matt and Natasha every success in their new roles.
Ed has an excellent track record in contentious proceedings. Experience gained in the high-value and multi-jurisdictional Ocado v Autostore dispute has made Ed one of our go-to attorneys for Opposition work. A physics background and eye for detail means he particularly thrives when dealing with complex technical subject matter such as optics and medical physics. A particular area of focus is the defence industry where Ed has made good progress in becoming a trusted advisor within the sector. This includes the provision of seminars and workshops to engineers and technical teams to strengthen their approach to IP.
Gavin trained and qualified as a patent attorney at Abel & Imray. When he started in the firm, brought with him his experience from pharmaceuticals research and he was able to use that to guide his approach to many aspects of his patent work and ‘speak the client’s language’ about their developments. Gavin had already gained a high reputation for high quality patent work when he moved overseas in 2022 and broadened his experience working as an attorney in New Zealand and thereafter in Singapore.
Since his return to Abel & Imray in 2025, Gavin has re-established his previous connections and expanded his breadth of work. Gavin quickly establishes excellent rapport with clients and gains their trust by delivery of excellent work products, be they newly-drafted patent applications, notices of opposition or pieces of advice. Within the Firm, Gavin is sought-after for his sound advice. He puts the same sound knowledge base to good effect in his supervision of a number of trainees in the Chem-Bio team.
Matt is responsible for the IP portfolio of one of the world’s premier access control companies and does an excellent job in maintaining an overview of the large interconnected IP families. Management of the portfolio involves significant amounts of drafting and prosecution, in addition to regular enforcement actions and advisory work. Matt set up and runs our designs team, ensuring that our clients receive the best advice relating to registered designs along with an efficient filing process. His background in engineering has been well used in various matters relating to non-destructive testing.
Natasha is a trusted adviser to several of our key clients, combining technical expertise with commercial judgement and strong client service. She has significant responsibility for major client relationships and portfolios, earning recognition for the quality of her advice and strategic insight. Natasha represents Abel + Imray internationally, and has built strong relationships with overseas attorneys and professional contacts.
Beyond her client work, Natasha is a supportive colleague and dedicated mentor. She shares her knowledge generously, supports the development of trainees and junior team members, and contributes to outreach activities. Her commitment to improving client service and internal processes has made a lasting contribution to the way we work.
