Jessie McKenna

Biography:

Jessie was admitted to practice in 2019 and called to the Bar in 2024. She holds a Juris Doctor (with Distinction) and a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in molecular biology.

Jessie has a strong scientific background and substantial experience in complex intellectual property disputes, particularly within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.  She accepts briefs in all areas of law and has particular interest in intellectual property, commercial law, and competition and consumer law. 

Before coming to the Bar, Jessie was a Senior Associate in the Intellectual Property and Technology team at DLA Piper, where she specialised in life sciences IP litigation. Before that, she was an Associate in the Intellectual Property team at Allens, where she worked on a broad range of IP matters, including copyright, trade marks, patents and confidential information matters.

Jessie regularly appears, both led and unled, in the Federal Court of Australia, the Full Federal Court, the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the New South Wales Court of Appeal, and the Trade Marks and Patents Offices.

Before becoming a solicitor, she worked in medical research for 3 years in the fields of molecular biology and bioinformatics. She has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles in relation to this research.

Awards & Recognition

Jessie has been recognised in Doyles Guide as Leading Intellectual Property Junior Counsel – NSW, 2025.