Alumni Chronicles: DAELE TYLER - ASHURST

Priyanka Sharma in conversation with Daele Tyler.

Last month, I had the privilege of speaking with Daele Tyler, a Senior Associate in the Intellectual Property (IP) team at Ashurst. From her time at Deakin University to advising on landmark litigation, Daele’s career path is both inspiring and instructive for aspiring lawyers.

Daele credits Deakin’s online study option as a key factor in her success, noting that the flexibility to study full-time online allowed her to work alongside her studies. 

“The ability to study online allowed me to gain real-world legal experience while finishing my studies.”

Like many students, Daele found securing legal experience challenging, particularly when unpaid roles weren’t a viable option.

“It’s always difficult to get your foot in the door, that’s why I encourage students to take on whatever opportunities they can, even if it’s not in their preferred practice area. It all counts.”

Daele had every opportunity to gain practical experience alongside her studies. Her first role in the legal industry was as a legal assistant at a small family law firm.

“The firm took me on knowing I had no prior experience. It was a complete learning opportunity that gave me valuable insight into how a law firm operates.”

This hands-on role offered foundational exposure to client interaction, legal processes and the inner workings of a firm, experience she describes as formative. This role soon led to a position as a paralegal at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office. That early exposure cemented her passion for litigation:

“I worked on a variety of matters, primarily litigation and royal commissions. It gave me my first real taste of litigation, and unsurprisingly, that’s where I’ve ended up.”

While she admits she didn’t retain much from her early exposure to IP during university, she believes the most transferable skill she gained was learning how to apply legal principles.

“Understanding how to use the IRAC method and apply case law is one of the most valuable things you take from university into practice.”

Daele’s path to Ashurst was via strategic networking, which she now strongly advocates.

“I secured a paralegal role at Ashurst through having coffee with people I barely knew and those informal conversations had a real impact.”

She went on to complete a clerkship with the firm and received a graduate offer, joining the 2020 intake. However, just two weeks after attending national induction in Sydney, the country went into lockdown and Daele spent the majority of her graduate year working remotely. Despite the circumstances, she found value in connecting across teams and offices.

“It helped build strong connections across Ashurst’s national network, which is invaluable in a global firm. You never know when you’ll need someone’s help.”

She remembers needing to have something delivered to the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra during a matter:

“I could just pick up the phone and call someone in our Canberra office that I met during induction. That kind of network is crucial.”

Now a Senior Associate at Ashurst, Daele’s passion for intellectual property law is clear.

“I love the duality of IP, it’s technical and niche, yet broad and constantly evolving. It broadens your experience and strengthens your internal and external networks.”

Over the course of her career so far, three professional milestones stand out. The first is her involvement in a landmark patent litigation case, which she worked on from her graduate year through to 2024. This complex matter involved the invalidation of three vaccine patents in the high-profile dispute between Boehringer Ingelheim and Zoetis, ultimately resulting in a successful appeal before the Full Federal Court.

The second was her secondment to Woolworths Group, where Daele worked across various business units, provided IP training, and even ran a successful trademark opposition hearing. The experience deepened her understanding of the Woolworths' business and now assists her in providing tailored, commercial legal advice to not only Woolworths, but all clients that she works with.

The third was advising on a major capital raising for Airwallex.

“We supported Blackbird in its $300 million investment. It involved coordination across Melbourne, Sydney, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Singapore and Tokyo. Watching it all come together was incredible.”

Daele also contributes regularly to Ashurst’s legal blog and commentary. Known for her creativity, she has written pieces like ‘Don’t Go Bacon My Heart’ and ‘Why Taylor Swift Doesn’t Need Romeo to Save Her’.

“We take our punny titles very seriously,” she laughs.

Her Swift-themed article was especially enjoyable: “It was my obligation as a fan and an IP lawyer to explore the legal issues behind the re-recordings.” 

She sees this work as a way to make legal concepts more digestible:

“We want clients to absorb the key takeaways quickly, without reading full decisions. It’s about providing practical, accessible insights.”

In a recent article titled Will the Tables Turn, Daele provides insights into the legal challenges facing the retail sector. When asked about trends in retail-related intellectual property disputes, she highlights a noticeable shift in consumer behaviour that is directly influencing legal work in this space.

“Consumers are more informed and discerning than ever, with the cost of living rising, people are more conscious about where they spend their money. That means a brand’s reputation has never been more valuable, or more vulnerable. Brands are increasingly proactive in protecting their reputation. It’s no longer optional, it’s essential.”

When asked for her advice to current law students, Daele doesn’t hesitate:

“Network, network, network.”

She encourages students to attend as many industry events as possible, even if they feel intimidating. She shares a memorable anecdote of reconnecting with a former KFC colleague at a networking event.

“I said, ‘Oh my gosh, I remember you!’ We’d worked together years ago. That small connection helped open doors.”

Daele is refreshingly honest about the steep learning curve that comes with transitioning from law student to legal professional.

“Your entire graduate year, and the first few years beyond, is one big learning experience,” she says. 

Her advice?

“Embrace not knowing. Don’t see it as a weakness. Instead, treat it as an opportunity to learn from those around you.”

Having juggled full-time work during her studies, Daele felt well-prepared for the demands of graduate life but her most important tip for new lawyers is communication.

“Over-communicate. Be clear about your workload and priorities. If something’s urgent, let people know. If you have a prior commitment, ask whether the task can wait until the next day.If I have a Pilates class at 6:30, I’ll ask whether it’s okay to log on later to finish something. That way, expectations are clear and nobody’s left wondering.”

So why Ashurst? Daele cites the firm’s global reach and high-profile work, but also its deeply embedded support systems.

“The benefit of a large firm like Ashurst is the breadth of opportunity, learning, development, and client secondments. As a graduate, you have access to regular formal training. But that doesn’t stop as you progress. There are always new opportunities to grow.”

Mentorship is another strength:

“Ashurst has a formal women's mentoring program, and initiatives like ‘Coffees Up’ that pair junior and senior staff informally. It’s important to have people you can look up to and envision yourself becoming.”

Working alongside two female partners in her team has been especially empowering.

Daele states that when managing work-life balance in a demanding role, the key is to identify what keeps you grounded. She advises future lawyers to prioritise what fills their cup, and communicate it.

“For me, it’s exercise, sleep, and quality time with my husband, my dog, and my family. Set expectations clearly. If you need an evening off for a family dinner, say so. People appreciate transparency. Being proactive also helps with switching off. If your team knows where you are and when you’ll be back online, you can truly disconnect. That’s how you sustain a legal career long-term, by managing your energy, not just your time.”

Daele Tyler’s journey is a testament to the power of persistence, strategic networking, and staying true to your values. Her advice to students and graduates is simple but powerful: seek out experience, embrace the unknown, and communicate clearly.