South Africa > Intellectual property
Intellectual property
Adams & Adams has a deep bench of IP experts, fielding over 50 partners including the immensely experienced Chris Job and Alan Smith, who are ‘excellent litigators’ and ‘know all the tricks’. Patents and trade marks are the practice’s real forte.
Spoor & Fisher has a long history in IP and a 30-partner team. Its high-calibre practitioners include Owen Dean, Charles Webster, and trade mark specialists Louis van Wyk, Stephen Goldberg and Carl van Rooyen. The group advised FIFA on the IP aspects of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, including the high-profile guerrilla marketing incidents.
Bowman Gilfillan’s ‘excellent’ IP practice ‘provides clear and practical legal advice in a timely manner’, particularly for patents and trade marks. It represents many foreign clients. The highly regarded Darren Olivier and Debbie Marriott advised Nike on its measures to counter guerrilla marketing during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Leading IP figure Llewellyn Parker sadly passed away in 2011.
Webber Wentzel’s impressive array of senior IP partners give it real credibility in both Johannesburg and Cape Town for commercial and transactional IP work. The team recently advised on all IP aspects of Wal-Mart’s proposed acquisition of 51% of Massmart; its standalone IP clients include Specsavers and News International Limited. Johannesburg-based Lesley Fitton and Bernadette Versfeld are recommended, as is Leanne Mostert in Cape Town.
Cape Town based Eben van Wyk is the key figure in DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr’s IP practice. He acted for Heineken in a trade mark dispute in South Africa, and for Diageo in a trade mark infringement and unlawful competition action against Nu-World Industries.
Intellectual property boutique D M Kisch has a tremendous track record for trade marks and patents, and has appeared in many of South Africa’s headline cases. Despite Brian Wimpey’s move to Norton Rose South Africa, the firm fields an impressive team that includes patent expert Nico Vermaak and trade mark specialists Derek Momberg and Andre van der Merwe.
Transactional support is a substantial part of the IP practice at ENS (Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs), and the team performed due diligence for Metropolitan on the worldwide IP aspects of its merger with Momentum. Mike du Toit, Gaelyn Scott, Vicky Stilwell, and Stellenbosch-based Ilse du Plessis are recommended.
Von Seidels’ broad practice ‘goes the extra mile’ to deliver ‘innovative thinking’ and a ‘superb service’. The firm has an eminent reputation in patent litigation, most notably for biotech and generic pharmaceuticals companies, and is also strong in the electronics and computing industries. Rowan Joseph has ‘excellent knowledge and technical ability’; ‘commonsense practitioner’ Bastiaan Koster has ‘extensive knowledge and understanding’; and Sandra Clelland is ‘one of the top’ biotech patent practitioners. Patent litigator Eric van der Vyver, renowned patent attorney Mike von Seidels, and trade mark attorneys Simonne Moodie and Christine Strutt are also recommended.
Werksmans Attorneys has a strong record in the media, retail, sports and wine industries, and a core focus on disputes. Practice head Stuart Gardiner and Janine Hollesen are highly recommended.
Brian Bacon & Associates Inc is highly recommended for pharmaceuticals patent work, and has a strong following among generics manufacturers. Founding partner Brian Bacon is recommended.
Pretoria-based Hahn & Hahn is recommended for a broad range of IP matters, including patent litigation. Senior figure Alan Dunlop is recommended.
Norton Rose South Africa recently hired leading trade mark specialist Brian Wimpey from D M Kisch, giving the firm greater credibility in IP in South Africa. Likonelo Magagula is also recommended.