Adams & Adams

Patent Litigation and Competition Law

Partner | Patent Attorney

Alexis Apostolidis is the Head of Competition Law Group at Adams & Adams, a partner and patent attorney.  He represents multinational and national clients in a diversity of fields (life sciences, agrochemical, petrochemical, Telecommunications, IT, and consumer goods sectors). He has successfully litigated on behalf of originator pharmaceutical companies, OEM German car manufacturers, banks, and television content providers and regularly acts in multi-jurisdictional patent and design litigation in South Africa and several African countries.

He is a versatile lawyer and has been referred to as a shrewd litigator. Alexis’ practice also extends to the commercialisation and licensing of IP and regulatory matters which Alexis utilises to provide pragmatic and holistic strategies to any intellectual property matter he is presented with.

Alexis also heads the firm’s competition law group and tackles complex competition law issues at the interface of competition law and intellectual property in a variety of settings including the competition law fora. He has been referred to as the Firm’s “ace up the sleeve” (IAM) in competition law related IP litigation matters.

Alexis is currently acting for an originator pharmaceutical company concerning the abuse of patent rights and access to medicines simultaneously in two fora, namely the Court of the Commissioner of Patents and the Competition Commission of South Africa.

English

Memberships

• Attorneys Association Pretoria (PAA) – Member
• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) – Member
• Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) – Member
• International Bar Association (IBA) – Member
• Legal Practice Council (LPC) – Member
• SA Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) – Fellow
• SAIIPL: Patent & Design Law Committee Member
• SAIIPL: Convenor of Judgment Reporting Group – Public Affairs Sub-Committee
• SAIIPL: Ad Hoc Competition Law / Franchising / Consumer Protection Committee Member

Accolades:

• Best Lawyers® – Intellectual Property Law: South Africa | 2021 – 2024
• Best Lawyers® – Competition / Antitrust Law: South Africa | 2020 – 2024
• IAM Patent 1000 – Individuals: Litigation (Silver) | 2017 – 2024
• IFLR - Patent Expert Guide - Experts for Patents | 2019
• Law International Global Awards – IP Lawyer of the Year South Africa | 2018
• Lawyer International Legal 100 – Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Sector | 2018
• Lawyer International Legal 100 – Intellectual Property Lawyer of the year, South Africa | 2018
• Legal 500 – Recommended Lawyers: Intellectual Property |2023 - 2025
• MIP – IP Stars: Patents | 2017 – 2024

• Registered Patent Practitioner | 2004
• Admitted Attorney | 2002
• Postgraduate Degree European Competition Law (With Merit) – Kings College, University of London | 2012
• LLB (Cum Laude) – University of Witwatersrand, SA | 2002
• BSc (Chemistry and Law) – University of Witwatersrand, SA | 1999