Headed up by John Foster, Chyreene Truluck, and Mohamed Khader, the IP team at Spoor & Fisher handles all aspects of IP, including trademarks, patents, copyright, designs, anti-counterfeiting, licensing, and litigation across Africa and internationally. Foster has worked on key counterfeit goods matters, Truluck specialises in domestic and international patent prosecution in the biotechnology and life sciences industries, and Khader focuses on anti-counterfeiting, copyright, and trademark litigation. Eben van Wyk routinely handles copyright, unlawful competition, company name disputes, and advertising law, while Dina Biagio is skilled in IP commercial transactions. Hugh Moubray has experience in mining, mechanical, metallurgical, and chemical fields, Carl van Rooyen and Paul Ramara specialise in litigation, and Zama Buthelezi is another key member of the practice.
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Key clients
- Anglo Corporate Services South Africa (Pty) Limited
- Tiger Food Brands Intellectual Property Holding Company (Pty) Ltd
- Distell Ltd
- My Light Holdings (Pty) Ltd t/a Shimansky
- The United States Polo Association
- Brand Quantum International (Pty) Limited
- Nelson Mandela University
- Deere & Co.
- The Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC) of Épernay
- De Wetshof Estate
Work highlights
Acted for The United States Polo Association and Stable Brands (Pty) Ltd in opposing an urgent application for an interdict based on trade mark infringement which was brought by LA Group (Pty) Ltd (LA Group) to restrain the use of certain trade marks by USPA and its licensee, Stable Brands, in South Africa.
Acted for Macsteel Service Centres SA (Pty) Ltd in a South African Domain Name Complaint matter where the details of the Registrant were falsified and incomplete, which assisted in proving that the domain name registration was an abusive registration.
Acted for Tiger Food Brands Intellectual Property Holding Company (Pty) Ltd in a trade mark opposition matter in China which involved the issue of bad faith filings in China.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Eben van Wyk
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Zama Buthelezi
John Foster
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Merlene Engelbrecht
Practice head
John Foster; Chyreene Truluck; Mohamed Khader
Other key lawyers
Eben van Wyk; Dina Biagio; Hugh Moubray; Carl van Rooyen; Paul Ramara; Zama Buthelezi; Merlene Engelbrecht