Intellectual Property
Global Guide 2024 : South Africa
Band 1
Contact number
+27 12 432 6000About
Provided by Adams & Adams
Adams & Adams is a leading South African law firm and is best known for having the largest trade mark & patent law practices in South Africa and on the continent of Africa. The firm’s Intellectual Property law practices work with clients around the globe and across many industries to protect, enforce and commercialise their intellectual property. The firm currently has 93 attorneys, including 56 partners and 37 associates and consultants who specialise in IP. Many of the IP professionals at the firm are actively involved with various statutory and institutional committees, both locally and internationally. Adams & Adams is highly regarded for the depth of its IP expertise by clients and competitors alike, and continues to provide high quality, cost-effective services for their clients.
Chambers Review
Adams & Adams is highly regarded for its ability to handle a broad array of significant IP matters for a portfolio of blue-chip clients. It is headquartered in Pretoria, with additional bench strength in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The firm offers impressive IP-related experience across a wide range of industries, with noteworthy proficiency advising clients from the food and beverage, retail, banking, pharmaceutical and chemical sectors. It is particularly well respected for its strength in trade mark issues, with notable expertise in both contentious and non-contentious concerns. The team offers clients invaluable knowledge of IP regulatory regimes and other considerations concerned with operating in various African jurisdictions.
Work Highlights
- Adams & Adams represented Danjaq in a cross-border trade mark opposition claim.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Adams & Adams team is expert in the field. We rely on its advice and we trust it. We are very pleased with their expertise and knowledge."
"They absolutely understand the business aspects of the work and are very much aware of the challenges."
"Adams & Adams lawyers break things down very simply so everybody can understand what they are talking about, which is an indication of their experience."
"The team at Adams & Adams is very responsive and they consistently deliver a high level of service."
"The Adams & Adams team is expert in the field. We rely on its advice and we trust it. We are very pleased with their expertise and knowledge."
"They absolutely understand the business aspects of the work and are very much aware of the challenges."
"Adams & Adams lawyers break things down very simply so everybody can understand what they are talking about, which is an indication of their experience."
"The team at Adams & Adams is very responsive and they consistently deliver a high level of service."
Notable Practitioners
Mariëtte du Plessis is an accomplished Pretoria-based IP practitioner with notable experience in trade mark opposition, copyright registration and contentious matters relating to issues such as passing off. She continues to support Adams & Adams' IP team in the role of consultant.
Russell Bagnall enjoys a distinguished reputation for his patent litigation work, handling top-tier cases in South Africa, with further experience assisting with prosecution and registration. He is based in Pretoria.
"I am very impressed with Russell Bagnall's knowledge and expertise."
Pretoria-based Danie Dohmen operates a practice primarily focused on patents and designs. He handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, including representation in instances of infringement, with IP commercialisation being another area of particular strength.
Gérard du Plessis is a senior partner who specialises in contentious IP mandates, including representing multinationals in trade mark litigation.
Firm chairperson and Pretoria-based Kelly Thompson maintains her high standing in the area of trade mark litigation, representing clients in opposition and enforcement proceedings. She acts for a number of notable domestic and international clients.
"Kelly Thompson is extremely responsive and takes a pragmatic and commercially focused approach. Her calm and considered style makes working with her a real pleasure."
"Kelly Thompson provides phenomenal support in relation to trade mark opposition and infringement matters across the African continent."
Pretoria-based partner Alexis Apostolidis breaks into the rankings due to his particular activity in patent litigation for pharmaceutical companies. He boasts additional experience in competition law-related matters.
"Alexis Apostolidis is very good at what he does and is knowledgeable about litigation of patents infringement."
Darren Olivier is well recognised in the space for his work on IP commercialisation and portfolio management. He is often instructed to advise top-tier clients in the technology industry.
Cape Town-based Steven Yeates is experienced in providing counsel to clients on trade mark searching, registration and enforcement, and assists with the management of IP portfolios across a number of African jurisdictions.
"Steven Yeates stands out for his many years of experience."
Jenny Pienaar is based in Pretoria and provides her clients with wide-ranging trade mark expertise, encompassing registration, enforcement and protection. She is additionally respected for her contentious copyright work.
"Jenny Pienaar is a seasoned lawyer who can quickly assimilate your needs and make legal jargon easy and friendly."
Simon Brown is based in Pretoria and possesses expertise which extends across a broad array of trade mark-related issues, such as filing and prosecution.
"Simon Brown is very experienced and knowledgeable of prosecution, both local and foreign."
Ranked Lawyers at
Adams & Adams
South Africa
Members
Provided by Adams & Adams
Alexis Apostolidis
Dale Healy
Godfrey Budeli
Head of Department
Janice Galvad
NIshan Singh
Head of Department
Head of Department