IP Stars

Adams & Adams

South Africa

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Overview

Adams & Adams is best known as the large trademark and patent practice in South Africa. They have multiple teams focusing on different aspects of Africa. They offer strategic advice for every jurisdiction on the continent with 23 Associate Offices. The firm has four offices in South Africa in the major centres of Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. They have 88 attorneys, including 55 partners 33 associates and several consultants specialising in IP.   

The firm services include the full spectrum availability and status searches, filing and prosecution of the trade mark, Design and patent applications in South Africa and throughout the continent of Africa, trade mark and copyright infringements, record of rights with Customs, anti-counterfeiting seizure operations, patent and design infringements, passing off, unlawful competition, trade mark cancellation and patent revocation, competition law, company, business name and domain name objections/complaint. 

 
Testimonial

2025

"Adams & Adams comfortably handles local and international patent filings in very complex areas. The team is also able to assist us with the licensing of patents.”

“Adams & Adams has a full range of patent legal services in a wide variety of technical fields, including our very focused and niche area. The firm also covers biotechnology, chemical engineering, chemistry and pharmaceuticals, and polymer technology. Very impressive!"

"Depth and breadth of expertise, number of attorneys capable of handling large corporate filing projects."

"Easy to communicate with, and a focus on business-oriented and cost-efficient advice."

"Good advice, experience with their solid work, and quick feedback."

"I like the fact that I can get hold of them easily on their mobiles. The team always conduct themselves in a professional manner. They are willing to come to our campus to assist with IP awareness workshops without charging us."

"I like their professionalism and availability, and ease of communication."

"Responsiveness, ease of working with them, very personable, professional and trusted."

"The Adams & Adams team has developed a deep understanding of our business and IP enforcement strategy over the years. This understanding, coupled with the extensive IP knowledge and experience of the team, makes Adams & Adams very dependable. The team is also extremely responsive and diligent when delivering their legal advice. They are a pleasure to work with."

"The team is experienced, accessible, and pragmatic."

"The team is very knowledgeable and responsive. I found the advice to not be overly theoretical—it was pragmatic and practical advice. I appreciated that very much."

"They are accessible, proactive, clear in their advice, strategic and are able to support our client in the most complex matters whilst still maintaining the human touch."

"Very engaging and they support clients throughout the patenting or trade mark application process."

"Very responsive, very pragmatic when it comes to advice sought."

"We needed a firm that could offer clear, strategic and proactive advice in a complex trade mark dispute."

Copyright & related rights

Case studies show that the firm represented the client, Vodafone Group relying on the provisions of the Copyright Act, to address both direct and indirect instances of copyright infringement and remove catalogues owned and hosted by the third party. 

Patent

Case studies show that the firm assisted client Nicoventures Trading with a large series of patent filings for aerosol devices, assemblies and systems. 

Esmé van Rooyen is a key practitioner to watch.  

 
 
Trade mark

Case studies show that the firm represented the client, a beverage major in cross-trade mark opposition and trademark cancellation litigation matter in the High Court of South Africa.