Spoor & Fisher

South Africa

Reviews

Practice area

IP STARS Reviews

Overview

Spoor & Fisher is a leading law firm for IP in South Africa. The firm is Managing IP's Africa Firm of the Year (2021). The firm maintains three offices in South Africa and serves IP owners in other African countries through its Jersey office, which is headed by Wayne Meiring. It has representative offices in a number of African countries including Cameroon, Gambia and Malawi. Patent attorney and IP litigator Jonathan Whittaker and patent attorney Lodewyk Cilliers lead the firm's executive committee.

The firm's trade mark practice is led by Marco van der Merwe while Mohamed Khader leads the anti-counterfeiting practice. They are supported by Eben van Wyk. Other notable senior soft IP practitioners in the firm include John Foster, Herman Blignaut, Charles Webster, Louise Myburgh, Jean McIvor, and Megan Reimers. The junior trade mark partners to watch are Zama Buthelezi and Reinard Kruger. 

The firm's patent expertise covers technical fields such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, engineering and electronics. The notable practitioners in the patent department include Tyron Grant, David Cochrane, Lance Abramson and Dina Biagio. Cochrane is one of the best South African IP practitioners to consult on plant breeders' rights. Whittaker is widely respected in patent disputes while Biagio is the key contact for IP-related transactions. Chyreene Truluck is a notable junior patent partner in the firm.

Testimonial

2024/2025

“Based on previous experiences, we are able to fully rely, trust and act on Spoor & Fisher’s legal opinion and judgement on issues that relate to trade marks and domain names.”

"I chose them because of their reputation, past experience, and reliability. They provide prompt, sound advice, at reasonable cost."

"I have worked with them before; they offer an efficient service and clear pricing structure."

“Spoor & Fisher has a good business connection with the local agent in African countries, and they have always provided us with a timely response. Also, from our long business relationship, we have put each other's companies as top priority, thereby we are very happy to have frequent opportunities to communicate.”

“Spoor & Fisher has a well-established reputation as a strong, respected and leading IP law firm, and has demonstrated extensive knowledge and expertise in relation to trademark law and domain names.”

“Spoor & Fisher supports us in all IP-related fields. TMs, designs, patents; prosecution, portfolio work, litigation, enforcement. We feel in very good hands. Staff is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, experienced and well received/highly renowned by all stakeholders (internally as well as externally).”

“They are a long-trusted partner of the company, and we have a good working relationship.”

“They are a very approachable team, and I have good points of contact at the firm.”

“They are knowledgeable, professional and are always willing to assist

“They are professional and approachable. They always try their best to provide good service.”

“They have a friendly, efficient and responsive team.”

"They do good work and I have met several of the attorneys at conferences. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive."

“They have been our longstanding legal representative in a patent infringement case running since 2012. Good, experienced and capable patent attorneys who know about litigation.”

"We have a long-standing relationship and trust."

“We have used them for many years, have always been very satisfied with the service and they know the history of our portfolio and brands in the country.”

“We like their quick response, good knowledge of trademark practice in many remote countries, and management skill to control the local agents.”

“We value their expertise and intimate knowledge of our group.”

“Well respected and capable.”

Chyreene Truluck

"Knowledgeable and responsive."

“She communicates well, is a good listener and she is knowledgeable.”

 "Very friendly and clear reporting."

Hugh Moubray

“Very knowledgeable and a good strategic thinker.”

Jennifer Colantoni

“Jen is very knowledgeable, and also very approachable.”       

“Her management skills are excellent.”

John Foster

“He converses well and provides sound legal advice on which the organisation is able to confidently act.”

Karien Postma

“Excellent communication.”

Patrick O’Brien

“Good communicator.”

Paul Ramara

“Transparent communication, fast actions, highly responsive, great relationships with important stakeholders.”

Tyron Grant

“He is knowledgeable and always willing to help.”

"He provides prompt service, advice in best interests of the client rather than best interest of his firm, astute advice."

2023

"Mohamed Khader and Jarred West are professional, pleasant and courteous people."

"They get to know their clients well and then assess how best to handle them."

"Spoor & Fisher has very skilled and knowledgeable employees, and they are very approachable. We have built a very good working relationship over the years."

"We value their knowledge, understanding and honest advice."

"We value their level of knowledge (often leaders – e.g. biotech), flexibility, support (to make our lives easier) and ability to work to tight deadlines when necessary. They maintain friendly interactions and they advise you on different options, so that you can make an informed decision."

"The trademark office at Spoor & Fisher in South Africa is a young and dynamic team, with valuable business insights and an unparalleled level of professionalism, expertise and experience in the field of trademark law. They can clearly explain and clarify legal positions and challenges."

"They are good, capable and experienced patent attorneys and lawyers."

"We value the firm's diversity, integrity, sustainability and open-mindedness."

"Depth of experience and responsiveness."

"They are a smart bunch of attorneys, and very plain speaking. You get to the crux of the problem in a cost-effective manner. They are extremely personable."

"They do great work and are always very pleasant and responsive."

"We value the quality of work."

2022 client testimonials

"Spoor is familiar with our company's policy as we have been working together for a long time. We are always able to get timely and productive information that we want."

"Provides timely and productive advice, and builds a good relationship with the local agent in developing countries."

"They are always happy to work with us on improving the service and are very approachable. They are always quick to respond to the queries we have and resolve issues in a professional manner."

Patent

Case studies show patent protection, advisory and enforcement work. The firm advised Nelson Mandela University on protecting and commercialising its pharmaceutical inventions. Other clients include Rubber Nano Products. Patent Star Hugh Moubray has retired.