Following the exponential growth of the firm as a whole and the Durban practice in particular, Adams & Adams – one of the largest Intellectual Property law firms in SA – has moved to new offices in the commercial hub of Ridgeside Umhlanga.
Story by Cara Reilly
Founded in 1908, this prestigious firm boasts a database of more than 12 000 active clients, many of whom are in the Fortune 500 and Top 500 local companies. And with offices in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Angola, Mozambique (ARIPO), Cameroon (OAPI), Burundi and Tanzania, Adams & Adams is the largest intellectual property (IP) firm in the Southern Hemisphere, with the most extensive physical presence throughout Africa.
The recent merger of the intellectual property practice of Bowman Gilfillan into that of its own, saw Adams & Adams take on six new partners, and over 60 professionals and staff, bringing together joint experience and capabilities that have a multi-faceted benefit for its clients.
“This merger will provide a launch pad for the training and mentorship of legal practitioners and law graduates in this specialised field and will further transform the legal profession in this niche area of practice,” says Nishi Chetty, managing partner of the Durban office.
Joining Chetty in the Durban office to head up the firm’s Patents and Design law department in KZN is Vishen Pillay, a Registered Patent Attorney. Supporting the Patents and Design law department, as a consultant, is Martin Rotteveel, who has over 30 years of experience practicing as a patent attorney.
Adams & Adams has received over 85 independent awards since 2010 – a first for any South African law firm. The most recent of these, and for the second year running, was for South African Intellectual Property Firm of the Year awarded at the Managing Intellectual Property Global Awards 2012 held in London.
“These awards are continual recognition of the firm’s focus on our clients’ needs, as well as the changing legal landscape,” said Tanziani.
Adams and Adams prides itself on client care and accessibility, and Chetty believes the partners based in the Durban office are an exemplary example of these values.
For more on Adams & Adams, www.adamsadams.com or call the Durban office on 031 536 8240.