The first thing that strikes you about Nishi Chetty is just how calm under pressure she is – which is surprising considering how much coffee she consumes before midday. “I only drink good coffee, mind you,” Nishi interrupts. “I have high standards for this vice!” Her mother thinks she should drink less coffee and more tea, but I decide that the neat, and numerous piles of client files surrounding her could probably only be handled appropriately by a dedicated coffee bean addict.
Nishi is a partner at Adams & Adams attorneys, the continent’s leading intellectual property law firm, and a big player in the areas of commercial law, property and litigation. Just how big is Adams & Adams? “Well our firm has been voted the top IP law firm in Africa for two years running,” says Nishi. “We manage the IP portfolios in Africa for 239 Fortune 500 companies.” Nishi joined Adams & Adams as a Candidate Attorney in January 2000 on the advice of a career guidance counsellor at the University of KZN’s PMB campus.
“The counsellor spoke passionately about law, and about the firm. I was only in my first year of law studies then, but I already knew where I wanted to practice one day.
I ask Nishi where the love for law comes from. “I was always intrigued by the law. I was later naturally drawn to law as my siblings had also studied it.”
So law runs in the family? “No. My father is a doctor,” she quips, with a wry smile.
Family is a vital ingredient in Nishi’s success. She comes from a large family and is the youngest of four siblings. She grew up in Pietermaritzburg and attended Raisethorpe Secondary School. “I was a learner during the apartheid era so our school had limited resources, but our teachers went above and beyond the call of duty to provide us with the best possible education. They worked long hours, even on Saturdays, so that we could prepare for our matric examinations. It was the solid foundation my varsity studies and my career as an attorney needed.”
That foundation has certainly paid dividends at Adams & Adams. Nishi specialises in trade mark prosecution and litigation, but her team also handles a wide variety of other related intellectual property matters such as copyright protection and ambush marketing. Another partner in the Durban office, Vishen Pillay, is an experienced Patent Attorney.
“About 80% of our IP work is generated from entrepreneurs and corporates in KwaZulu-Natal. Intellectual property, though intangible, is a valuable asset on the balance sheet of any business, in many cases exceeding in actual marketable value the fixed property of the business,” she explains. “So we work hard at convincing business leaders that a solid IP portfolio is a vital part of good corporate governance.”
While talking, Nishi has already fielded nine phone calls and a myriad of interruptions by her team members. “Is anyone making a coffee run?” she asks frantically.
I decide to distract her until the “crisis” is over by bringing up a more pleasant subject. Nishi lives in a beautiful little piece of heaven called Umhlanga Manors with her husband Jenan Chetty. “We met at university while studying law. We love going out with our friends and we enjoy trying out different restaurants. I quite enjoy sushi at the moment.”
The coffee arrives and we’re able to return to more serious business. Clothing and cosmetics are gradually becoming a large part of Nishi’s trade mark work. “These industries seem to be more savvy when it comes to understanding intellectual property rights. It’s exciting to see how our clients go on to commercialise their intellectual property once we’ve secured their rights. That’s a large part of the work we do: helping clients to monetise the IP asset so that it is an active item on the balance sheet, rather than just passive protection.”
Nishi Chetty’s next appointment arrives, and no doubt she’ll take it all in her stride. Changing lives and making her “mark”, one coffee at a time.
THE NISHI FILES
HIDDEN TALENT: I can read music and play many musical instruments!
ON MY PLAYLIST: Tresor – Evergreen. It’s just brilliant.
ADAMS & ADAMS STORIES: I have many stories at A&A that have made me laugh or cry (until my stomach hurts) but I can’t share any of them here. That wouldn’t be right.
SOME LIFE LESSONS: My grandparents taught me to be patient. Patience is a virtue in our industry. My parents taught me that education is the key to success, and perseverance and hard work are also tools to such success. And my husband has taught me that life is what we perceive it to be and that a huge mountain to climb today would not seem that huge in the days to follow.
VICES: Coffee! Coffee! Coffee! I also quite like coffee.
FAVOURITE SAYING: Seize an opportunity in the life of the opportunity.
CONTACT NISHI: dbn@adamsadams.com or phone 031 536 3740. You can also find out more about Nishi, Vishen and Adams & Adams at their website www.adamsadams.com