Bernadette Versfeld

Bernadette has extensive experience advising some of the world’s top multi-national organisations in relation to the protection, management, enforcement and exploitation of Intellectual Property (IP) in Africa. She provides clients with all services associated with trade marks, including prosecution, litigation and commercial transactional work. Bernadette is highly regarded for her litigation expertise in IP (trade marks, copyright, designs, patents, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information, goodwill), dealing with high profile IP litigious matters across Africa and is recognised for her negotiation skills and strategic and commercially focused advice in relation to contentious matters. She has extensive experience advising in relation to: high-profile and complex corporate transactions relating to the exploitation of IP rights; the monetisation and structuring of IP rights (such as through cross-border licensing, assignments, research and development, global joint ventures, technology transfer and collaboration agreements); IP issues flowing from international acquisitions and disposals; public offerings and corporate reorganisations; international structures and exchange control issues and IP due diligence investigations.

Bernadette's qualifications include:

Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law and qualified trade mark practitioner, 2002

LLB, University of Johannesburg, 1999

BA Law, University of Johannesburg, 1997

Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa

Member of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (2002 to date)

Member of the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (2006 to date)

Member of the International Trademark Association (2006 to date)