Bernadette Versfeld

Practice Areas

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.

Career

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

Professional Memberships

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)

Work Highlights

Named by Best Lawyers 2019 - 2023 as a leading individual

Named by Legal 500 2012 - 2022 as a legal expert

Named by Chambers Global 2015 - 2022 as a ranked lawyer

Appointed to the International Trademark Association's Commercialisation of Brands Committee for the 2022 - 2023 term

Named by IAM Patent 1000 2021 as one of the world's leading transaction professionals

Named by World IP Review - 2021 as a Trademark Leader (South Africa)

Named by IAM Patent 1000 2015 - 2020 as one of the world's leading patent professionals

Named by World Trade Mark Review 2012 - 2021 as a leading individual for both enforcement and litigation, prosecution and strategy, and transactions

Named by Managing Intellectual Property 2010 - 2020 as a leading IP expert

Named by Managing Intellectual Property's IP STARS directory 2018 as one of the top 250 women in IP globally

Appointed to the International Trademark Association's Copyright Committee for the 2018 - 2019 term

Member of the INTA Commercialisation of Brands Committee