Tim Ball

Practice Areas

Tim specialises in Intellectual Property (IP) law, focusing on dispute resolution and transactions. Tim has extensive experience in patent litigation, particularly in acting for generic pharmaceutical suppliers in matters relating to a broad range of issues, including validity and infringement of claims relating to polymorphs, enantiomers, formulations, fixed-dose combinations, products-by-processes, and second medical uses.

He has also advised on IP rights and managed litigation in several African states on matters involving patents, utility models and trade mark registrations.

Tim has advised on, and drafted IP-related agreements in transactions including a petrochemicals merger, restructuring of the South African businesses of international publishers, and licence agreements with university technology spinoffs.

Although his current practice does not include patent drafting and prosecution, Tim's experience includes drafting and prosecution of patent applications for technologies including water-powered hydraulic rock drills, roof bolting rigs, mine props and pre-stress devices, box folding machines, marine ballast water treatment processes and equipment, and methods and equipment for growing skin cells for autologous grafts.​

Career

Tim's qualifications include:

N.D. Eng; Mech, Port Elizabeth Technikon (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), 2000

LLB, University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), 1996

B.Com, University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), 1994

Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa

Registered Patent Attorney (South Africa)

Professional Memberships

Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law

Member of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property

Member of the Licensing Executives Society