Spoor & Fisher has once again been named as a gold band firm in the 2019 edition of the IAM Patent 1000 guide, with the firm being described as “virtually unrivalled in Africa for the strength and depth of its patent practice.”
 
The IAM Patent 1000 also recognised 9 of the firm’s partners for individual patent litigation, prosecution and transactional abilities and expertise. They include:
 
David Cochrane, described as incredibly attentive, responsive, thorough and collaborative, he was recognised for his life sciences expertise and was said to be “very skilled at prosecution not just in South Africa but in many jurisdictions”.
 
Mark Kemp was hailed as a top-choice for US and UK companies looking to get pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products on shop shelves and keep them there.
 
John McKnight, former deputy head of patents at Reckitt Benckiser, was highlighted for his ability to draw on outstanding industry knowledge to secure patent assets and then commercially exploit them.
 
Lance Abramson was described as “a software specialist at the top of his game”. One of the interviewee commented, “Lance is really personable and provides down-to-earth, solid advice backed by a wealth of experience.”
 
Lodewyk Cilliers was identified as the main man for anything mechanical.
 
David Gilson’s role as the experienced patent formalities department head was noted.
 
Hugh Moubray was said to be viewed as “calm, pragmatic and determined,” by his peers.
As dependable as they come, interviewees believe that when things get contentious, Hugh does thorough research and is excellent at preparing winning case strategies and brings lots of creative ideas to the table to help drive cases forward.
 
Jonathan Whittaker was described as an talented litigator for a plethora of technical areas and industries.
 
Dina Biagio stood out for her licensing expertise, says IAM. “She has a striking ability to confect IP structures that put her clients in the best financial and regulatory positions,” it added.
 
Speaking on the rankings, Lodewyk Cilliers, Executive Chairman of Spoor & Fisher says, “As IAM has succinctly put it, the firm has an elite expert for every technical area. As the ‘go to’ firm in Africa, our success would not have been possible without our knowledgeable staff who believe strongly in client centricity."
 
Published by the Intellectual Asset Management magazine, IAM Patent 1000 is the world’s most extensive guide to leading private practice patent professionals and firms around the world’s key jurisdictions. The guide is compiled following an extensive research process based on interviews with numerous private practice lawyers and in-house counsel.