Boutique international Intellectual Property (IP) law firm Spoor & Fisher has retained its band 1 ranking in the 2018 Legal 500 ratings of IP firms in South Africa. The Legal 500, a guide to the preeminent law firms in South Africa, in its report said, Spoor & Fisher continues to impress in the trade marks and patents spaces with high levels of expertise in commercial, prosecution and litigation disciplines.
 
The rankings based on feedback from 250,000 in-house peers as well as on the law firm’s deals and confidential matters, are independently assessed by researchers. The rankings provide buyers of legal services with an objective analysis of firms in the market and is widely regarded as offering the definitive judgment of law firm capabilities.
 
Published annually, the rankings highlight the practice area teams and practitioners that provide the most cutting edge, detailed and innovative advice and says Spoor & Fisher’s attorneys ‘work together as a team’ to ensure there is ‘no information gap’.
 
Spoor & Fisher’s work for British American Tobacco in non-use cancellation proceedings against Phillip Morris was noted. Seasoned trade mark expert Charles Webster was recognised as “having a fine reputation” and Lance Abramson “as a market leader in patent and design work” as is patent litigator Hugh Moubray.
 
Eben van Wyk was praised for his advertising sector knowledge and anti-counterfeiting and brand protection expert Paul Ramara was noted for providing ‘excellent advice’ and ‘one face to the customer.’ For matters involving multiple jurisdictions he is commended for ‘understanding clients’ policies and requirements’, and taking ‘all efforts to reach the best result’.
 
“Legal 500’s ranking continues to strengthen our position as the continent’s leader in IP legal practice,” says Tshepo Shabangu, Chairperson of Spoor & Fisher. “We are very proud of our achievements and every accolade is testament to the hard work and passion we dedicate to each client.”
 
“We would like to thank our clients for their unwavering support and appreciate Legal500’s recognition of our expertise,” ends Shabangu.