Intellectual Property (IP) law firm Spoor & Fisher recently won a Gold Award for the Best IP Advisor Africa & Middle East category, at the first edition of the Innovation & IP Forum Awards which were held in Paris on the 23rd of January.

The awards recognise the best IP firms in the EMEA region, and are dedicated to the challenges and opportunities worldwide in patent, trade mark, IT, IP litigation and other related rights. The awards were supported by 400 participants including IP Directors, Chief Digital Officers, General Counsel, Directors of R&D and Heads of Data protection who gathered for this major Pan-European summit.

Furthermore, the 2018 edition of World Trademark Review (WTR) 1000 awarded Spoor & Fisher gold band rating in the latest rankings. WTR 1000 recommends individual practitioners and firms exclusively in the trade mark field and Spoor & Fisher was awarded for its “proactive approach, strong infrastructure and commitment to getting results.”

Seven of Spoor & Fishers partners received particular mention for expertise in their areas of specialisation. These partners include Mohamed Khader for anti-counterfeiting, Jean McIvor for trade mark experience throughout the world, Louise Myburgh, head of the Cape Town office, in resolving challenging disputes, Kay Rickelman for advising on her particular knowledge in the USA and on Africa for blue-chip companies and Stephen Goldberg for trade mark advisory expertise. Carl van Rooyen is mentioned for solving complex trade mark conundrums, Eben van Wyk for exceptional strategic thinking and Charles Webster for his notable success in the Supreme Court of Appeal for British American Tobacco against Philip Morris.

Established almost a century ago, Spoor & Fisher boasts an enviable client list that includes some of the world’s leading brands in every sector. The firm has grown and now has key offices in South Africa and Jersey, Channel Islands (with easy access to North and central Africa). Over the years, the firm has opened local offices across Africa, including Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi and Zambia. Spoor & Fisher also has a direct filing presence in Sierra Leone and Zanzibar. The firm provides specialist knowledge of IP laws in Africa, the surrounding islands and in the Caribbean region.

Tshepo Shabangu, Chairperson of Spoor & Fisher, added: “We are very proud of our successes. Every award won by the firm is testament to the hard work and passion we dedicate to each client. Winning both of these 2018 awards reinforces our position as the country and continent’s best IP practice, with unmatched strength in trade marks, patents and copyright.”