The South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) represents about 240 intellectual property attorneys and agents, comprising Fellows, Associates and Honorary members. Of these, 162 members are listed under the Trade Mark category and 86 members under the Patent category.
The Role of the SAIIPL in South Africa
The South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law is widely recognised as the custodian of South Africa’s intellectual property rights and includes practising attorneys, academics, and professionals working in business and related fields who share a common interest in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property.
A full list of members of the SAIIPL is available on the Institute’s official website.
Smit & Van Wyk’s Membership of the SAIIPL
Smit & Van Wyk is proud to have five members of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law, of which four are listed in the Trade Mark category and two are listed in the Patent category.
The following Smit & Van Wyk team members are members of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law:
- Wessel van Wyk
- Chantal Hoffelner
- Esmari Jonker
- Rogan Bruce
- Sharon Engelbrecht
Why SAIIPL Membership Matters to Our Clients
Being members of the SAIIPL means our clients can be confident that they will receive a professional service in accordance with the ethical and legally compliant standards prescribed by the SAIIPL’s constitution.
Intellectual Property Qualifications in South Africa
The Patent Attorneys qualification is a statutory qualification under the control of the Patent Examination Board (PEB) of the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). An attorney who holds this qualification may practise as a patent attorney and may apply to become a Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law.
The Trade Mark Practitioners qualification is offered by the SAIIPL to provide proficiency in trade marks and related fields. An attorney who holds this qualification may also apply to become a Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law.