VANESSA FERGUSON

Founder
Trade marks & Anti-counterfeiting

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OUR AFRICA PARTNERS

We work with an extensive network of independent businesses, attorneys and agents throughout Africa who share a common passion for IP enforcement and capacity building.

Our Africa partners are chosen based on their key knowledge and expertise of local laws and IP solutions that work within their territory.

OUR INVESTIGATORS

Our investigating agents and firms are operational in key Africa territories and support in the identification of counterfeit activities in the African market place.

Strong relationships with customs and police are a key area of operation to support enforcement strategies from identification through to detention and ultimate successful enforcement of IP rights in Africa.

VANESSA FERGUSON

Vanessa is a qualified trade mark practitioner and specializes in IP protection and enforcement, with a specific focus on anti-counterfeiting and associated enforcement measures.

For more than two decades, Vanessa has been assisting clients from all industries and areas in respect of both traditional and non-traditional IP protection and enforcement, both in South Africa as well as key African territories, with a strong focus on regional and cross-border enforcement measures.

With a strong passion and belief in education and capacity building, Vanessa works closely with government bodies and industries in South Africa and is actively involved in the training programs for law enforcement, customs and other role players in anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property enforcement measures.

Vanessa is the co-author of INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT IN AFRICA (published May 2020 by Oxford University Press) and co-authored the Africa Chapter of RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON CROSS-BORDER ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (published 2014 by Edward Elgar Publishing Limited).

Qualifications

B.Juris LLB. Trade Mark Practitioner, Attorney of the High Court of South Africa

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

President of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) (2019 & 2020) and member of the SAIIPL Anti-Counterfeiting, Education and Trade Mark Liaisons Committees.

Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), member of INTA MEA (Middle East & Africa) Anti-counterfeiting committee; Past chair of the MEASA (Middle East, Africa and South Asia) Anti-counterfeiting committee.

Member of the Law Society of the Northern Province.

.za Domain Disputes Adjudicator.

VANESSA FERGUSON

Vanessa is a qualified trade mark practitioner and specializes in IP protection and enforcement, with a specific focus on anti-counterfeiting and associated enforcement measures.

For more than two decades, Vanessa has assisted clients from all industries and areas in respect of both traditional and non-traditional IP protection and enforcement, both in South Africa as well as key African territories, with a strong focus on regional and cross-border enforcement measures.

With a strong passion and belief in education and capacity building, Vanessa works closely with government bodies and industries in South Africa and is actively involved in the training programs for law enforcement, customs and other role players in anti-counterfeiting and intellectual property enforcement measures.

Vanessa is the co-author of INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT IN AFRICA (published May 2020 by Oxford University Press) and co-authored the Africa Chapter of RESEARCH HANDBOOK ON CROSS-BORDER ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (published 2014 by Edward Elgar Publishing Limited).

Qualifications

B.Juris LLB. Trade Mark Practitioner, Attorney of the High Court of South Africa

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

President of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) (2019 & 2020) and member of the SAIIPL Anti-Counterfeiting, Education and Trade Mark Liaisons Committees.

Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), member of INTA MEA (Middle East & Africa) Anti-counterfeiting committee; Past chair of the MEASA (Middle East, Africa and South Asia) Anti-counterfeiting committee.

Member of the Law Society of the Northern Province.