New location for top law firm Adams & Adams’ Durban practice

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Polity

Published: 16 Jul 2012

New location for top law firm Adams & Adams’ Durban practice

Adams & Adams – the largest intellectual property practice in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the biggest general law firms also providing commercial, property and civil litigation expertise in South Africa has relocated its Durban practice to premises situated in Umhlanga Ridge, Kwa Zulu Natal. The move follows the exponential growth of the firm and the Durban practice.

“The firm has received close on 80 independent awards since 2010 – we believe a first for any South African law practice. The recent merger of the intellectual property practice of Bowman Gilfillan, into that of its own, saw the firm take on 6 new partners, and over 60 professionals and staff. We believe the joint experience and capabilities will have a multi-faceted benefit for clients, but will also provide a launch pad for the training and mentorship of legal practitioners and law graduates in this specialized field of law and in furthering transformation within the legal profession in this niche area of practice,” says Nishi Singh, managing partner of the Durban office, who is supported by practice partner – Vishen Pillay.

The 100 year old firm enjoys an enviable database of more than 12,000 active clients many of whom are in the Fortune 500 and Top 500 local companies.

“Not only do we have offices in Durban but we are well represented on the continent, with other offices in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Angola, Mozambique (ARIPO), Cameroon (OAPI), Burundi and Tanzania, believing that the best way to service its clients is to have a presence in the cities and countries where clients are located,” says Singh.

The firm prides itself on client care and accessibility. And Singh believes that the partners based in the Durban office are an exemplary example of these values.

“It is through service excellence that a business can grow and expand, Adams and Adams is an excellent example of their commitment and professional dedicated service to their clients, we salute Adams and Adams on their growth and expansion which is vital to job creation and economic and congratulate them on their move to their new premises,” comments Jane Pillay of the Durban Chamber of Commerce.

Chetty holds BA LLB degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (PMB) and is an admitted attorney. She was the first person of colour to qualify as a qualified Trade Mark Attorney by the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law.

Chetty services both local and international clients in their trade mark, copyright and anti-counterfeiting matters. She regularly participates in legal career days at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (both campuses), gives specialist training to State officials from SARS, Customs and the SAPS, as well as offering regular free advice to underprivileged clients and charities.

Nishi was recently selected as a finalist in the 2012 Metropolitan Oliver Empowerment Awards in the category of Top Black Businessperson of the Year; and was also nominated by the Business Women’s Association (BWA) as one of the finalists in their Regional Achievers’ Awards in the category of Professional Services.

Partner Vishen Pillay holds a BSc Eng (Elec) degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal as well as an LLB from the University of South Africa. He is both an admitted attorney and a Registered Patent Attorney. Vishen specialises in the areas of assisting local and international clients with all their patent and design matters. He is also the only attorney specialising in electrical engineering patents in Kwa Zulu Natal.

Both individuals are members of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces and the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society.

Together they offer one of the few full service intellectual property law practice and the only practice specialising in electronic engineering KZN, supported by a further 60 partners in Pretoria, Cape Town and Johannesburg.