Life Sciences, Chemistry, Pharmaceuticals and Agriculture
In today’s knowledge economy, protecting the rights inherent in life sciences innovations, particularly pharmaceuticals and agricultural inventions, is more critical than ever.
The over-lapping of healthcare and agriculture with the chemical and life sciences disciplines requires both technical and legal expertise, in view of the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights and related commercial and regulatory matters.
In addition, these areas are critical to a knowledge-based society and serve as fundamental catalysts for economic development – especially in Africa, where there are no more important steps towards eradicating poverty than providing adequate nutrition and suppressing diseases.
At Spoor & Fisher, we serve as trusted advisors to many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agriculture, mining and chemical companies, applying our expertise to help clients overcome their IP challenges.
Our practitioners also strive to help SMMEs and the public sector to compete locally and globally.
We work across IP practice areas, to protect inventions and brands, develop portfolio management strategies, and represent clients in litigation and commercial transactions. We also assist our clients in regulatory matters, including advising on regulatory issues related to pharmaceuticals, complementary medicines, food and agricultural products.
Spoor & Fisher’s chemical and life sciences patent attorneys are technically qualified with qualifications and experience spanning the breadth of agriculture, pharmaceuticals and related industries.
We are highly skilled in chemistry, including small molecule chemistry, material sciences, petrochemistry, explosive technologies, mineral processing, metallurgy, chemical process engineering, electrochemistry, water treatment and food and beverage processing technologies, and we have extensive expertise in life sciences, including biochemistry, genetics and biotechnology.
Meet the team
Tertia Beharie
Partner
David Cochrane
Partner
Matthew Costard
Managing Director
John Foster
Partner
Tyron Grant
Partner
Stephen Goldberg
Consultant
Dirk Hanekom
Partner
Craig Kahn
Partner
Mark Kemp
Partner
Mohamed Khader
Partner
Reinard Krüger
Partner
Shanaaz Mahomed
Partner
Prof. John McKnight
Partner
Shamin Raghunandan
Partner
Paul Ramara
Partner
Kay Rickelman
Foreign Counsel
Megan Reimers
Partner
Linda Thilivhali
Partner
Chyreene Truluck
Partner
Marco van der Merwe
Partner
Chris Walters
Director
Jarred West
Partner
Jonathan Whittaker
Partner, Chairperson of the Partnership
Eben van Wyk
Partner
Karien Postma
Partner
Marco Vatta
Partner
Amani Patel
Senior Associate
Nola Pontes
Associate
Chris Smith
Associate
Russell Norton
Consultant
English 
Chinese 
Japanese