Adams & Adams has consistently been the biggest filer of patents and trade marks in South Africa for the past five years. It is also one of the most highly regarded IP firms in the country; its attorneys are very active in all aspects of the IP community, and have strong ties with the University of Pretoria. The firm has been closely involved with major national developments in IP, most recently regarding the TRIPS Agreement.
In 2010 the firm moved to a new office in South Africa and opened an office in Angola to add to its office in Mozambique and close ties with Nigeria. In 2010, it won over a number of global clients in the pharmaceutical sector and entertainment, as well as South African client FirstRand Bank.
In one recent case, Chris Job and Kelly Thompson advised Oilwell against Protec International, Protec Auto Care and the Registrar of Trademarks in the North Gauteng High Court. The case revolved around the issue of whether or not registered IP rights constitute 'capital'. The outcome of the appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal is of far-reaching importance to owners of registered IP rights in South Africa and their capacity to derive income from foreign sources based on their IP.
Among the firm's accolades, in 2010 patent attorney Esmé du Plessis was awarded Membership of Honour of AIPPI, becoming the third woman in the history of the Association to receive the award and the first ever South African, and attorney Alan Lewis became president of LES International. Clients and competitors praise chairman of patents Dario Tanziani, while one client recommended Mariette du Plessis for "excellent, strategic counsel to us in all trade mark matters throughout the entire continent of Africa".