Podcast: Adams & Adams discusses the challenges of registration in Africa

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Podcast: Adams & Adams discusses the challenges of registration in Africa

Sponsored by

adams.jpg
L to R: Jenny Pienaar and Kareema Shaik of Adams & Adams

Jenny Pienaar and Kareema Shaik of Adams & Adams consider pharmaceutical registration in the larger African markets, dealing with the challenges of registration and the subsequent enforcement of rights

In the second episode of the three-part podcast series by Adams & Adams on the IP enforcement of pharma in Africa, partners Jenny Pienaar and Kareema Shaik talk to Managing IP about pharmaceutical registration in the larger African markets.

The international registration system counts many African states as members – but its use is patchy. Although the Madrid System is effective globally, there are challenges to its efficiency in Africa. This is mainly due to varying local IP laws and registry systems across the continent. The experts explain how these obstacles can be overcome and how legal avenues are available to effectively address challenges.

The experts discuss the realities of the enforcement environment amid the COVID-19 pandemic and typical roadblocks faced by innovators because of problems attached to registration, while providing country-based examples to assist business leaders and consumers who work in the African IP field.

About Adams & Adams

Adams & Adams is an internationally recognised and leading African law firm that specialises in providing intellectual property, corporate and commercial services.

The firm is firmly rooted in Africa – with a tenacious belief in the economic growth potential and spirit of the continent. The head office in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa, provides the perfect gateway through which our partners, supported by some 700 professionals and staff, render a broad range of legal services to clients in Africa and the rest of the world. 

Through its associate offices and long established networks, the firm serves a global client base throughout the African continent - in matters of intellectual property, commercial law, property and litigation.


Related content

Podcast: Adams & Adams discuss trends in anti-counterfeiting across Africa

Podcast: Adams & Adams discuss trends in patent litigation across South Africa

You can find all Managing IP podcasts here.


more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Deborah Kirk discusses why IP and technology have become central pillars in transactions and explains why clients need practically minded lawyers
IP STARS, Managing IP’s accreditation title, reveals its latest rankings for patent work, including which firms are moving up
Leaders at US law firms explain what attorneys can learn from AI cases involving Meta and Anthropic, and why the outcomes could guide litigation strategies
Attorneys reveal the trademark and copyright trends they’ve noticed within the first half of 2025
Senior leaders at TE Connectivity and Clarivate explain how they see the future of innovation
A new action filed by Nokia against Asus and a landmark ruling on counterfeits by South Africa’s Supreme Court were also among the top talking points
Counsel explain how they’re navigating patent prosecution matters and highlight key takeaways from Federal Circuit cases
A partner who joined Fenwick alongside two others explains what drew her to the firm and her hopes for growth in Boston
The England and Wales High Court has granted Kirkland & Ellis client Samsung interim declaratory relief in its ongoing FRAND dispute with ZTE
A UDRP decision that found in favour of a small business in a domain name dispute could encourage more businesses to take a stand in ‘David v Goliath’ cases
Gift this article