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 2026

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

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

Sponsored by

Adams & Adams logo.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

Partner Rob Jacob unveils plans to offer a beginning-to-end trademark service, how to make prosecution profitable, and why IP ‘buy-in’ from the CEO stands the firm in good stead
Sponsored by CAS
CAS provides practical pointers on how intellectual property and R&D teams can work in tandem to unlock tangible benefits and avoid wasted spend
Sponsored by CAS
CAS explores how AI is transforming intellectual property, from inventorship and copyright disputes to new demands on patent attorneys
Sponsored by That.Legal
Gillian Tan of That.Legal discusses a recent decision by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and what it reveals about the evidential burden in bad-faith trademark claims
Attorneys at Di Blasi, Parente & Associados share how the protection of trade secrets strengthens innovation by bringing together legal practice, regulatory developments, and established international references
Jin Ooi, who joins as a partner today, said he is excited to offer a ‘rounded’ IP service as the firm deepens its litigation expertise in the UK and Europe
As generics celebrate, practitioners believe innovator companies should brace for an ‘uphill battle’ when trying to prove induced infringement
A team from Cooley shares how they overturned a massive damages award by emphasising that the opposing company’s trade secrets claims were time-barred
Sponsored by Licks Attorneys
Eduardo Hallak, Rafaella Oliveira, and Laís Souza of Licks Attorneys explain how the provision operates in practice, highlighting evidential hurdles and best practices for patent applicants
Sponsored by Liu, Shen & Associates
Chunyu Cui and Ziqing Wu of Liu, Shen & Associates say recent trends in China’s intellectual property courts indicate alignment with international standards and send a clear signal to the global market
Gift this article