Patents

Vishen Pillay is a partner in the patent department and head of the firm's Durban office in Kwazulu Natal. He has a background in electronic engineering (UKZN) and is an admitted attorney and patent attorney.

Vishen specialises in assisting his clients to protect their inventions in the fields of electronics including telecommunications ranging from classical to quantum communication, electrical engineering, computer software including artificial intelligence and machine learning, mechanical engineering, electro-mechanical engineering, and bio-medical engineering.  In particular, he deals with all matters relating to filing and prosecution of patent and design applications in South Africa and abroad, as well as IP strategy.

Vishen has drafted and prosecuted patent and design applications on behalf of many South African Universities, Science Councils, US Fortune 500, and South African Top 100 companies.

In 2016, Vishen was hand-picked by the South African Minister of Science & Technology, at the time, to sit on the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO) Advisory Board for a period of 5 years. In addition, he is the co-chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association’s (AIPLA) Africa Committee.

Vishen currently serves as one of the Partners on the Management Committee of Adams & Adams.

Memberships:

American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) – Member and Co-chair of the Africa Committee International Federation of Patent Agents (FICPI) – Member Legal Practice Council (LPC) – Member South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) – Fellow SAIIPL: Patent & Design Law Committee Southern African Research & Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) – Member

Accolades

Best Lawyers® – Intellectual Property Law: South Africa | 2021 IFLR Patent Expert Guide – Experts for Patents | 2019

Partner: Patent Attorney - Branch Office Chairperson

Admitted Attorney | 2009 Registered Patent Attorney | 2009 LLB – University of South Africa | 2008 BSc Eng (Elec.) – University of Kwazulu-Natal | 2004