Patents

Philip Pla is a patent attorney practising in the Cape Town office of Adams & Adams. He has a BSc (Mechanical) Engineering degree from the University of Cape Town. He has been actively involved in all aspects of patent, design and copyright law for over three decades and has extensive experience in the drafting and prosecution of patent and design applications both locally and abroad. Philip works closely with a broad range of clients from start-ups to large corporations to find the right fit for protecting their designs and innovations.

Technological fields, in which he has extensive experience in the drafting and prosecution of patent applications, include mining and excavation, blast hole drilling, medical devices, food processing methods and equipment, sports equipment and boating.

He is well versed in the patent prosecution practices of major foreign patent offices such as the United States, European, Chinese and Japanese Patent Offices. He regularly attends Asian Patent Attorneys Association conferences and travels extensively to Asian countries to meet with patent attorneys and has extensive exposure to patent practices in Asian countries, particularly in China and Japan.

Philip also handles IP litigation for his local clients and has substantial experience in commercial aspects of intellectual property law including conducting due diligence investigations and negotiating and drafting licence agreements.

Memberships: 

Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Member Legal Practice Council (LPC) – Member Licensing Executives Society (LES) – Member South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) Fellow Southern African Research & Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) – Member

Accolades:

IFLR Patent Expert Guide - Experts for Patents | 2019

Partner | Patent Attorney

Registered Patent Attorney | 1997 Admitted Attorney | 1995 BProc – University of South Africa | 1994 BSc (Mech. Eng) – University of Cape Town | 1987