Webber Wentzel

Technology, Media, Telecommunications & Intellectual Property Practice

Partner

Leanne is an expert in commercial Intellectual Property (IP) law. She has significant experience in dealing with complex, high-value contracts relating to the monetisation of IP rights and IP issues flowing from international acquisitions and disposals, public offerings and corporate reorganisations, international structures and exchange control issues. Leanne manages numerous IP portfolios (including trade marks, copyright, registered designs, patents and domain names all over the word) for local, multi-national and international blue chip clients who operate across all major sectors.

She is an accomplished speaker on IP and lectured MBA students at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business on protecting business ideas. She is also a member of the Licensing Executives Society and the International Association of Trademark Attorneys and a fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law. Leanne was part of the team that lobbied, on a pro bono basis, for amendments to the IP exchange control regulations and some positive changes have resulted. Webber Wentzel won IP Team of the Year at the Africa Legal Awards for this initiative.

Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law and qualified trademark practitioner (1999 to present) Executive Education Programme in Intellectual Property and Business Strategy, Harvard Business School, 2010 LLB, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1995 B.Sc, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 1992 Admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa