IN THE SPOTLIGHT
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
HOW ADAMS & ADAMS IS TAKING ON THE WORLD
With the takeover of Bowman Gilfi llan’s IP practice on March 1, South African fi rm Adams & Adams became the largest intellectual property outfi t in Africa. WIPR goes behind the scenes.
Financial crisis? What fi nancial crisis? While many law fi rms have struggled in the face of rising costs and falling revenues, some high-performers in Africa have benefi ted from increased opportunity and investment across the continent which, coupled with more robust IP protection, has led to a comparative boom in work.
Adams & Adams is South Africa’s largest IP fi rm and, with its takeover of Bowman Gilfi llan’s IP practice, now boasts 85 IP attorneys. Alongside this numerical expansion, the fi rm has also branched out geographically, now also opening offi ces in Tanzania and Burundi to signal its continental ambitions.
Dario Tanziani (above right), chair of Adams & Adams, says the merger with Bowman Gilfi llan’s IP practice “makes perfect sense” for both parties.
“T e IP industry is becoming very competitive in light of the economic circumstances,” he says. “One way to increase our market share is to take on a good practice. It means we can achieve economies of scale and boost our market share and our bottom line.”
It’s not just the fi rm that stands to benefi t from the merger. “From the clients’ perspective,” says Tanziani, “they will be housed in the Adams & Adams infrastructure and also have the opportunity to service Bowman’s blue chip client base.”
Eugene Honey was chair of Bowman Gilfi llan’s IP practice prior to the move. He says the move is “a win all round for clients, staff , senior associates, associates and support staff . T ere are massive synergies and economies of scale.”
“BOWMAN GILFILLAN HAS AN EXISTING AFRICA PRACTICE, AND ADAMS & ADAMS HAS A WIDE NETWORK OF ASSOCIATES IN AFRICA AND BEYOND WITH WHICH IT WORKS CLOSELY ON NON- SOUTH AFRICAN MATTERS.”
World Intellectual Property Review March/April 2012 21
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