Alexis Apostolidis

Partner: Patent Litigation; Head: Competition Law Group

Mr Apostolidis holds a Bachelor of Science (chemistry and law) and a Bachelor of Laws (cum laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) and is an attorney of the High Court of South Africa as well as a patent attorney. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in EU Competition Law (with merit) from King’s College, University of London. He is well experienced in all aspects of patent law and lectured final year law students at WITS on patent law generally and was also the patent attorney’s practice examiner and lecturer for candidate patent attorneys over a number of years.

Alexis’ primary focus is on patent litigation and opinion work and has been cited in peer review publications such as IAM’s 250 “The World’s Leading Patent Litigators” as well as IAM’s 1000, “the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners”. Alexis is well known for his strategic and pragmatic approach to litigation, predominantly in the life sciences sector, including the pharmaceuticals sector, although he litigates in other sectors ranging from the agricultural sector to the consumer goods sector. He has also been responsible for the drafting and prosecution (internationally) of patent applications in complex technology sectors such as the petrochemical, thin film semi conductor and pharmaceutical sectors.

As Head of the Competition Law Group, Alexis combines his expertise in the field of patent law with competition law and is recognised as the leading specialist in South Africa and Africa when it comes to the interface between competition law and intellectual property. Alexis has advised clients on competition law related aspects of patent litigation from the enforcement of patent rights to patent litigation settlements and has advised on the competition law effects of certain commercial strategic practices concerning complex technologies and the corresponding intellectual property.