| Kenya
William Maema is the Head of IKM’s Corporate/Commercial Department which also includes Intellectual Property. He has a deep grasp of IP, having been a pioneer lecturer in the subject at the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Law.
He acts for multinational clients such as The Coca Cola Company (in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania); British American Tobacco (in Kenya and South Sudan), Nation Media Group (in Kenya and South Sudan), GSK, MNET, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Nestle, Edgars and Safaricom among others.
William handles a large volume of trade mark prosecution and opposition work, drafts and registers IP Licence and Franchise Agreements for both local and international clients and also advises clients on copyright, patents and industrial design protection.
William has over the last 20 years of practice in Kenya established an enviable network with international IP Law Firms such as Adams & Adams of South Africa as well as law firms in USA, Europe and Asia through which he gets a steady inflow of IP work from international clients.
William has received highly favorable mentions in reputable intellectual directories such as Chambers Global Partners which once described him as “probably the best trade mark lawyer in Kenya”.
In 2012 he was ranked in the Gold Category by the World Trade Mark Review which described him as a “deeply knowledgeable commercial lawyer with a strong background in intellectual property and huge bank of experience”.
In 2009 – 2010 William drafted the East African Anti-Counterfeit Bill on behalf of the East African Community.
William has presented papers at the Intellectual Trade Mark Association (INTA) general meetings, WIPO – sponsored meetings and workshops as well as attended many international conferences on Intellectual Property.
William is probably the only Kenyan lawyer currently conversant with the procedures of trade mark registration in the new Republic of South Sudan.
