Director:

Geraldine Erlank

Geraldine Erlank graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry in 1970. As one of her optional courses, she chose Computer Science, and after graduating, trained as a computer programmer/systems analyst (according to the nomenclature of the time). In 1976 she enrolled for a post-graduate law degree, and graduated with an LL.B four years later.

Geraldine started as a candidate attorney with Adams & Adams, coincidentally with the commencement of the then “new” South Africa Patents Act at the beginning of 1979. While serving articles and learning about patent novelty and infringement searches, she assisted with the computerisation of that firm’s patent renewals’ system in the Pretoria Office before moving to their Johannesburg Office for five years or so.

In Johannesburg, she provided services for the local clients, i.e. consulting with, and advising, inventors and would-be proprietors of patents and design registrations; drafting patent specifications and supervising the preparation of design representations; preparing and filing patent and design applications in South Africa and abroad; prosecuting patent applications in countries outside South Africa including those with substantive examination systems; furnishing validity and infringement opinions; and drafting and negotiating patent licensing agreements. A significant number of patent applications filed in South Africa from abroad, are in the field of chemicals or pharmaceuticals, and Geraldine returned to Pretoria to become involved in patent agency work, ie obtaining South African patent and design registrations for inventions and designs originating overseas. A short introductory course (at Warwick University in the UK) on the patenting of biotech inventions, was of assistance in this regard, given the explosive development in biotechnology at the time.

During the next few years, she also assumed responsibility, for a time, for various sections of the firm’s patent and design departments, namely renewals, amendments of pending applications and granted patent and design registrations, and recording of assignments and licences.

For the past fifteen years or so, Geraldine has headed the largest patent and designs agency in South Africa, and now has a wealth of experience in this field. During this time she also established and developed a successful patent agency department for the firm, in respect of all other countries in Africa.

Geraldine practises in patent, design and trademark law. She is registered as a patent attorney at the South African Patent Office (CIPRO) and is a member of AIPLA, AIPPI, FICPI, and SAIIPL. She regularly attends international IP conferences to keep abreast of developments, and believes in taking every opportunity to visit her clients and correspondents.