Janine Hollesen
Phone +27 21 809 6011
Email jhollesen@werksmans.com
Location Stellenbosch
Name / Surname Janine Hollesen

Janine Hollesen

Head of Intellectual Property

Janine Hollesen is a Director and Head of the Intellectual Property (IP) practice area. She specialises in all aspects of IP law, including trade mark clearance searches and registration; protection and enforcement of IP rights; IP litigation; unlawful competition; counterfeit goods; and domain name disputes. Janine also advises on commercial matters such as securitisation and due diligence investigations in M&A transactions. Her expertise also covers the protection of plant breeders’ rights – including the commercialisation of new varieties and litigation relating thereto. Janine also advises clients in relation to copyright law including licensing; sale; and copyright disputes.

PRACTICE AREAS

  • Intellectual Property
  • Technology & Innovation

  • All aspects of the Intellectual Property (IP) law and related matters, including
  • IP litigation
  • trade mark searching and registration
  • unlawful competition
  • counterfeit goods
  • domain name disputes
  • IP commercial transactions including the disposal and licensing of IP rights
  • plant breeders' rights ‑ commercialisation of new varieties and litigation relating thereto
  • copyright: advisory, litigation and commercial
  • Advertising Standards Authority complaints

Janine has been successful in a number of reported High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal decisions including the following:

  • New Media Publishing (Pty) Limited v Eating Out Webs Services CC which is regularly cited in subsequent cases
  • Weltevrede Nursery (Pty) Limited v Keith Kirsten's (Pty) Limited which is the only case which has been heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal in relation to the infringement of a Plant Breeder's Right registration and the cancellation thereof
  • Pepkor Retail (Pty) Limited v Truworths Limited which has important consequences for the use and registration of descriptive trade marks
  • Acting for Capitec Banking Limited in all IP matters which includes IP strategy and portfolio management

  • LLM, University of South Africa, 2003
  • Admitted as an Attorney, 1999
  • LLB, Stellenbosch University, 1996
  • BA, Stellenbosch University, 1994

  • Ranked as a Leading Partner by Legal 500 | 2025 | Intellectual Property
  • Ranked lawyer (Band 3) by Chambers Global | 2025 | Intellectual Property
  • Ranked as a recommended lawyer by WTR 1000 | 2025 | Intellectual Property | Trademark
  • Recognised as 'Thought Leader' by Who's Who Legal | 2024 | Intellectual Property | Trademarks
  • Named in 'WIPR Leaders 2024' by World Intellectual Property Review | 2024
  • Recognised as one of Africa's leading practitioners in the Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders Africa 2024
  • Recognised as a Global Leader by Who's Who Legal | 2023 | Intellectual Property | Trademarks
  • Named in 'Top 250 Women in IP' by Managing Intellectual Property's IP Stars | 2024
  • Named as a 'Trade Mark Star' by Managing Intellectual Property's IP Stars | 2016 – 2024
  • Ranked by WTR 1000 - the World's Leading Trademark Professionals, as a Leading Individual l 2021-2024
  • Ranked lawyer (Band 4) by Chambers Global | 2020 – 2022 | Intellectual Property
  • Ranked as a highly recommended lawyer by Legal 500 | 2010 – 2022, 2024 | Intellectual Property
  • Member of: ‒ South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) Fellow (2003) ‒ Solicitor of England and Wales ‒ International Trade Mark Association (INTA) ‒ Plant Breeders' Rights Committee
  • The presentation to clients and the holding of regular workshops on topics relating to IP
  • Regularly speaks on the radio in relation to IP topics
  • Janine regularly contributes to publications on articles pertaining to IP including the following most recent articles –
    • "Top Ten Reasons to register your Trade Mark"
    • "Why it's Important to Carefully Choose a Trademark"
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