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.
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
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"
Stellenbosch 
+27 21 809 6011 
+27 11 535 8528 
