Experience

ENS

• South Africa
• Law Practice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Executive, Head of Life Sciences IP Cluster, ENSafrica

  • Mar 2023 - Present

  I am an Executive in the IP department at ENSafrica and lead the Life Sciences IP practice. I am one of the most highly qualified and experienced patent attorneys in South Africa with over 17 years of experience. My clients range from universities and science councils and their start-ups to large multinational corporations. My core expertise is in the biotech and chemical/pharmaceutical fields. Although I assist my clients with patent filing and prosecution, I believe that a holistic legal approach is essential, and so also provide advice relating to IP protection and management strategies, biotech-related regulatory advice and commercial IP services. I work closely with ENSafrica’s corporate commercial and tax teams to help clients with company and commercial matters including due diligence reviews, cross-border transactions and company structuring. I am honoured to have been consistently recognised as a leading attorney by a number of high profile rating agencies including IAM Patent 1000, IP Stars, Legal 500 and Best Lawyers. I am also the co-Chair of the Licensing Executive Society International Life Sciences Committee and a Director of LES South Africa. Show less



Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs

• Cape Town Area, South Africa

• Head Biotech and Life Sciences Cluster

  • Jan 2013 - Mar 2023

  Dr. Joanne van Harmelen is a patent attorney in the intellectual property department at ENSafrica and heads up the biotechnology and life sciences team. Joanne has nine years’ experience specialising in patent filing and prosecution in the biotech and pharmaceuticals sectors. Joanne holds a PhD in medical microbiology and vaccine development. She has extensive experience in the field of biotechnology and life sciences having prepared and filed patent applications locally and in foreign jurisdictions in the fields of microbiology, biochemistry, molecular medicine, agrobiologicals, bioremediation, bioprocessing, biopharmaceuticals, nutriceuticals, cosmetics and food sciences. Joanne is also experienced in the preparation and filing of Plant Breeders’ Rights applications. Joanne’s clients include leading international biotech companies and start-ups with operations in Africa, North America, Europe, Australasia and Asia. Her expertise extends to the assessment of the patentability of inventions, preparation and filing of patent applications locally and abroad, performance of freedom-to-operate assessments, general IP commercial transactional advice, IP due diligence assessments, and advice on IP and biotech-related legislation, in particular, legislation relating to publicly financed research & development; bioprospecting involving indigenous biological resources and traditional knowledge; and genetically modified organisms. Prior to qualifying as a patent attorney, Joanne was employed as a chief scientific officer at the University of Cape Town, involved in HIV vaccine development and testing as well as the preparation for Phase I clinical trials in South Africa and the United States of America. She then completed her training as a patent attorney and practised at Spoor & Fisher before joining the ENSafrica IP team. Joanne has been recognised as leading patent and IP lawyer by IAM Patent 1000 and Legal 500, and as an IP Star by Managing Intellectual Property. Show less



Spoor & Fisher

• South Africa
• Law Practice
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Associate - Patent Attorney

  • Feb 2007 - Dec 2012

  Dr. Joanne van Harmelen has a PhD in medical microbiology from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and an LLB from UNISA. She is also is an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa and a qualified Patent Attorney. She is a member of the Biotech department at Spoor & Fisher, based in the Cape Town office, specializing in drafting patent applications in the biotech and life sciences fields; filing Plant Breeders’ Rights applications; and advising clients on relevant legislation, including the Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) and the Intellectual Property from Publicly Financed Research & Development Act. She is also a member of the Advisory Committee in terms of the Genetically Modified Organisms Act for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Show less



University of Cape Town

• South Africa
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chief Scientific Officer, IIDMM, HIV Vaccine Group

  • 1999 - 2006