Adams & Adams Senior Consultant receives international award
22/11/2010

Senior Consultant at law firm Adams & Adams, Professor Esmé du Plessis, received Membership of Honour of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) during its 42nd World Congress which was held in Paris, France.

The award, which includes a gold medal, was handed over to Prof Du Plessis by the International President of AIPPI, Mr Thierry Mollet-Viéville, at the Congress Gala Dinner held in the Orangerie of the Palace of Versailles, which was attended by leading personalities in the Intellectual Property community from across the globe as well as the Minister of Economic Affairs, Industry and Employment of France, Ms Christine Lagarde. The Minister addressed the 1800 delegates to the dinner during the event and stressed the importance of intellectual property as a driver of economic growth.

AIPPI was established in 1897 and currently boasts an international membership of close to 9000 IP practitioners in 64 national groups. Prof Du Plessis has been an active member of the Association for 23 years. During that time she has served on several high profile international committees of the Association and represented it at the World Trade Organisation Congress of Ministers in 2005. In 1997, at the Centenary Celebration of AIPPI in Vienna, Prof Du Plessis was given the Award of Merit (which also entails a medal). She is the first South African and only the third woman to become a Member of Honour and is currently President of the South African Group of AIPPI.

Adams & Adams Chairman, Dario Tanziani said “This award is just reward for Prof Du Plessis’ many years of brilliant and tireless service to this leading international organisation in the world of Intellectual Property. We at Adams & Adams are very proud of her and the distinction she has added to our firm and our country.”