The Firm forms Competition Law Group
30/06/2009

Whilst Adams & Adams has always advised on competition law related matters, as the importance of this field of expertise has become commercially more relevant, the Competition Law Group was established in 2009.

The group centralises competition law expertise in the firm and provides professional advice, not only on competition law, but on the interface between competition law and intellectual property. It advises on issues around, for example, prohibited practices, mergers and acquisitions, exemption applications and the interface between intellectual property and competition law.
The group also represents clients before the Competition Commission and the Competition Tribunal in respect of complaints and the prosecution of mergers and acquisitions.

It is headed by partner, Alexis Apostolidis. The professional members of the team include partners Charné le Roux, André Visser, and associate Jac Marais.
Alexis Apostolidis
Alexis a patent attorney, specialises in competition law, including mergers and acquisitions. He also specialises in pharmaceutical patent litigation, the drafting of chemical, pharmaceutical and petrochemical related patent specifications. Prior to joining Adams & Adams, Alexis headed the competition law department at a prominent Intellectual Property law firm. Alexis has represented clients before the Competition Tribunal in respect of Mergers and Acquisitions and had advised multi national pharmaceutical and cosmetics firms in respect of competition law from a South African perspective.

Alexis was admitted as an attorney in 2002 and qualified as a patent attorney in 2004. He holds a BSc in Chemistry and Law and an LLB (Cum Laude) from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Alexis is a fellow of the SA Institute of Intellectual Property Law. He is also a member of the International Federation of Intellectual Property and the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, on whose competition law committee he sits.

André Visser
André heads up the commercial law section at Adams & Adams. He has been practicing for almost 20 years in the commercial law arena, particularly in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, information technology, exchange control, tax law and finance. His other specialties include cross border transactions, inward listings as well as estate planning and wills.

André holds BComm and LLB degrees from the University of Pretoria, with post-graduate qualifications HDip Tax and HDip International Tax from the University of Johannesburg (formerly RAU). He is a member of the Law Society of the Northern Provinces, KwaZulu Natal and the Cape of Good Hope.
Jac Marais
Jac specialises in all matters relating to competition law, trade regulation and commercial litigation. He is a member of the Law Society’s Competition Law Committee.

Jac holds a BA degree in Value and Policy Studies and an LLB, both from the University of Stellenbosch as well as a certificate in Competition Law from The University of the Witwatersrand.

Standing from left to right: Alexis Apostolidis, Partner and Charne le Roux, Partner. Seating from left to right: Jac Marais, Associate and Andre Visser, Partner