Adams & Adams professionals celebrated in WIPR’s Diversity 2022 global list

4^th October 2022 – For a second year in a row, Adams & Adams professionals have been recognised in all three categories of World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR) Diversity. The list, published annually, showcases IP professionals around the globe, who are making a mark in driving diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the field.

Firm attorney Alissa Naran (Nee Nayanah) has been acknowledged as a WIPR Diversity 2022 Influential Women in IP. Alissa, who was selected as a WIPR Diversity IP Trailblazer in 2021, is a qualified trade mark practitioner specialising in trade mark prosecution and enforcement in South Africa and foreign territories.

Among this year’s WIPR Diversity IP Trailblazers is Charleen Rupnarain, a senior associate patent attorney at Adams & Adams, who specialises in drafting, filing and prosecution of patent applications in life sciences and biotech. Charleen, is a member of the Licensing Executives Society and South African Research and Innovation Management Association, and a fellow of the South African Institute of IP Law.

Named as a Diversity Champion in the WIPR Diversity 2022 issue is Godfrey Budeli, a partner in Adams & Adams’ trade mark and copyright litigation section and head of counterfeiting. Godfrey served on the firm’s management committee as the transformation, diversity and inclusion representative for a number of years.

WIPR Diversity 2022 incorporates the publication’s Influential Women in IP, with the inaugural edition launched last year to embrace IP diversity in every form. The list includes Influential Women in IP, who are driving equality in the industry, as well as female IP Trailblazers who have less than a decade’s experience but are making a positive impact with regards to D&I. A recently added category is Diversity Champions, which recognises both men and women who have led the way for D&I in the legal sector.

“We are very proud of our three attorneys who have been globally recognised for their exceptional efforts in championing D&I in their profession. At Adams & Adams, we strongly support a more diverse, inclusive IP community. This consistent acknowledgement by WIPR demonstrates our firm’s commitment to this goal while highlighting the ground-breaking work and quality of our professionals,” says Kelly Thompson, Adams & Adams Chairperson.

To read more about the WIPR Diversity 2022 issue, click here https://newtonmedia.viewer.foleon.com/worldipreview/diversity-2022/editors-letter