Claudia Berndt

  • Head of MENA Patents
  • Partner
@claudia.berndt
claudia.berndt@cwbip.com
+27 12 3421774

Claudia oversees the MENA patent and design practice. She manages substantive matters such as preparing responses to examination reports and amending claims in accordance with local patent and design filing regulations. Claudia has vast experience with conducting patent searches, preparing infringement and novelty opinions, and filing and prosecuting Paris Convention and PCT national phase patent applications. She is also well versed in the protection of plant breeder’s rights.

Claudia was a Director at Hahn & Hahn, before it merged into CWB. With a background in chemical engineering and over 25 years of IP-related experience, Claudia successfully drafted, filed, and prosecuted numerous patent applications relating to the petrochemical and mining industries.

Claudia currently serves as the president of FICPI South Africa.

Experience

  • Drafted and prosecuted numerous patent applications related to the mining and petrochemical industries across MENA and Africa

  • Assisted pharmaceutical companies with infringement opinions and equivalent and freedom to operate searches in South Africa

Qualifications
  • Attorney at Law, South Africa, 2004
  • Patent Attorney, South Africa, 2004
Education
  • University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, LLB, 2004
  • University of Pretoria, South Africa, BEng in Chemical Engineering, 1998
Languages
  • Afrikaans
  • English
  • German

Professional Activities

  • South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL)
  • FICPI
  • SAIIPL Patent and Design Committee, 2010 - present