Gerald Bourne

  • Senior Associate
@gerald.bourne
gerald.bourne@cwbip.com
+971 2 8775741

Gerald’s practice focuses on trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement across the MENA region. He advises clients on IP and commercial matters, and has represented some of the world’s biggest tobacco, FMCG, pharmaceutical and technology companies in a range of IP-related matters throughout the MENA region.

Before joining CWB in 2022, Gerald worked as counsel at Philip Morris International for four years in the Trademarks, Copyright and Design team in Switzerland, and practiced for four years in South Africa at a specialist IP firm.

Experience

  • Advised one of the world’s largest chocolate companies on numerous infringement matters

  • Advised leading companies on the clearance of localized advertising slogans, film titles and numerous localized brand names

  • Managed Philip Morris International’s domain name enforcement program, filing the most UDRP complaints of any brand owner, with 100% success rate, in 2018 and 2019

  • Represented Philip Morris International at the European Commission as a signatory of the Memorandum of Understanding on the sale of counterfeit goods via the internet

Qualifications
  • Attorney at Law, High Court of South Africa, 2015
  • Trademark Attorney, South Africa, 2015
Education
  • University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, MBA, 2024
  • University of Cape Town, South Africa, LLB, 2012
  • University of Cape Town, South Africa, Post Graduate Diploma in Management, 2007
  • University of Cape Town, South Africa, Bachelor of Social Science in Politics, Media Editing and Writing, 2006
Languages
  • English
  • WIPO Advanced Workshop on Domain Name Dispute Resolution, Geneva, Switzerland, October 9-10, 2018