Dr Joanne van Harmelen is an Executive and heads up the biotechnology and life sciences cluster at ENS in the Intellectual Property (“IP”) practice.  She is a qualified patent attorney specialising in patent filing and prosecution in the biotech, pharmaceuticals and chemicals sectors.

Joanne holds a PhD in medical microbiology and vaccine development. She has extensive experience in the field of biotechnology and life sciences as well as in pharmaceutical and chemical inventions, having prepared and filed patent applications locally and in foreign jurisdictions in the fields of microbiology, biochemistry, molecular medicine, agrobiology, bioprocessing, pharmaceuticals and biologics, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, hydrometallurgical processes, polymer processes, and food sciences.  Joanne is also experienced in the preparation and filing of plant breeders’ rights applications.

Joanne’s clients include leading international biotech and chemicals companies and start-ups with operations in Africa, North America, Europe, Australasia and Asia.

Joanne is consistently recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:

• The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 to 2016 – Intellectual Property - Recommended / Key Lawyer (South Africa) 
• Best Lawyers® 2023 to 2017 – Healthcare (South Africa)
• Managing IP: IP Stars Handbook 2023 to 2016 – Patents (South Africa)
• IAM Patent 1000: 2023 to 2016 – Highly recommended for Prosecution and Recommended for Transactions (South Africa)
• IAM Global Leaders – 2024 to 2021 (South Africa)

Education

• BSc (Rhodes University)
• BSc (Hons) (Rhodes University)
• PhD (University of Cape Town)
• LLB (University of South Africa)

Joanne is a member of the following professional institutions:

• SAIIPL – South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (fellow)
• LESI – Licensing Executives Society International (co-Chair of Life Sciences Committee)
• LES South Africa – Licensing Executives Society South Africa (Board Member)
• AIPPI (Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle)

• Battling COVID-19: Mechanisms for Access to Antiviral Products and Diagnostics

  By Dr. Joanne van Harmelen |November 2020

• Battling COVID-19: Mechanisms for Access to Antiviral Products and Diagnostics

  By Dr. Joanne van Harmelen |November 2020

• Patent prosecution highway to advance Africa-China IP relationship

  By Dr. Joanne van Harmelen |December 2017