Ilse du Plessis is an Executive at ENS in the Intellectual Property (“IP”) practice. She specialises in trade marks, copyright, and other IP matters.

She has acted for local and international clients from various sectors, including automotive, communication, financial services, food and beverages, insurance, media, retail and sport.

Ilse’s experience includes all matters concerned with trade mark portfolio management, including trade mark searches, filings, maintenance and audits, with particular emphasis on foreign and African trade marks. She also specialises in transactional IP matters, including due diligence investigations, licensing and transfers, as well as plant breeders’ rights and copyright matters.

Ilse is recognised as a leading/recommended lawyer by:

• Chambers Global Guide 2024, 2023 – Intellectual Property (South Africa)
• The Legal 500 EMEA 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016 – Recommended / Key Lawyer - Intellectual Property (South Africa)
• Managing IP: IP Stars Handbooks 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016 – Trade marks (South Africa)
• World Trademark Review (WTR) 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 – Prosecution and strategy (South Africa)
• Ranked in Acquisition International Magazine for Most Influential Woman in IP Law, 2019

Education

• BA (cum laude) (Stellenbosch University)
• LLB (cum laude) (Stellenbosch University)
• Admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa