mikedt@dechalains.co.za

+27 12 346 4264

Mike du Toit ( Bcom LLB, 1981- 1985 University of Pretoria), is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, a qualified Trade mark Practitioner and senior adjudicator of domain name disputes in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, 2002 ( ECT Act) and regulations. He served on the council of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) for several years, is a past President of SAIIPL and was chairman of their ADR committee that implemented the domain name dispute resolution platform for the resolution of domain name disputes in terms of the ECT Act and Regulations.

Mike has almost 40 years extensive experience in the protection and enforcement of clients’ rights, not only in South Africa, but across the African continent and the rest of the world. He is a Former director and Head of the Trade Mark enforcement department of Bowman Gilfillan attorneys and Former partner of John & Kernick attorneys, which was a niche IP boutique firm that merged with Bowman Gilfillan. Mike was also instrumental in establishing and heading up an Intellectual Property Department at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs.( ENS). Furthermore he has litigated extensively in the High Court of South Africa, in front of the Registrar of Trade Marks, Registrar of Companies and the Advertising Standards Authority. Mike has also advised a number of South African and international companies on strategic intellectual property issues ranging from licensing, clearance searches, due diligences, mergers and acquisitions. He was also voted by EXPERT GUIDES- a publication of the world’s finest lawyers chosen by their peers as a leading Trade mark Practitioner in South Africa.

Outside of the office Mike enjoys mountain biking, wine, golf and scuba diving.