Carla Dennehy

Carla Dennehy is a Partner based in Johannesburg. Her primary practice area is Intellectual Property Law, with experience in technology, media, broadcasting, copyright and entertainment law, IP and technology commercial transactions, and IP dispute resolution.

She has a wealth of experience advising clients on all IP-related matters locally, across Africa and internationally. Her experience includes advising on complex corporate transactions relating to the exploitation of IP and technology rights, the commercialisation of IP, the monetisation and structuring of IP rights (through cross-border licensing, assignments, research and development, global joint ventures, IP and technology transfers and collaboration agreements), IP issues flowing from acquisitions and disposals, public offerings and corporate reorganisations, IP exchange control issues and IP due diligence investigations.

She has deep IP litigation experience in relation to trade marks and goodwill, copyright, software, designs, trade secrets, know-how and confidential information. She also advises on and manages significant trade mark, patent, design and domain name portfolios for clients operating across all sectors.

She also has significant experience in drafting and negotiating a broad spectrum of production, film, music rights, sponsorship and marketing agreements.

Her recognition includes being named by Best Lawyers 2022–2026 as a leading individual; by Legal 500 2022–2025 as a legal expert; by Managing Intellectual Property's IP STARS as a Rising Star (2023); and by the World Trademark Review 2022–2023 as a leading individual for prosecution and strategy.

She was appointed to the International Trademark Association's Legislation and Regulation Committee for the 2022–2023 term and is a member of the International Trademark Association.

She is a Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law and a qualified trade mark practitioner. She holds an LLB from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2011) and a B.Com from the University of South Africa (2009), and is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa.