Aletia Oberholster
Head of Brands and Intellectual Property
How I work (structured, commercial, practical)
- Define the asset and the use-case: what is being commercialised and how it will be used in market.
- Map rights and contributors: what needs documenting so the deal has a clean foundation.
- Align the commercial deal to the IP reality: scope, controls, milestones and workable governance.
- Close cleanly: execution, recordals (where needed), and a short “run this agreement” summary.
You’ll leave with clarity on what can be done, what can’t, and what happens next.
What I help clients do
- Structure tech transfer and commercialisation arrangements that stay workable
- Clarify ownership: background vs foreground IP, contributions and improvements
- Build licensing models that protect value while enabling growth
- Support spin-outs and investment readiness with clean rights and documentation
- Assist with IP valuation and commercial framing (so decision-makers can act)
- Reduce dispute risk by fixing grey areas early — before relationships change
Insights from Gerard
Credentials
- Holds a PhD in Indigenous Knowledge Law.
- Holds an LLM focused on the fair dealing doctrine.
- Has a background in mechanical engineering, bringing technical and commercial insight to legal work.
- Extensive experience in technology transfer, intellectual property commercialisation, and policy development.
- Has led the commercialisation of intellectual property portfolios and the establishment of start-up companies at major South African universities.
- Has worked on the licensing of university inventions internationally.
