

Chantal Hoffelner
Director, Patent Attorney
Chantal Hoffelner is a patent attorney at Smit & van Wyk, with qualifications in biotechnology and law. Before joining Smit & van Wyk in 2009, she worked as a researcher in the Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology Department at the University of the Free State. She specialises in patent specification drafting, local and international patent searches and legal opinions.
Qualifications
University of the Free State:
B.Sc Biochemistry and Microbiology
B.Sc (Hons) Microbiology (Cum Laude)
M.Sc Microbiology (Cum Laude)
LLB
SAIIPL: Qualified Patent Practitioner
Years experience:
10+ years
Focus Areas
Patents: Biotechnology, Medical and Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical and Gadget type Inventions.
Registered Designs: Industrial designs, product designs, patterns and packaging.
Litigation: Patent and Design disputes.
Associations
Fellow of the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL).
Member of the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA).
Previous Positions
Researcher in the Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology Department at the University of the Free State.
Wessel van Wyk
Patent Attorney
Chantal Hoffelner
Patent Attorney
Jacques Steyn
Candidate Patent Attorney
Kimberley Conroy
Candidate Patent Attorney