deon@dechalains.co.za

+27 12 346 4264

Deon (1992 B Eng Metallurgical Engineering – University of Pretoria, 1997 B Proc – University of South Africa) is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa and a Registered patent attorney.

Deon started his professional career as a production and process development engineer in the steel industry, working in both the steel and the copper industry. This included production, quality control and process optimization of Copper Recycling, Copper and Brass Foundry, Hot and Cold Mills, Annealing and Strip Pickling, Deep Drawing, RH-OB steel degassing, Ladle Furnace, Argon degassing, and Steel Ingot Casting plants. Deon was also a technical adviser to ISCOR’s Marketing and Product Development Division in respect of steel products, with a special emphasis on ultra-low carbon steel used in the deep drawing industry, and in particular the automotive industry.

Deon specialises in the drafting, filing, and enforcement of patent and design applications, and defending clients against whom patents and designs are enforced. This is done in a wide variety of fields including mining, metallurgy, pharmaceutical, chemical, mechanical, agricultural and software system related inventions. The litigation is conducted at the levels of the High Courts and Court of the Commissioner of Patents.

Deon also reviews and vets patent applications in these fields, including for various multinational pharmaceutical, chemical and agricultural companies, and drafting validity opinions and novelty searches.

Deon also handles commercial aspects related to IP, including regulatory approvals for IP import licences, exchange control advice, licensing and valuations.

Outside of the office, Deon spends as much time as possible in the outdoors.