Hibbatun-Nasser is a core member of the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP), Entertainment, and Media team, where she advises indigenous and multinational clients on strategic protection, management, and enforcement of intellectual property rights within Nigeria, across the African continent, and in global markets. She brings deep knowledge of regional IP frameworks and global IP terrain to help client’s across various sectors safeguard their intangible assets, navigate complex regulatory IP landscapes, and effectively address infringement issues. She is passionate about the advancement of IP in Nigeria and Africa, and actively involved in several policy advocacy and capacity-building initiatives.

 

Relevant Experience

• IP Advisory & Enforcement: Provided comprehensive legal advisory services on IP protection, enforcement, and commercialization strategies to clients across the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, telecommunications, entertainment, transportation, and financial services sectors. Successfully advised an upstream oil and gas client on patent registration in Nigeria following an innovation showcase
• IP Portfolio Management: Managed extensive local and international trademark, copyright and patent portfolios, including filings, renewals, oppositions, and enforcement across Africa, ARIPO, OAPI, the EU, and the US. Advised and coordinated cross-jurisdictional trademark registrations for an FMCG company, ensuring brand protection across African and international markets
• Transactional IP & Commercial Matters: Advised on the acquisition and transfer of IP rights in high-value corporate transactions, including M&A and private equity investments. Notably advised on IP rights acquisition in a merger involving an FMCG company and on IP transfer in a private equity investment in a leading payment solutions provider
• Entertainment & Brand Advisory: Provided strategic legal counsel to creatives, including advising an international music artist on multi-jurisdictional brand protection strategies covering Nigeria, the EU, the US, and other African countries
• Contentious IP Matters: Prepared legal processes and represented clients in trademark oppositions, copyright disputes, and other contentious IP proceedings before relevant authorities and courts

 

Certifications

• Patent Law and Global Public Health (Patent X) – Harvard Law School x World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• IP and Antitrust: FRAND Licensing and the value of SEPs- Institute of Competition Law, New York, USA
• Specialized Course on the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Switzerland
• Trademark Opposition Course- The Intellectual Property Institute (Nigeria)
• General Course on Intellectual Property – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Switzerland