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How AI-ready are you? African firm Adams & Adams launches ground-breaking SMARTAI IP Portal
Adams & Adams is a leading African intellectual property law firm, committed to innovation, excellence, and supporting clients through the evolving challenges of technology and law. It has now launched a groundbreaking service to help businesses address the risks and challenges of the AI revolution.
As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms industries at a rapid pace, businesses face a range of new and complex risks, from intellectual property (IP) exposure to governance gaps, says leading IP expert Darren Olivier of Adams & Adams.
Olivier, the first African to be recognised in IAM’s Guide to the World’s leading IP Strategists, and a member of the editorial board of Oxford University Press’s The Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, recently helped launch a groundbreaking digital platform and advisory service designed to help businesses understand, assess, and address the risks posed by the AI revolution.
“The SMARTAI IP Portal is the first of its kind, offering organisations a practical way to measure their AI readiness and take action,” says Olivier, Lead Partner in the Adams & Adams AI IP advisory team. Coupled with a brand-new AI IP Readiness Test, the portal is designed to help businesses understand and manage AI-related IP risks.
With AI adoption accelerating, without clear policies and legal oversight, Adams & Adams believes now is the time for such a tool, as businesses risk losing ownership of their innovations, facing infringement claims, or damaging their reputation.
The SMARTAI IP Portal helps organisations proactively manage these risks, ensuring compliance and protecting intellectual property, says the leading IP law firm, which has four offices in South Africa, and another 23 associate offices across the continent.
The Portal, launched by Adams & Adams in late November, comprises:
AI IP Readiness Test & Scorecard: businesses can complete a unique online assessment to identify their exposure and readiness across key governance areas.
Tailored Advisory Services: six discrete, expert-led services help organisations improve their scores, focusing first on high-risk areas and providing bespoke combinations to suit each business’s needs.
Education & Resources: practical information and educational guides empower teams to make informed decisions and implement best practices.
Bi-Monthly Newsletter: sector-specific insights, regulatory updates, and actionable takeaways delivered every two months help users stay ahead in this fast-changing field.
“The SMARTAI IP Portal is a proactive step towards safeguarding innovation and building resilient organisations,” says Lita Miti-Qamata, a partner in the AI IP advisory group, who was recently named, alongside Olivier and 11 other Adams & Adams colleagues, in the 2026 The Best Lawyers in South Africa™ for her work in IP law.
Olivier gave special thanks to Miti-Qamata, along with Maureen Thuto Makoko, Danielle van Deventer, Mandla Ngidi, Natalie Stephan, and Nicole O’Neill, for their input in getting the SMARTAI IP Portal off the ground and into the AI atmosphere.
“Our mission is to empower African businesses to thrive in the age of AI, with legal frameworks and practical solutions that keep pace with technology,” he says.
Adams & Adams invites businesses to visit here to learn more, assess their AI readiness (including by completing the AI IP readiness scorecard to benchmark their governance) and connect with their expert team.