After graduating, and being “verpand aan die Staat”, I joined the Department of Foreign affairs and married Dana in 1967. We then spent four years at the South African Embassy in The Hague, Netherlands. Our son, Ian, and daughter, Carin, were born during this period.
When I returned home in 1972, I left Foreign Affairs and joined Spoor and Fisher, specialist Intellectual Property attorneys. After completing my articles, I became a partner and ultimately Chairman of the firm. My son, Bryan was born shortly after I was admitted as an attorney. I spent 35 years at the Pretoria office of the firm. The firm opened an office in Cape Town and I re-located to that office in 2007. I retired from the firm in 2010, having reached the mandatory retirement age. I, however, remain a consultant to the firm up to the present time.
Shortly after I retired, I was approached to establish a Chair of IP Law at Stellenbosch University. It was to be funded privately by Remgro/Richemont (Johan Rupert). I took on this position in 2011 and became a fully-fledged Professor during that year. I held this position until the end of 2015, when I retired once again. I am now largely a gentleman of leisure residing at De Zalze Winelands Golf Estate near Stellenbosch, which provides living circumstances as close to heaven as I am ever likely to get.
My daughter, Carin, has provided me with a grandson, Sebastian, and my son, Bryan, with a grandson, Alexander, and a granddaughter, Jessica. All three of our children and their families live in Cape Town, which makes Dana and me one of those all too rare South African couples that have their entire families living in the same place in South Africa as themselves.
Further details of my professional career (if desired) can be obtained from the IP Chair’s website which can be accessed at www.sun.ac.za. An article about me and the IP Chair, which was published in the magazine STELLENBOSCH VISIO can be viewed below (or click here).
Back (from left): Ian, Carin, Dana
Front (from left): Owen, Sebastian, Jessica, Alexander, Bryan.
Owen and Dana Dean
Click image to view article