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Global Guide 2023
Canada Intellectual Property
1
Band 1

5 Ranked Lawyers

About

Provided by Smart & Biggar

Smart & Biggar is Canada’s largest firm practising exclusively in intellectual property and technology law. We work directly with organizations, and seamlessly with associate firms, to help our clients secure, protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property investments in Canada.

From five offices across Canada, we offer the full complement of intellectual property services including IP litigation, patent and trademark agency services, strategic IP counseling, licensing and IP transactions support. We serve many of the world’s leading organizations across a broad spectrum of industries.

Client Service Excellence

Internationally regarded for service excellence, we leverage sophisticated project management and back office systems to manage our clients’ matters, and increase the efficiency.

Litigation Powerhouse

Our highly effective litigators dominate courtrooms at all levels including the Supreme Court of Canada, on commercially important and complex matters, resulting in precedent setting victories and record damages awards for our clients.

Specialized Expertise

With one of the largest IP teams in Canada, we offer our clients experience in scientific, technical and legal fields, along with highly specialized industry sector knowledge.

Technical Strength

Virtually every member of our firm has an engineering or scientific background, many with graduate degrees. Over 55 members of our firm, including many lawyers, are registered patent agents.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Intellectual Property - Canada
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Band 1
What the team is known for

Smart & Biggar is a well-established IP and innovation boutique with offices in Ontario, Québec, Alberta and British Columbia. The firm maintains an impressive IP development service, assisting high-profile clients with issues ranging from licensing and marketing to enforcement and litigation. Reputed for its bench strength and quality representation, it has proven skill in patent and trade mark litigation as well as a substantial range of commercial IP matters. The group services clients in a diverse range of sectors, including telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and the media industry, and has an impressive portfolio of clients in e-commerce and technology.

Work Highlights

Provided by Smart & Biggar
  • A team led by François Guay assisted Bell Media, Groupe TVA and Rogers Media, the plaintiffs, with the renewal of an injunction against certain streaming websites for breaches of the Canadian Copyright Act.

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
Daphne Lainson
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Daphne Lainson
4
Band 4

Chair of Smart & Biggar Daphne Lainson possesses significant experience advising major pharmaceutical clients on patent filing, strategy and portfolio management. She is based in Ottawa.
"She delivers a succinct and understandable work product."

Christian Bolduc
N
Christian Bolduc
4
Band 4

Montréal-based Christian Bolduc impresses for his work across a broad array of trade mark mandates, spanning procurement, prosecution and transactions.

Steven Garland
N
Steven Garland
2
Band 2

Ottawa-based Steven Garland remains a prominent presence in intellectual property work in Canada. A qualified patent and trade mark attorney, he represents significant clients in the energy, chemical and technology sectors.

François Guay
N
François Guay
1
Band 1

Montréal-based François Guay is a highly experienced litigator who is particularly well regarded for his expertise in trade mark disputes and infringement cases. He has acted for major clients in recreational products, pharmaceuticals and telecoms.
"François was truly a master when it came to litigation strategy.""A very good advocate and a strong opponent."

Mark Evans
N
Mark Evans
1
Band 1

Toronto-based Mark Evans advises and represents clients in significant IP prosecution mandates. He has an excellent reputation in the field of trade marks, where he services major sporting and consumer product brands.
"Mark Evans has really high legal acumen. He gets both the legal and practical side of things and measures risk and reward well.""He is so practical-minded, considers your business objectives and takes into account the reality of the situation."

Ranked Lawyers at
Smart & Biggar

Provided by Chambers
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Band

Canada

Intellectual Property

Mark Evans
1
Mark Evans
1
Band 1
Christian Bolduc
4
Christian Bolduc
4
Band 4
Daphne Lainson
4
Daphne Lainson
4
Band 4
Intellectual Property: Litigation

François Guay
1
François Guay
1
Band 1
Steven Garland
2
Steven Garland
2
Band 2

Industries

Provided by Smart & Biggar

Aerospace, Aeronautics, & Aviation

Agricultural Sciences

Artificial Intelligence

Automotive

Cannabis

Chemical & Biotechnology

Cleantech

Consumer Products

Electronics & Computer Technology

Energy, Oil & Gas

Financial Services & Technology

Food & Beverage

Internet, Digital Media & E-Commerce

Luxury Goods & Apparel

Manufacturing, Industrial Goods & Machinery

Medical Devices

Pharmaceutical & Biologics

Railways

Robotics

Software, Information & Cloud Technology

Telecommunications