Gowling WLG

Partner Leader - Trademarks, Canada

Martha Savoy is a partner in Gowling WLG's global Intellectual Property Group. She leads the Trademarks Group in Canada and is co-head of the global Trademarks, Brands and Designs practice. Based in Ottawa, she focuses her practice on trademark and copyright enforcement, litigation and prosecution.

Routinely distinguished as a leader in her field by World Trademark Review 1000, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and Best Lawyers Canada, Martha has sophisticated experience helping some of the worlds most valuable brands protect and enforce their IP assets around the globe. She possesses a particularly extensive track record in the food and beverage, sporting equipment, apparel and footwear, technology, manufacturing and media sectors.

"[Martha] consistently demonstrates strong leadership and determination in resolving matters and achieving the best interests for her organisation. There are a variety of skills an effective attorney must possess, and she exceeds these in every aspect. Even among the best, she is a cut above." – WTR 1000

Wherever possible, Martha seeks to resolve IP disputes quickly and efficiently – and always with her clients' best interests at heart and a thorough understanding of the larger commercial realities at play. Whether through mediation or other avenues, she harnesses more than two decades of experience in negotiating and formalizing crucial protections for her clients' IP assets.

When infringement actions must be pursued or defended in court, Martha works closely with clients to develop a robust litigation strategy tailored to their unique circumstances. Over the course of her career, she has represented clients in a range of complex matters before the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Canadian Trademarks Opposition Board.

Martha complements her enforcement and litigation skills with a formidable background in trademark prosecution. She regularly registers trademarks and copyright with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office on behalf of her clients, and she also has experience managing large global trademark portfolios.

Outside of her individual practice, Martha remains highly active in the global and Canadian trademark communities. She is a former chair and present member of the International Trademark Association's (INTA) Enforcement Committee. She is also a member of the Canadian Bar Association's Counterfeiting and Trade Offences Committee, and has served on the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada's (IPIC) Litigation Committee, Copyright Committee, and on the editorial board of its publication the Canadian Intellectual Property Review.