Gowling WLG

Intellectual Property

Partner, Patent Agent

Michael Crichton is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office and former Canadian leader of Gowling WLG's Intellectual Property Litigation & Strategy Group.

Michael has over two decades of experience as an intellectual property litigator and strategic adviser. Michael assists both domestic and international clients that engage in a wide range of technologies, including mechanical, electrical, computer hardware and software, manufacturing/fabrication, communications, and related technologies.

Recognized in Lexpert, IAM Patent 1000, Managing IP's IP Stars, Legal 500, Who's Who Legal: Patents and The Best Lawyers in Canada for intellectual property law, Michael has appeared as trial counsel, including as lead trial counsel, in numerous patent litigation proceedings. Michael also regularly acts for clients involved in disputes concerning complex trade secrets and copyright enforcement, and is experienced with respect to Canada/U.S. cross-border intellectual property litigation and related matters.

Outside of the courtroom, Michael regularly represents and advises clients with respect to licensing of intellectual property, mediation and settlement negotiations, and opinions regarding patent infringement, patent validity and related issues. In addition, as a registered patent agent for over a decade, Michael's practice includes patent drafting, prosecution and portfolio management.

Michael is a regular author on intellectual property matters, including articles published by IAM, Managing IP and the Financial Post, among others, as well as a chapter regarding patent litigation in Canada for the treatise Global Patent Litigation: How and where to win published by Bloomberg BNA.

In 2017, Michael was named a Lexpert "Rising Star - Leading Lawyer under 40" for being at the top of the legal profession in Canada - both in his law practice and in the community. In 2015, he was also recognized as a Forty under 40 winner by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce for both his business and community accomplishments.

Michael was previously an adjunct professor of intellectual property litigation, and prior to that an adjunct professor of patent law, at the University of Ottawa. In addition, Michael is the chair of the Ottawa chapter of the Licensing Executives Society, a member of the IP Court Practice Committee for the Canadian Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. For several years, Michael also served as editor-in-chief of Gowling WLG's IP Report.