Smart & Biggar

A pre-eminent IP boutique, Smart & Biggar draws on a deep bench of IP experts spread across its five national offices, while its membership of Australia-headquartered IPH Limited Group — an international IP services network — provides it with significant cross-border firepower. With expertise in all core pillars of IP law, the team is particularly sought after for its record in complex IP litigation. It also impresses on the non-contentious side, where it has notably handled the most patent and trademark application filings of any firm in the country, according to statistics published by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). Key names in Toronto include high-profile trademark specialist Mark Evans and IP litigator Mark Biernacki; together they successfully represented Lululemon in defending a trademark infringement action brought by Nobal Technologies. The Toronto group also includes patent litigation partner Sheldon Hamilton; Yoon Kang, who focuses on life sciences patent litigation and prosecution; Nancy Pei, who — like Kang — specializes in life sciences work; Graham Hood, who heads the trademarks area; life sciences litigator Urszula Wojtyra; and firm managing director Matthew Zischka. In Ottawa, firm chair Daphne Lainson and experienced IP litigator Jeremy Want are also noted. The Montreal office benefits from the IP litigation skills of veteran expert François Guay, as well as IP litigation head Jean-Sébastien Dupont. Jonas Gifford is recommended in Vancouver for work in the electrical, computer and mechanical fields. In September 2024, IPH acquired IP boutique Bereskin & Parr, which was subsequently folded into Smart & Biggar. Steven Garland retired in October 2024.