Leading the country’s preeminent IP firm
Matt is the Managing Director of Smart & Biggar, where he leads Canada’s premiere IP firm, with over 180 professionals and with offices in Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Vancouver, Calgary and Waterloo Region.
Strategic and consensus-driven leadership backed by more than two decades of IP law experience
Matt was appointed to his role following more than 25 years with the firm. Previously, Matt held key firm leadership positions, serving as both a member and Chair of the Executive Committee, head of the Toronto Electrical Engineering & Mechanical patents and design team, and as a member of the Business Development Committee.
As Managing Director, Matt is responsible for the strategic direction of the firm and its day-to-day operations, including oversight of its leadership team. Matt is passionate about excellent client service, transparency, employee engagement, mentoring the future generation of firm leaders, and supporting the larger community outside the firm.
Decades of internationally lauded strategic IP counsel
As a seasoned lawyer, Matt has guided his clients through complex IP challenges - providing legal advice in transactions, licensing, interpretation of commercial agreements, and in establishing intellectual property policies, as well as providing litigation support.
As an engineer and patent agent, Matt has specialized expertise advising public and private companies in patent matters in the electrical, software, electronics, cloud, mobile, mechanical, and medical device fields, and in emerging technologies such as AI, cryptography and Fintech.
An expert ambassador for IP law
Matt often lectures on intellectual property law topics and is consistently recognized as an expert in Canadian Intellectual Property Law and patent law in numerous national and international surveys.
He receives extensive praise from clients and colleagues, noting he’s a “great ambassador for the profession.” Matt is known for his vision, technical knowledge and understanding of the latest industry changes. As clients have commented: “You can go to him with the most puzzling questions and can refer work to him with total trust” (IAM Patents 1000, 2017).
Matt has been involved in leadership roles across the industry, including at IPIC, AIPPI and the AIPLA. He has been the Chair of the IPIC Patent Practice Committee; the Director of the IPIC-McGill Summer Patents Course; and a sessional instructor of patent law and policy at one of Canada’s leading law schools. He is currently Secretary and Treasurer of AIPPI Canada.