Canada’s Intellectual Property Firm

Rankings & Recognition

Smart & Biggar IP ‘litigation stars’ celebrated for “landmark wins” in 2020 Benchmark Canada Guide

Smart & Biggar is honoured to be recommended again as a leading firm for Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation in the 2020 Benchmark Canada Guide.

Benchmark recognized several Smart & Biggar lawyers as “Litigation Stars” for their exceptional work and expertise across IP litigation in trademarks, patents, pharmaceutical, industrial designs and copyright and media, through recommendations made by peers and clients.

Smart & Biggar is described in the guide as “revered” for our range of experience and “landmark wins” in patents, trademarks and copyrights: "You pretty much see a Smart & Biggar person on every IP dispute these days at some level, whether it’s at trial or on appeal". Benchmark also highlighted the growth of our Montréal litigation team, which has grown to nearly double its size of just a few years ago. The guide also noted the addition of litigation partner Evan Nuttall to the team in Calgary who brings a unique local focus and expertise in patent enforcement in the oil and gas and agriculture sectors, among other industries.

Benchmark gives special mention to several partners, including:

  • Steven Garland - who is listed as a ‘Litigation Star’ as well as a ‘Top 50 Trial Lawyer in Canada’  for his representation of Cenovus and popular social media platform, Snapchat;
  • Mark Biernacki and Mark Evans - both of whom successfully defended a trademark infringement action brought by Loblaws in relation to Pampered Chef's use of its “PC” logo;
  • François Guay,  who a peer describes as ‘a litigator first and an IP lawyer second’ for representing the well-known U.S.-based fast casual restaurant chain Shake Shack in seeking to have its prior rights recognized in Canada;
  • Jean-Sébastien Dupont – dubbed a “Future Star” for his successful representation at trial in a case in which the Federal Court confirmed that the plaintiff’s steel structure for an indoor soccer complex could benefit from copyright protection;

Benchmark also listed partners Gunars Gaikis, Sheldon Hamilton, Yoon Kang, Nancy Pei, Evan Nuttall as “Litigation Stars”, and for the first time Jeremy Want and Ekaterina Tsimberis, for outstanding trial work in both patents and trademark, respectively.

Congratulations to all on this notable recognition!