Canada’s Intellectual Property Firm

Rankings & Recognition

Smart & Biggar leads the field in Canada as a "gold-standard firm" that "lives up to its name" with sixteen leading lawyers and agents in the 2020 IAM Patent 1000

Smart & Biggar is pleased to be recognized once again as a gold tier firm in Canada for patent prosecution and litigation, and to be ‘recommended’ for patent transactions in the 2020 IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals guide.

IAM’s coverage lauded Smart & Biggar as a “gold-standard firm” that “lives up to its name” and for “maintain[ing] its lofty status as one of the country’s top filers, juggling over 5,000 applications each year.” In patent prosecution, the guide cited favourable client impressions of the team: “[they] never cease to amaze”, and for “work[ing] seamlessly with a team of contentious heavyweights to secure optimum results in litigation”. In patent transactions, Smart & Biggar was commended as “highly sought out for their transactional capabilities” and was praised for its ability to “sew up flawless IP-rich deals”. In patent litigation the firm was lauded for its considerable strength and depth, noting “[Smart & Biggar] packs a punch in enforcement scenarios”.

We are also proud to announce sixteen of our patent lawyers and agents were featured in the guide across all categories of patent litigation, prosecution and transactions, more than any firm in Canada, including seven individuals who were added to the firm’s ranks in IAM this year, representing expertise across each stage of the patent lifecycle:  Allan Brett, Ryan Evans, Stephan Georgiev, Yoon Kang, Evan Nuttall, Nancy Pei and David Schwartz.

Congratulations to all who were featured, and to our patent teams across Canada!

Patent Prosecution

  • Allan Brett has a background in mathematics and electrical engineering and lends his insight to high-tech companies seeking impenetrable protection for their assets.
  • John Knox has “invaluable industry experience which he channels both into his work and into guiding the next generation of practitioners.”
  • Daphne Lainson is a “biopharmaceutical ace” who “produces work of impeccable quality” and can “easily explain the legal nuts and bolts with great clarity.”
  • David Schwartz is described as “[a] class act and a fantastic professional”, and well known for his “vibrant pharmaceutical and chemistry practice”.
  • Matthew Zischka is lauded for his “keen strategic sense” and his “instinct for generating revenue” also make him “a trusted adviser on high-value M&A and licensing deals.”

Patent Transactions

  • Stephan Georgiev has a reputation as a “deft negotiator” who “conducts thorough market analyses, keeps calm and collected under pressure, and gets pen to paper on deals for his high-tech patrons.”
  • Sanjay Goorachurn “does not see geographical boundaries as an issue – complex multi-jurisdictional deals are his forte”.
  • Alistair Simpson is described by peers as “flexible, bright and timely” and “has asset procurement and exploitation down to a fine art.”
  • Theodore Sum’s legal mind and clear thinking are “unsurpassed”. He is “extremely hardworking and the agreements he drafts show an appreciation for wider business needs and concerns. He’s a top-notch guy who ensures that every company he works with – big or small – receives the best advice possible.”

Patent Litigation

  • Ryan Evans, a recent lateral addition in Toronto, has “an affinity for untangling tricky disputes in a variety of sectors.”
  • Gunars Gaikis, known as a “pre-eminent pharmaceutical litigator”, has “amassed extensive experience devising strategies” and comes up with “interesting and unique approaches to the matters he faces.”
  • Steven Garland leads by example. He is described by peers as “really bright and diligent, [he] has an excellent grasp of the law and facilitates fair and open discussions. It is always a tough but fair fight with him.”
  • François Guay is known to “look to find the most amicable solution for parties in heated disputes. His knowledge of legal issues is most impressive, and his collegial style ensures that difficult proceedings are smoothly navigated”.
  • Yoon Kang, along with Nancy Pei, “[both] work efficiently, creatively, responsively and exceed all expectations”, she is “highly appreciated for her succinctness and ability to cut to the chase.”
  • Evan Nuttall, a recent lateral addition to the firm’s Calgary team, Evan works with top players in the oil and gas industry.
  • Nancy Pei, along with Yoon Kang, “[both] work efficiently, creatively, responsively and exceed all expectations” and praised for being “Incredibly knowledgeable and gets down to the nitty-gritty of each case.”

Individuals named on the IAM Patent 1000 list are identified as the top patent professionals in key jurisdictions around the world. IAM 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals guide is compiled over five months and 1,800 interviews. Only those individuals identified by market sources for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights into patent matters feature in the IAM Patent 1000.

To view the full IAM Patents 1000 2020 results for Canada, click here.

Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property law, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. We are leaders in intellectual property and technology law and have been serving clients for over a century.