Smart & Biggar shines as a leader in IP with 17 lawyers and agents recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Canada Guide 2021
Smart & Biggar is proud to announce that 17 lawyers and agents have been honoured as leaders in IP in the recent edition of Who’s Who Legal (WWL) Canada Guide 2021. Our lawyers have been recognized across all areas of IP practice including Patents (Litigation), Patent Agents (Patent Prosecution), Trademarks, Life Sciences and Data.
Through nominations by clients and peers, those listed have been honoured with national recognition and highlight Smart & Biggar’s expertise in all areas of Intellectual Property, marking our outstanding leadership and service in the legal industry.
Patents (Litigation)
Six Smart & Biggar lawyers are recognized as leading individuals in patent litigation. This nomination acknowledges their exceptional work on contentious and transactional matters in a wide range of industry sectors.
Steven Garland is recommended for his “first-rate patent litigation work on behalf of clients operating in a wide range of industries”. Nancy Pei is acknowledged for her “prolific expertise in complex life sciences patent litigation”. François Guay is known for building effective litigation strategies and handling complex IP disputes for a broad range of high-profile clients across a spectrum of industries. Gunars Gaikis stands out with “over three decades of experience in the patent litigation, where he excels at representing pharmaceutical clients”. Sheldon Hamilton and Yoon Kang were also recommended in this category as leading lawyers in patent litigation.
Patent Agents (Prosecution)
Firm managing partner, Matthew Zischka, is listed among the “Most Highly Regarded” in this category for his “exemplary work navigating multinationals through complex patent prosecutions” in the field of electrical and computer technologies. John Knox received recognition as “one of the very best patent agents in Canada” for electrical and mechanical innovations according to impressed peers. Firm Chair and partner, Daphne Lainson, is honoured for her expertise advising clients on the protection of chemical and biotech patents. David Schwartz is noted for his “go-to for the full range of issues involving chemical and pharmaceutical patents”. Oliver Stone and Stephan Georgiev are identified for their stellar work in patent prosecution in the field of electrical, industrial and mechanical technologies.
Life Sciences
Smart and Biggar sees six lawyers recognized in Life Sciences. Nancy Pei is praised for her “sharp negation skills” and “adept regulatory practice”. Steven Garland holds over 25 years of trademark-related trial and appellate experience and represents a wide range of high-profile life sciences clients. Alice Tseng stands out in the regulatory market, where she advises a wide range of high-profile pharmaceutical companies. Alice Tseng is additionally listed for Data. Sheldon Hamilton, Gunars Gaikis and Yoon Kang are also celebrated in this group for their exceptional work on regulatory and contentious matters on behalf of clients.
Trademarks
In Smart & Biggar’s trademark practice, five lawyers are acclaimed for their stellar work. Mark Evans is hailed as an “established practitioner who is held in high esteem for his skilful approach to trademark protection and portfolio management”. Philip Lapin is praised as a “top Canadian practitioner with over 20 years experience in opposition and cancellation proceedings”. Christian Bolduc is noted by peers for his “deep trademark law expertise, his practice encompasses counselling, clearance, prosecution and cancellation matters”. François Guay is again recognized for his service to high-profile corporate clients in a full range of contentious trademark enforcement and brand protection matters. Kohji Suzuki, the firm’s Trademark Practice chair, along with Mark Evans was listed among the “Most Highly Regarded” in this group.
WWL celebrates the world’s leading lawyers. Each year, WWL National Guides awards individuals and firms who have performed exceptionally well across 40 areas of business law, including Patents (Litigation), Patent Agents (Patent Prosecution), Trademarks, and Life Sciences.
The firm’s results are available to view now. Congratulations to each of our recognized lawyers and agents for this national recognition.
About Smart & Biggar
Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property law, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and Calgary. We are leaders in intellectual property and technology law and have been serving clients for over a century.