Christie Bates

Christie Bates is a trademark and copyright lawyer, with a specialization in trademark opposition and summary cancellation proceedings, trademark prosecution and counselling, IP licensing and acquisitions, and IP enforcement proceedings.

Christie has extensive experience providing a broad range of strategic trademark counselling to some of the world’s leading cosmetic, alcohol, confectionary, clothing, software, entertainment, and pharmaceutical companies, making her a go-to advisor for clients in these markets.

Christie’s strength lies in effectively resolving complex problems. She is solution-oriented, with a proven ability to think outside the box to craft innovative strategies that best serve her clients' interests. Detail-oriented, Christie thoroughly analyzes situations, weighing both short and long term considerations to ensure solutions are well-crafted and aligned with her clients' broader goals. Known for her unwavering focus on results, Christie excels at getting the deal done, saving clients time and resources while protecting their intellectual property rights. Christie has managed complex cross-border trademark portfolios for franchise clients, represented clients in trademark and copyright infringement cases before the Federal Court and in mediations, and negotiated and drafted technology and IP licenses, as well as cross-branding agreements. Her achievements have earned her repeated recognitions as “One to Watch” for Intellectual Property by Best Lawyers in Canada and “Rising Star” by Managing IP. She also obtained the Osgoode Certificate in Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing and is a registered trademark agent.

Christie has also contributed to the intellectual property community as President and an Executive of the Toronto Intellectual Property Group for a five-year term, and as a member of the International Trademark Association’s Young Practitioners Committee and the Innovations and Brands Committee. She also regularly teaches IP courses at Seneca College, the Spark Center, through the Artists' Legal Advice Services and at McGill’s Copyright Masterclass.