Iris Ngo

Diligent patent lawyer enhancing innovation through scientific proficiency

With a strong background in Biochemistry, Iris works with clients to protect and maximize the value of their innovations. Iris is committed to staying at the forefront of intellectual property law and the evolving scientific landscape.

Iris specializes in Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Biopharmaceutical patent procurement. In completing her master’s thesis, Iris developed strong skills in metabolic and protein engineering as well as metabolite purification and identification, enabling her to understand the technical needs of clients.

Before joining Smart & Biggar as an Associate, Iris was an articling student and summer student in our Ottawa office. During her legal studies, Iris received numerous honours and awards, including prizes in cannabis law & policy, trademarks & unfair competition law, contracts, taxation and immigration & refugee law. Iris was also a recipient of the Dean’s Bronze Scholar Award, which is awarded to the student with the third highest average in the third year of the JD program at Queen’s University.

Iris served as President of the Queen’s Intellectual Property Law Club, a tutor for the Queen’s Law Tutor Program, and a mentor for the Queen’s Asian Law Students’ Association and Queen’s Business Law Clinic. In 2020 she was selected to represent Queen’s at the finals of the Hicks Morley Moot.

During her undergraduate studies, she was the recipient of the Faculty of Science Gold Medal (2018) and graduated with First Class Honours. She was also awarded the Society of Chemical Industry Merit Award (2018). Before this, Iris also received The Louise McKinney Scholarship (2015, 2016) and The Louise Dean Memorial Award (2015) based on outstanding academic merit and a strong commitment to volunteer service. During her postgraduate studies, Iris received the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s Program Award (2019) as well as the Faculty of Graduate Studies Master’s Research Scholarship (2019).