Canada’s Intellectual Property Firm

Melanie Szweras

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Melanie Szweras

  • she/her/hers
Principal
  • Smart & Biggar LP
Language(s): English

Melanie’s practice focuses on drafting and prosecution of applications relating to biologics, diagnostics, biotechnology, food and pharmaceuticals. Melanie offers strategic advice and expertise to her clients, provides validity and freedom to operate opinions and is involved in related patent litigation and licensing.

Melanie’s privacy work includes advising organizations on compliance with Canadian privacy laws, including PIPEDA, assisting with preparation of privacy policies, terms and conditions, outsourcing agreements and general management of personal information. Her regulatory work includes advising on Health Canada regulated labelling and advertising and on health-related regulations, such as those relating to notices of compliance, certificates of supplementary protection and the Patented Medicines Price Review Board.

Melanie lectures on aspects of Biotechnology and The Application Process at the University of Toronto’s Patent & Trade Secrets Law course and Osgoode Hall’s LLM Patent Law course. Melanie is the Chair of the Continuing Professional Development Committee for the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC). Melanie is also the Vice-Chair of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) Biotechnology Committee.

Melanie received numerous awards throughout her education, including the Medical Research Council Studentship and a University of Toronto Open Scholarship. She was also the Bronze Medalist for her class of 2003 at Osgoode Hall Law School.

Qualifications

  • News
  • Speaking
  • Industry Involvement
  • In the Media
  • "Privacy", Treefrog Accelerator Program, March 10, 2025
  • “Privacy Implications and IP”, World Trade Centre Toronto's Life Sciences Commercialization program, January 24, 2025
  • "IP Protection and Commercialization of Medical Devices", World Trade Centre Toronto's Life Sciences Commercialization program, January 21, 2025
  • "IP Intro to Data Privacy & AI Regulatory Considerations in Canada", the 12th annual Do It In Durham Entrepreneurship Week, November 20, 2024
  • "Doing Business in Canada – Compliance with Privacy Obligations", Lexology webinar, April 25, 2024
  • "Mitigating Seemingly Small Actions to Make a Big Impact on Organizational Culture – An Interactive Workshop",  Intellectual Property Insitute of Canada (IPIC), December 8, 2022
  • "Heading North? What you need to know about patents in Canada, eh!", American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), September 21, 2022
  • "Biotech and Pharmaceutical Patent Law: Litigation Trends and Developments", The Knowledge Group, September 16, 2022
  • "Biotech and Pharmaceutical Patent Law: Cutting-Edge Issues to Watch For Biotech and Pharmaceutical Patent Law", The Knowledge Group, September 16, 2022
  • "AIPLA Women in IP Law 2022 Global Networking Event", American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), April 7, 2022
  • "Intersection of IP and Life Sciences Innovations", McMaster University, January 24, 2022
  • "IP Life Sciences Conference 2021", LT Innovation, October 12, 2021
  • "2021 Molecular Genetics Career Development Symposium", University of Toronto, May 31, 2021
  • "IP 101: Basics of Intellectual Property", City of Vaughan, April 7, 2021
  • "Is IP ImPortant for Researchers and Startups?", United Health Toronto, October 29, 2020
  • "2020 AIPLA Women in IP Virtual Global Networking Event", American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), September 29, 2020
  • "Intellectual Property Protection and Commercialization of Cannabis", AUTM 2019 Canadian Region Meeting, June 23-26, 2019
  • "MedEdge 2.0", Richmond Hill Economic Development, June 11, 2019
  • "Intellectual Property Protection and Commercialization of Cannabis", University of Toronto, March 27, 2019
  • "Intellectual Property (IP) 101 for Beginners", Office of Research Administration (ORA), October 10, 2018
  • "Developing Clinical Point-of-Care (POC) Diagnostics for Improving Healthcare Outcomes", McMaster University, September 26-27, 2018
  • "State of the Union on Pharma in Canada", Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), September 6, 2018
  • "The Redefining Early Stage Investments Conference", Life Science Nation, April 10, 2018

Memberships

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
  • Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), Fellow
  • Law Society of Ontario (LSO)
  • Women in Bio (WIB)
  • College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (CPATA)

Publications