Belmore Neidrauer LLP’s focus on IP litigation pays dividends and the firm is a popular choice to represent major global pharmaceutical companies in high-stakes patent disputes before all levels of court. The team additionally handles trademark litigation and opposition proceedings. Key names include highly regarded trial lawyer Peter Wilcox, who is routinely retained by leading pharma, biotech and energy clients to defend their patents. Marian Wolanski and next-generation partner Stephanie Anderson are also recommended.

‘A small but mighty IP boutique that punches well above its weight’, Toronto-based Dipchand LLP stands out for its expertise across the full life cycle of IP matters, from registration and portfolio management through to enforcement and litigation. Firm founder, Elizabeth Dipchand, is a ‘terrific problem solver’ and her practice spans IP prosecution, protection and disputes. Also noted are May Cheng (‘experienced and effective’) and Jennifer Ko (‘an amazing lawyer’).

Dispute resolution boutique Lenczner Slaght houses an increasing prominent IP litigation practice that added 14 new clients to its roster during 2023/24, including Apple and MAGNA Pharmaceuticals. A strong choice for complex trial litigation, the team is particularly experienced in patent cases but its recent matters also span trademark and copyright-related proceedings. Sana Halwani covers the full range of contentious IP work and heads a department that additionally draws on experienced IP litigators Jordana Sanft and Andrew Moeser.

A longstanding and full-service IP boutique, Robic LLP joined Australia-headquartered IPH Limited in November 2023. However, unlike some other members of the IPH group, the Quebec firm will retain its individual branding. Arguably best known for its prolific IP prosecution offering, the practice is also recognized for its strong success rate in patent litigation cases. Key contacts include Montreal-based managing director Dario Pietrantonio, who focuses on trademark law, and Montreal-based Camille Aubin, who heads the law group.

In April 2024, Toronto-based dispute resolution boutique Tyr LLP formed a new IP litigation practice through a series of strategic hires. Most notably, new department head Melanie Baird joined from Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP along with senior associate Cole Meagher, who was later promoted to partner. Additionally, Amy Grenon arrived from Aird & Berlis LLP. The team has hit the ground running, demonstrating particularly strong activity in the life sciences space.

IP powerhouse Gowling WLG stands out for its unrivalled national platform — which takes in seven offices across the country — as well as for its ability to leverage on-the-ground teams in the UK, Europe, the UAE and China. The group’s global coverage and comprehensive service offering marks it as a first port of call for major companies looking for support on domestic and multinational IP issues, with its strong suits encompassing the full range of patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, copyrights, advertising and IP litigation matters. The department is led jointly by Canadian IP head Shelagh Carnegie (Toronto), who stands out for her premier trademark prosecution practice; John Harris (Ottawa), who spearheads the patents area; Will Boyer (Ottawa), who serves as head of IP litigation and strategy; and Nelson Godfrey (Vancouver), who fronts the trademark group. The firm’s formidably deep bench additionally benefits from the senior expertise of seasoned IP litigators Christopher Van Barr (Ottawa), Michael Crichton (Ottawa) and Laurent Massam (Toronto). Also highly recommended are: Ottawa-based trademark specialists Martha Savoy and Paula Clancy; Toronto-based Natalie Rizkalla-Kamel, who focuses on contentious work involving patents, trademarks and copyrights; and Ottawa-based patent partner Jay Zakaïb. An impressive pool of younger lawyers includes next generation partner Charlotte McDonald, who specializes in IP litigation and trademarks, as well as talented associate Jasleen Chahal — both are in Toronto.

A pre-eminent IP boutique, Smart & Biggar draws on a deep bench of IP experts spread across its five national offices, while its membership of Australia-headquartered IPH Limited Group — an international IP services network — provides it with significant cross-border firepower. With expertise in all core pillars of IP law, the team is particularly sought after for its record in complex IP litigation. It also impresses on the non-contentious side, where it has notably handled the most patent and trademark application filings of any firm in the country, according to statistics published by the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO). Key names in Toronto include high-profile trademark specialist Mark Evans and IP litigator Mark Biernacki; together they successfully represented Lululemon in defending a trademark infringement action brought by Nobal Technologies. The Toronto group also includes patent litigation partner Sheldon Hamilton; Yoon Kang, who focuses on life sciences patent litigation and prosecution; Nancy Pei, who — like Kang — specializes in life sciences work; Graham Hood, who heads the trademarks area; life sciences litigator Urszula Wojtyra; and firm managing director Matthew Zischka. In Ottawa, firm chair Daphne Lainson and experienced IP litigator Jeremy Want are also noted. The Montreal office benefits from the IP litigation skills of veteran expert François Guay, as well as IP litigation head Jean-Sébastien Dupont. Jonas Gifford is recommended in Vancouver for work in the electrical, computer and mechanical fields. In September 2024, IPH acquired IP boutique Bereskin & Parr, which was subsequently folded into Smart & Biggar. Steven Garland retired in October 2024.

According to many, Goodmans LLP is ‘the leading IP litigation firm in Canada’, with its creativity, experience in high-stakes patent cases and impressive courtroom skills all recurring themes among clients. Historically best known for its record in pharmaceutical cases, the group continues to diversify its practice and its recent cases additionally span the oil and gas, tech, mining and manufacturing fields, among others. Pre-eminent counsel Harry Radomski is held up by sources as ‘the top patent litigator of the past three decades’. Radomski is acting alongside fellow IP litigation specialists Andrew Brodkin and Jordan Scopa to represent Rovi Guides in a patent infringement action against Videotron concerning patents covering personal video recording technology. A strong band of up-and-coming litigators includes Ben Hackett, Jenene Roberts and associate Jaclyn Tilak. The Toronto-based department additionally houses a thriving non-contentious practice led by Amalia Berg, who specializes in trademarks, copyright and confidential information.

McCarthy Tétrault’s IP team is ‘excellent at finding creative arguments and solutions to problems’. Primarily recognized for its dominant IP litigation practice, the group also possesses extensive expertise on the non-contentious side with strong skill sets in global IP portfolio management and transactional matters. Toronto-based Steven Mason heads the IP litigation practice and is commended as a ‘go-to lawyer for bet-the-company work’. Mason recently paired up with Toronto-based senior counsel and copyright expert Barry Sookman to successfully represent Sam Smith, Normani and Stargate — and their record labels and music publishers — in a copyright infringement action. The Toronto group also includes Lisa Melanson, who leads the IP strategy and prosecution area; high-profile IP litigator David Tait; and associate Kendra Levasseur, who ‘performs beyond her years of qualification’. In Vancouver, Vincent Yip is recommended for IP transactions. Fiona Legere left the firm in July 2024.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s full-service IP practice is well weighted between litigation and portfolio management. In the latter sphere, the team is recognized for its strong record in filing international patent applications, where it is particularly active on behalf of life sciences clients. Toronto-based Jung-Kay Chiu heads the group and specializes in advising biotech and medical devices companies on IP strategy and protection. Other key contacts in Toronto include Daniel Daniele, who is noted for pharmaceutical patent litigation; David Ng, who handles IP prosecution and protection, with a focus on patents; Kristin Wall, whose practice spans patent, trademark, industrial design and copyright matters; and next-generation patent specialist Brian Chau. In Calgary, Elizabeth Williams is highly regarded for global portfolio management; she is advising Canadian Tire on IP strategy and enforcement issues. In Vancouver, IP litigator Christopher Wilson is a key contact, while patent litigator Brian Daley is recommended in Montreal. Anthony De Fazekas recently left the firm.

IP lawyers at Torys stand out for being ‘very smart in the legal theory but also very practical’. The Toronto-based team strikes a balance between IP litigation and advisory work, with its expertise in the latter area considered particularly formidable. Historically recognized for its capability in transactional support matters, the team also excels in patent and trademark filing, prosecution and strategy; notably, it filed 780 patent and trademark applications during 2023/24. IP chair Eileen McMahon contributes thirty years of experience in IP law, with a focus on patent work. Other non-contentious specialists include Edward Fan, who advises on the acquisition, enforcement and exploitation of IP; Teresa Reguly, who has a focus on life sciences clients; and Michelle Nelles, who specializes in trademark law and branding. Andrew Shaughnessy heads the IP litigation area and recently paired up with Andrew Bernstein — who maintains a broad dispute resolution practice — to represent Sanofi-Aventis Canada in a complex patent case. Nicole Mantini is also noted for litigation.

Bennett Jones LLP is sought after for IP matters concerning the energy, natural resources and agriculture industries, where it supports clients on a wide scope of prosecution, portfolio management and litigation. The team also handles work relating to the life sciences, tech and media sectors. Toronto-based firm CEO Dominique Hussey co-chairs the department and is recommended for IP litigation covering trademark, patent, copyright, trade secret and advertising disputes. Calgary-based group co-head Stephen Burns focuses on non-contentious work, including transaction support. Toronto-based IP litigator Vincent de Grandpré — who recently joined from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP — is also noted.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP continued to invest in its IP offering during 2023/24 both laterally and organically. Most notably, it added a duo of litigators from Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in Toronto: Andrew Skodyn — who was IP litigation head at his former firm — and Sean Jackson joined in December 2023. Additionally, it elevated Toronto-based IP and IT specialist Marco Ciarlariello to the partnership in January 2024. The growing practice is widely regarded as a go-to team for copyright law, with Toronto-based IP co-chair Casey Chisick recognized as foremost authority in that sphere. Other practice strong suits include anticounterfeiting enforcement, where Vancouver’s Karen MacDonald is a key contact, and IP portfolio management. Toronto-based up-and-coming litigator Jessica Zagar is also recommended.

Split between its eight Canadian offices, Fasken’s national IP offering encompasses all key pillars of IP law — including patents, trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs and trade secrets — where it provides full-spectrum support on litigation and non-contentious matters. The firm is particularly dominant in Quebec, as evidenced by its impressive bench in Montreal, which includes high-profile IP litigator Julie Desrosiers; IP head David Turgeon, who specializes in IP litigation; trademark partner Jean-Philippe Mikus; Michael Shortt, whose increasingly prominent trademark practice spans litigation and transactional work; and talented IP and TMT-focused associate Patricia Hénault. The national group also draws on Armand Benitah, who leads the team in Toronto, and Ottawa-based TMT expert Jay Kerr-Wilson.

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s IP offering is oriented towards non-contentious work, with strong activity in the prosecution and protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs. The practice also handles IP litigation, including recent cases in the trademark infringement area. Calgary-based Jason Howg heads the national IP department and specializes in IP and technology work. The team also includes trademark expert Justine Wiebe, who leads the group in Toronto; and Ottawa-based Beverley Moore, who fronts the IP litigation area.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP is distinguished by its robust IP litigation expertise, which sees the team frequently act on patent, trademark and copyright cases. On the non-contentious side, the group often acts in conjunction with other practice areas to provide support on transactional matters, while it also advises on IP acquisition, licensing and ‎portfolio management. IP litigator Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy steers a department that also includes experienced counsel Bruce Stratton; Bentley Gaikis, who specializes in patent litigation; and supporting associate Michal Kasprowicz. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.

Stikeman Elliott LLP maintains an increasingly diverse IP practice, which secures a steady stream of IP prosecution, strategy and litigation work. The team also acts alongside the firm’s corporate practice to advise on the IP elements of M&A deals. Montreal-based practice head Jonathan Auerbach handles a mix of IP portfolio management, litigation and transactions. In Toronto, Jeilah Chan is noted for contentious and non-contentious IP work involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights. Former department co-head Justine Whitehead recently retired, while senior associate Andrea Kroetch left the firm.

Aird & Berlis LLP works in tandem with Canadian IP boutique Aird & McBurney LP to provide support on the full suite of Canadian and global IP protection and enforcement matters, where it can draw on a deep pool of lawyers, patent and trademark agents, and other specialist professionals. Seasoned litigator Timothy Lowman heads the team and is ‘an exceptionally bright, skilled and responsive advocate’. The Toronto-based group also includes Ken Clarke, who focuses on IP enforcement. Joanna Pitkin recently joined from Ridout & Maybee LLP, while Amy Grenon  left the firm.

Baker McKenzie’s global platform marks it as a key contender to support multinational clients on IP portfolio management, including Unilever. The Toronto-based team also represents domestic and international companies on IP transactions, anti-counterfeiting issues and litigation. Stephanie Vaccari heads the department and handles a wide scope of IP work, with a focus on trademark matters. Jim Holloway also maintains a broad IP practice, which spans regulatory compliance, portfolio management and litigation. Christopher Aide retired in 2024, while Sepideh Nassabi recently joined as counsel from Gardiner Roberts LLP.

Quebec firm BCF Business Law houses an international-facing IP practice that directly represents clients before the US Patent and Trademark Office and the European Patent Office, as well as before Canadian IP bodies. Trademark portfolio management is a notable strength and the team manages over 12000 trademarks across more than 200 countries. Montreal-based Julien Lacheré heads the patent group, while Quebec City’s Johanne Auger leads the trademark area.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s Toronto-based IP group handled a significant volume of transactional support matters during 2023/24. Chris Hunter heads the IP department and is well versed in IP portfolio management, M&A-related work and infringement and misappropriation actions. New IP litigation head Fiona Legere joined in July 2024 from McCarthy Tétrault. IP litigators Melanie Baird, Andrew Skodyn and Sean Jackson recently left the firm.