Clarity on brand risks and opportunities
By integrating a focused trademark strategy with your overall business goals, our highly specialized lawyers fully harness your brand’s strength and economic potential.
Choosing and clearing a new brand can involve considerable commercial risk, and requires careful planning and a thorough review of the market to avoid costly mistakes.
At Smart & Biggar, our expert lawyers work with clients to help them identify and adopt strong, distinctive and protectable marks from the outset, together with the ongoing support, services and advice needed to build their brands domestically and internationally.
From conducting thorough brand portfolio audits and assessments, to analysis and consideration of the competitive landscape, we counsel clients on the strengths and weaknesses of their trademark rights to develop commercially-focused brand management strategies.
Our clients benefit from sophisticated and tailored trademark searching and monitoring programs combined with our deep experience in successfully clearing more than 1,000 domestic and international brands every year. Backed by our unmatched expertise in trademark litigation, we provide clients with a practical understanding of the real-world risks and consequences in creating and adopting a new mark.
We also work with clients to develop internal brand management systems, and to provide business-directed internal training programs as part of a comprehensive, long-term brand strategy.
Key Contacts
Unparalleled Expertise in Trademark Counselling, Clearance & Strategy
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WTR
Four partners named as Global Leaders
2019World Trademark Review -
MIP
Eight IP Stars in Trademark Law
2019IP Stars Handbook: Trademark & Copyright -
MIP
Tier One Firm for Trademark Law
2014-2019IP Stars Handbook: Trademark & Copyright -
WTR
Six leading trademark practitioners
2019World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
WTR
Gold Band Firm
2011-2019World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
Who's Who Legal
Four leading trademark practitioners
2019Who's Who Legal: Trademarks -
Euromoney LMG
Eight leading trademark experts
2016-2018Expert Guides: Trade Mark -
Who's Who Legal
Four leading trademark practitioners
2018Who's Who Legal: Trademarks -
WTR
Six Leading Trademark Practitioners
2018World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
WTR
Five Leading Trademark Practitioners
2017World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals
Related Publications & Articles
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Yes, CIPO really will be writing to your client instead of to you
If you filed a Madrid application on behalf of your client, and designated Canada, you should have received a “Courtesy Letter” from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).Read More -
A long and winding road: Canada nears the end of an ambitious project to modernize patent, trademark and industrial design laws
On July 30, 2019, Canada acceded to the Patent Law Treaty. This accession marks the near completion of a long and ambitious journey by Canada to modernize its patent, trademark and industrial design l...Read More -
Where is my CIPO mail? What to know about Canadian correspondence for Madrid Applications
A little over a month has passed since Canada acceded to the Madrid Protocol. The moment was historic, with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) being the first office to allow trademark a...Read More -
It’s the final countdown: Top 10 changes to Canada’s trademark law on June 17th
After five years of anticipation, sweeping changes to Canada’s trademark law will finally come into force on June 17, 2019. The changes, which are substantial, have been canvassed in previous IP Updat...Read More -
ACT NOW: Follow this ‘TO DO’ list to save money on Canadian trademarks before June 17th
By now you have probably heard that Canada’s trademark regime is changing, bringing about dramatic amendments to our law, regulations and practice.Read More -
The date is set: June 17, 2019 — Canada’s New Trademark Law will be in Force
After years of uncertainty, a date has been finally been set for the implementation of Canada’s new trademark law. The new law will come into force on June 17, 2019.Read More -
You don’t need to build it for them to come: Federal Court affirms trademark “use” for services does not require bricks and mortar business in Canada
Non-Canadian hoteliers have reason for celebration following the release of the Federal Court of Canada’s anticipated decision in Hilton Worldwide Holding LLP v Miller Thomson LLP, 2018 FC 895 (Hilton...Read More -
No store, no problem: Federal Court’s broad interpretation of “use” an advantage for non-Canadian retail trademark owners
Non-Canadian retailers can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the Federal Court of Canada’s decision in Dollar General Corporation v 2900319 Canada Inc, 2018 FC 778 (“Dollar General”).Read More
Related News & Media
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Smart & Biggar lawyers visit Austin to attend the INTA Leadership Meeting
Trademark lawyers from around the world will gather in Austin, Texas for the International Trademark Association (INTA) Leadership Meeting from November 19-22, 2019.Read More -
Daniel Anthony, Abigail Smith and Guillaume Lavoie Ste-Marie have been identified as Rising Stars by Managing Intellectual Property IP Stars
Smart & Biggar, Canada’s leading firm in intellectual property law, is pleased to share that three lawyers across our Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal offices have been listed as “Rising Stars” in the 201...Read More -
Smart & Biggar team members gather for and speak at the IPIC Annual Conference
The Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) will host its 93rd Annual Conference in Ottawa from September 25-27th, 2019.Read More -
Smart & Biggar tops Canadian listing with 4 partners named as WTR Global Leaders
Smart & Biggar is pleased to announce that Mark Evans, Francois Guay, Christian Bolduc and Philip Lapin have been recognized among the world’s most notable trademark practitioners in the inaugural iss...Read More -
4 partners recognized among world’s leading trademarks lawyers by Who’s Who Legal
Smart & Biggar is pleased to announce that four partners have been listed among the world’s leading lawyers in trademarks by the Who’s Who Legal:Trademarks 2019 guide.Read More -
Smart & Biggar comes in on top for IP with 6 lawyers named as Rising Stars by LMG Expert Guides
Smart & Biggar is pleased to announce we have topped the Expert Guides list with the most “Rising Stars” for IP in Canada named by Legal Media Group in the 2019 edition of Expert Guides: Rising Stars.Read More -
Smart & Biggar welcomes Erica Gotfrit to the Ottawa trademarks team
Smart & Biggar is pleased to announce that Erica Gotfrit has joined as an associate in Ottawa and a valuable member of the firm’s trademark team.Read More -
Keltie Sim Luft and Nancy Pei named in the world’s 'Top 250 Women in IP'
Smart & Biggar is pleased to announce that partners Keltie Sim Luft and Nancy Pei have been recognized among the Top 250 Women in IP by Managing Intellectual Property as part of their IP Stars list fo...Read More