People

Smart & Biggar is Canada’s largest and highest ranked intellectual property firm. Our reputation and strength is a measure of the quality of our people, and we are proud to have the broadest and deepest bench for IP in Canada. With over 180 lawyers, patent agents and trademark agents, we offer legal expertise and technological knowledge across a wide range of industries and scientific and engineering disciplines, with leaders in every field.

Services

Today’s fast-paced innovation economy demands a higher level of expertise and attention to detail when it comes to IP. Our highly skilled team of lawyers, patent agents and trademark agents advise clients on a wide variety of strategic business, brand and technology matters leveraging their deep expertise in intellectual property to help them succeed with IP.

Industries

Across all industries, intellectual property is at the heart of innovation and is key to accelerating business value and growth. Developing a clear IP strategy and knowing how to tap and leverage IP to align with business goals can unlock competitive advantages and make the difference between industry leaders and followers.

Insights

At the forefront of IP in Canada, and actively involved as leaders in industry committees and associations, we stay up-to-date and proactively report on the latest developments in intellectual property law in Canada and around the world. Breaking IP news, changes in the law, important new decisions, and information on key IP issues are provided here through our IP publications and resources.

Careers

Many of the world's most commercially important innovators and most prominent brands trust Smart & Biggar to protect and enforce their IP and to provide them with strategic IP counsel. We have developed a reputation as a firm of talented lawyers and patent and trademark agents with integrity, business savvy and tremendous acumen. That’s why we look for the brightest people with combined talent and strengths in law, business, science and technology.

Who we are

Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property, and with over 180 lawyers, patent agents and trademark agents in six offices, we are also Canada’s largest firm focused purely on IP and related specialty areas.

Event

BIO 2024: Connect with Smart & Biggar’s leading Canadian Life Sciences team

Daphne Lainson, Lei Liu, Mark Pidkowich, David Schwartz, France Leclaire, Adam Lakusta and Bryant Boulianne

June 03, 2024 - June 06, 2024

Smart & Biggar's leading Life Sciences team will travel to San Diego, California to attend this year's Bio International Convention from June 3-6, 2024.

The BIO International Convention is the largest and most comprehensive event for biotechnology, representing the full ecosystem of biotech with over 20,000 industry leaders from across the globe.

Attending BIO?

Look out for and connect with our team members, including Daphne Laison, Lei Liu, Mark Pidkowich, David Schwartz, France Leclaire, Adam Lakusta and Bryant Boulianne.

We look forward to reconnecting with colleagues and clients globally.

Related People

Daphne Lainson
- she/her/hers
Principal
- Smart & Biggar LP
- T:613.232.2572
- dclainson@smartbiggar.ca
- Ottawa
Daphne Lainson
Principal
Daphne Lainson is a principal in Smart & Biggar's Ottawa office and Chair of the Firm. For over two decades she has specialized in securing patent protection for chemical, pharmaceutical and ...
Read More
Lei Liu
Principal
- Smart & Biggar LP
- T:613.232.2593
- lliu@smartbiggar.ca
- Ottawa
Lei Liu
Principal
Lei Liu is a Canadian patent agent and principal in Smart & Biggar’s Ottawa office. With his Ph.D. in advanced sciences, Lei harnesses his knowledge of biotechnology, biological science and c...
Read More
Mark Pidkowich
Principal
- Smart & Biggar LP
- T:604.696.8824
- mrpidkowich@smartbiggar.ca
- Vancouver
Mark Pidkowich
Principal
Mark Pidkowich is a principal in Smart & Biggar’s Vancouver office. His practice encompasses the development and management of patents for biologics, drug discovery, diagnostics and medical d...
Read More
David Schwartz
Principal
- Smart & Biggar LP
- T:613.232.2542
- deschwartz@smartbiggar.ca
- Ottawa
David Schwartz
Principal
David Schwartz is a respected IP leader who brings close to 30 of experience in patent law in the fields of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and chemistry as well as plant breeders’ rights. David advise...
Read More
France Leclaire
- she/her/elle
Counsel, Patent Agent
- Smart & Biggar LP
- T:514.954.1500
- fleclaire@smartbiggar.ca
- Montréal
France Leclaire
Counsel, Patent Agent
France is an accomplished patent expert and legal advisor with over 25 years of experience. In her IP practice, she specializes in the life sciences sector with a focus on prosecution, client counsell...
Read More
Adam Lakusta
Associate
- Smart & Biggar LP
- T:604.633.4815
- alakusta@smartbiggar.ca
- Calgary
- Vancouver
Adam Lakusta
Associate
Adam is a dedicated intellectual property lawyer, with a practice focused on patent procurement and advising the chemical and biotechnology sectors. Adam draws on his background in scientific research...
Read More
Bryant Boulianne
Technical Consultant
- Smart & Biggar LP
- T:613.232.2575
- bboulianne@smartbiggar.ca
- Ottawa
Bryant Boulianne
Technical Consultant
With a PhD in immunology and over a decade of research in the field of life sciences, Dr. Bryant Boulianne offers a unique depth of expertise in biotechnology to client activities. Bryant’s practice&n...
Read More