A new horizon for Smart & Biggar leadership

Effective July 1, 2025, Stuart Wood assumed the role of CEO of Smart & Biggar. This follows a nine-month tenure as IPH’s Canadian Regional CEO and over two decades of experience as a CMO, COO and CEO including leadership of one of Canada’s fastest-growing law firms. Stuart, a proven growth architect, is eager to spearhead Smart & Biggar’s next era of operational integration and client value.

After guiding Smart & Biggar to become the foremost IP firm in Canada as part of IPH, Matthew Zischka’s last day as Managing Director was June 30, 2025. He will remain a Principal at the firm, continue to serve on the Smart & Biggar Board of Directors, and will take on an advisory role.

Stuart commented on the significant impact Matthew had on Smart & Biggar during a period of growth including three integrations as well as his plans for the future of the firm, remarking, “Matt is nothing short of an industry legend. I watched him be the voice of reason and provide confident assurance to our team during the last integration and know what a great mentor and respected practitioner he is. It’s our as well as IPH’s gain that he will stay on with Smart & Biggar and IPH. I am looking forward to building on Matt’s great work, continuing the firm’s dedication to excellence in our client work and client service and guiding the newly enlarged firm into its next chapter of success”.

Of his time as Managing Director, Matthew said, “The last several years have been exciting and rewarding. With the integration of Ridout & Maybee and Bereskin & Parr into Smart & Biggar complete, the time for my transition is ideal. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to guide Smart & Biggar in this unprecedented period of growth”.

Commenting on his hope for the future of Smart & Biggar under Stuart’s leadership, Matthew notes, “Having worked with Stuart for the past year, I am confident he will bring fresh perspective and unity to the new Smart & Biggar. His law firm experience and raw talent will be invaluable in leading the firm as its CEO in the next phase of its evolution”.

In addition to the change in leadership comes a reshaped model of Smart & Biggar’s practice groups to reflect its larger size and growing ability to provide unparalleled service to many different client groups, including the separation of our patents group into three segments.

Reshika Dhir has been appointed practice group lead for the newly separated Electrical and Computer Technologies section. She shared, “It's an exciting time to lead our Electrical and Computer Technologies group. The pace of innovation in this space is incredible, and I'm honoured to work alongside a team of outstanding practitioners with deep technical expertise and sharp legal insight. Together, we're committed to helping our clients protect and advance the technologies shaping the future”.

Daphne Lainson will continue to head up the Life Sciences segment of Patents, and Jonas Gifford will continue as practice group lead for the Mechanical and Industrial segment. The Trademarks practice group will continue to be led by Graham Hood, and Jean-Sébastien Dupont will continue as practice group lead for the IP Litigation and Legal group.

Principals Bhupinder Randhawa and Christian Bolduc will also co-lead a new Canadian Innovation initiative which will come into effect later this year.

IPH CEO Andrew Blattman also commented on the changes, noting, “I want to thank Matt Zischka for leading Smart & Biggar through a significant period of growth and change, and for his longstanding positive impact on Smart & Biggar’s clients and people. I’m pleased to welcome Stuart into this new role ”.

Smart & Biggar will continue to provide unparalleled excellence with a diverse set of practitioners who now benefit from best-in-class operational leadership, allowing them even greater focus exclusively on delivering exceptional client outcomes.