Four new associates join Smart & Biggar in Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal
Smart & Biggar is pleased to welcome four associates, who were recently called to the bar after articling with the firm. These new lawyers have demonstrated outstanding graduate-level academic and professional achievements, in addition to their legal qualifications, and will add to the firm’s deep legal and technical expertise and the high calibre of our IP teams in Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal.
We look forward to their continued success at Smart & Biggar as they follow in the firm’s tradition of providing expert counsel to our clients across all areas of IP.
Walter Chan – Associate, Barrister & Solicitor, Ottawa
Walter’s practice focuses on patent prosecution, opinions and counseling in chemical, pharmaceutical and clean technology. His experience includes drafting and prosecuting patent applications, performing patentability and invalidity analyses, and assisting with patent litigation and regulatory compliance matters. Prior to joining Smart & Biggar, Walter obtained a Certificate in Transnational Law from the University of Geneva and a PhD from Stanford University.
Etienne Lacroix-Couillard – Associate, Barrister & Solicitor, Montreal
Etienne devotes his time and energy to the details of complex intellectual property issues. Etienne’s litigation practice focuses on copyright, patent and trademark protection. He regularly drafts written arguments and presentations of motions before the courts and engages with local, national and international clients. In 2020 he earned his Master of Law at the University of Montreal, where he also completed a certificate of Law in 2015 and a Bachelor of Law in 2018.
Emily Miller, Associate, Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
Emily’s practice spans both litigation and transactional matters involving patents, copyright and trademarks. She regularly drafts motions and written arguments before the courts, as well as materials pertaining to IP licensing and commercialization. An alumnus of the firm, Emily completed her Articles in the Ottawa office of before going on to serve as a Judicial Clerk for the Honourable Mary J.L. Gleason at the Federal Court of Appeal. Highly motivated and equally accomplished in her professional and academic career with graduate level degrees in Chemistry and Law, Emily has received numerous accolades for her academic work, including numerous scholarships for her scientific research as a master’s student and her for work during her legal studies.
Michal Zielinski – Associate, Barrister & Solicitor, Vancouver
Michal’s practice focuses on patent prosecution and providing clients with strategic advice on issues related to aviation, software, computers, manufacturing, construction, robotics, electrochemistry and metallurgy. His interdisciplinary technical background serves as a backbone to his understanding of a broad range of scientific and technological areas. With degrees in materials engineering and medical science, and up-to-date knowledge of new technologies and scientific discoveries, he is able to work with and advise on even the most complex and cutting-edge sciences – particularly those that are heavily dependent on an understanding of solution thermodynamics (e.g., cryobiology, oil and gas, polymer science).