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.

Firm News

Smart & Biggar celebrates four newly qualified Canadian patent agents in 2024

January 26, 2024

We are pleased to share that Robert Baker, Adam Lakusta, Nancy Pierre and Skylar Yoo recently passed the patent agent qualifying exam to be registered to practice as Patent Agents in Canada.

Each year, several of our associates and technical consultants work towards completing the qualifying examinations to become Patent agents and Trademark agents in Canada. Smart & Biggar is committed to supporting them in their professional development and offers hands-on learning opportunities and in-house training to support them in preparation for writing these challenging exams.

Congratulations to Robert, Adam, Nancy and Skylar! We are proud of your hard work and dedication towards this milestone achievement and wish you every success in this next chapter of your career at Smart & Biggar.

About the Practitioners

Robert Baker, Associate

Robert holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering. He is also a lawyer. His practice in patent law focuses on consumer electronics, software and the manufacturing/mechanical technologies. He also provides litigation support, and contractual advice. Read Robert’s full bio in the Related People section below.

Adam Lakusta, Associate

Prior to becoming a lawyer Adam received an undergraduate degree in biology and biotechnology and a masters degree in biochemistry. Adam’s practice focuses on patent drafting and prosecution in the chemical and biotechnology sectors. Read Adam’s full bio in the Related People section below.

Nancy Pierre, Technical Consultant

Nancy holds a mechanical engineering degree. Working in our electronics and computer group, Nancy’s practice involves patent drafting and prosecution for a variety of consumer, automotive and industrial technologies. Read Nancy’s full bio in the Related People section below.

Skylar Yoo, Associate

Skylar obtained an undergraduate degree in nanotechnology engineering. A practicing lawyer, she focuses on biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy, industrial automation, microelectronics and environmental science patent matters. Read Skylar’s full bio in the Related People section below.

About the Canadian Patent Agent Exams

The Canadian Patent Agent Qualifying Exams are administered by the College of Patent & Trademark Agents (CPATA).

Practitioners must complete a 24-month training period and successfully complete the Qualifying Examination as a requirement for registration as a Patent Agent.

More information is available online at CPATA’s website.

About Smart & Biggar

Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada’s leading intellectual property firm, with offices in Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. We are leaders in intellectual property and have been serving clients for over a century. Smart & Biggar operates as part of the IPH Limited Group, under its own brand and independent from other IPH member firms.

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