Canada’s Intellectual Property Firm

Rankings & Recognition

Smart & Biggar leads the Canadian patent rankings with 23 lawyers and agents listed in IAM Patent 1000

Smart & Biggar is pleased to announce our continued standing as a ‘gold tier' firm in Canada for patent prosecution and litigation, in the 2022 IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals guide, and also as a ‘recommended’ firm for patent transactions.

IAM’s coverage recognizes Smart & Biggar as a firm with “an abundance of expertise in all things patents and in intellectual property more generally…[and that] offers the full range of services, whether that be devising smart protection strategies to fierce representation in disputes, and robust support on fruitful licensing deals.”

“Of all the IP boutiques on the market, Smart & Biggar has the most comprehensive approach to intellectual property.”

We are also proud to announce that 23 of our patent lawyers and agents are featured in the guide across patent litigation, prosecution and transactions, more than any firm, as recommended individuals leading the field for patents in Canada.

Leaders in Canadian Patent Prosecution

When reviewing Smart & Biggar’s prosecution practice, IAM researchers describe our leading team of patent agents and lawyers as “serving a primary global prosecution role for patrons, bringing numerous skilled and creative specialists onto the field” and as a team that “understands the legal and commercial obstacles that in-house counsel face, and employs all the tools in its toolkit to mitigate them.”

Electronic, Computer and Software Technology

The Smart & Biggar patent team “brings value to their clients’ inventions through well-calibrated portfolio management and technological knowledge, as well as by converting their own experiences into holistic and strategic support.”

  • Allan Brett 
  • John Knox
  • Brigide Mattar 
  • Elliott Simcoe 
  • Matthew Zischka
    “Managing partner Matthew Zischka is on speed dial for prominent software and electronic rights holders”

Life Sciences, Chemical and Biotechnology 

Smart & Biggar “thrive(s) in the life sciences” offering clients "deep trust" and "strengthening global market positions with vast expertise in Canada and knowledge of foreign territories".

  • Daphne Lainson
    “Lainson is the practice co-chair and a repository of trust for her patrons.”
  • Lei Liu
    “Lei is really appreciated for his responsiveness and availability to answer questions, as well as his expertise in biotech inventions.”
  • Mark Pidkowich
    “Pidkowich strengthens his patrons’ global market positions thanks to his vast insight into foreign territories."
  • David Schwartz
    “David is a fantastic lawyer to have by your side. He is extremely knowledgeable and can always be counted on for his vast expertise.”

Patent Litigation and Enforcement 

IAM describes Smart & Biggar’s patent litigation practice as “a constellation of stars,” with key litigators “all shining brightly” with a strong track record of victories in intellectual property litigation.

  • Jean-Sébastien Dupont
    “An excellent and worthy opponent” with a reputation as a “welcoming partner even when he is working against you.”
  • Ryan Evans
    “Evans successfully reduced Arctic Cat’s liability by tens of millions of dollars in a patent infringement case.”
  • Gunars Gaikis
    “Dispenses sage counsel to patrons in the life sciences.”
  • Steven Garland
    “One of the top litigators in the country” and described as “simply incredible.”
  • François Guay
    Offers counsel that is “sound and practical" and "expertly navigates complex situations.”
  • Sheldon Hamilton
    “practice leader Hamilton advis[es] the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies with respect to its Canadian IP interests."
  • Yoon Kang
    “Kang has been defending a well-known Swiss healthcare company under the new PM(NOC) Regulations.”
  • Evan Nuttall
    “[Nuttall's] strategic approach ensures that he finds straightforward solutions to complex problems for leading players in the energy and oil and gas sectors.”
  • Nancy Pei
    “Pei supports [foreign] biopharmaceutical company[ies] in navigating the Canadian patent regulatory landscape.”
  • Jeremy Want
    “Jeremy shines brightly in infringement, impeachment and non-infringement cases.” 

Patent Advisory and IP Transactions

IAM also celebrates Smart & Biggar’s transactions team who “share a passion for commercialization” and regularly represents a wide range of leading Canadian and multinational companies with their IP transactions.

  • Stephan Georgiev and Sanjay Goorachurn
    “Advise [some of] the world’s leading companies with their IP transactions, including a third-party IP acquisition(s).”
  • Alistair Simpson
    “Represents a wide range of leading Canadian and multinational companies in the industrial, high-tech, and oil and gas sector.”
  • Theodore Sum
    “Marries creativity with precision to effectively guide his clientele through technology transfers, M&A deals and joint ventures.”

About IAM Patent 1000

Individuals named on the IAM Patent 1000 list are identified as the top patent professionals in key jurisdictions around the world. IAM 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals guide is compiled over five months and 1,800 interviews. Only those individuals identified by market sources for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights into patent matters feature in the IAM Patent 1000.

View the full 2022 IAM Patent 1000 rankings for Canada.

About Smart & Biggar

Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada’s leading firm for intellectual property law, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver and Calgary. We are leaders in intellectual property and technology law and have been serving clients for over a century.