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.

Rankings & Recognition

Smart & Biggar once again tops Chambers Global Intellectual Property rankings

February 15, 2019

Smart & Biggar today announced it has been recognized as a Band 1 Intellectual Property law firm in the 2019 edition of Chambers Global – The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Smart & Biggar is among a very small group of firms accorded this prestigious Band 1 ranking, maintaining its leading market position in Canada.

Clients and peers describe Canadian IP firm Smart & Biggar as “highly distinguished” with “a deep bench of practitioners”, providing a “high level of service when guiding [clients] through complex multiparty litigation.” In addition, the team receives acclaim for its ability to "suggest innovative approaches" while "taking into consideration global factors."

Chambers Global recognizes excellence at both the firm and individual lawyer level, and includes Smart & Biggar partners in its lawyer rankings:

Mark Evans (Intellectual Property) Recognized as acting for “some of the most recognisable household names in Canada” and “is highly experienced in trademark protection and management, and has assisted high-profile clients with a range of contentious and non-contentious issues.”
Gunars Gaikis (Intellectual Property Litigation)Regarded as "a great pharmaceuticals litigator" who has "handled some impressive matters," and “recent highlights from his practice include assisting with a high-profile appeal with significant implications for patent protection in Canada.”
Steven Garland (Intellectual Property Litigation): Recognized for his “long-standing experience“ and his “range of expertise covers patent, trademark and copyright disputes in addition to trade secret and competition cases.” Other practitioners enthuse: "He's really hitting his stride. I think highly of him."
Francois Guay (Intellectual Property Litigation): Described as having a “vast array of experience in litigation involving the full spectrum of patents, trademarks and copyright,” and is a "compelling advocate" who is "very adept at litigation" and "achieves strong results in the courtroom."

Smart & Biggar is Canada's largest firm practising exclusively in intellectual property and technology law, with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. As leaders in intellectual property and technology law Smart & Biggar has been serving clients for over a century.

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