Smart & Biggar’s leading IP litigators featured in Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2021
Smart & Biggar is delighted to share that eight of our leading IP litigators have been featured in the Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2021.
Lexpert published its Special Edition: Litigation online and in the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine, recognizing the expertise of Canada’s leading litigators as identified through Lexpert’s annual survey of thousands of respected lawyers, corporate counsel and other legal and business professionals.
We congratulate our partners Jean-Sébastien Dupont, Mark Evans, Steven Garland, François Guay, Sheldon Hamilton, Yoon Kang, Nancy Pei and senior associate Abigail Smith for their inclusion in this special edition, reflecting their outstanding achievements as recognized by their clients, peers and colleagues.
Also featured in the special edition’s coverage of Canada’s “Top 10 business decisions” is the notable victory achieved for our client Bell Canada in Bell Canada et al v L3D Distributing Inc., 2021 FC 832 as an “Honourable Mention”. The Federal Court’s judgment against three retailers of “pre-loaded” set-top boxes and unauthorized internet protocol television services awarded nearly $30 million to the plaintiffs in statutory and punitive damages for copyright infringement, in addition to declaratory and injunctive relief. This is the largest reported amount for damages in a Canadian copyright infringement case and a significant precedent in the fight against online piracy in Canada. Bell Canada was represented by Smart & Biggar partner François Guay, senior associate, Guillaume Lavoie Ste-Marie, and counsel Ryan T. Evans.
The full list of Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2021 is available to view online.
Canadas’ leaders in high-stakes intellectual property litigation
Smart & Biggar is the dominant force for intellectual property litigation in Canada. Our proven team is made up of highly capable trial and appellate counsel who routinely handle some of Canada’s most commercially important and technically complex intellectual property cases. On behalf of our clients, we have obtained numerous precedent-setting judgments and record-setting damages awards, in addition to victories at all levels of court, and in all areas of IP.
As a result, we have been chosen by Benchmark Litigation as Canada’s ‘IP Litigation Firm of the Year’ for seven consecutive years. Earlier in 2021, Benchmark also named our Ottawa managing partner Steven Garland as 'IP Litigation Lawyer of the Year' and listed him among the ‘Top 50 Trial Lawyers’ in Canada for the 2nd consecutive year.
Additionally, in the most recent release of The Legal 500 Canada, the firm was recognized as a ‘Tier 1’ firm for Intellectual Property, marking the eighth consecutive year Smart & Biggar has received this highest ranking. Special mention was given to leading litigator, Sheldon Hamilton, who is noted for his work with innovative pharmaceuticals clients, and who chairs the firm’s litigation practice nationally.
Smart & Biggar was also recently named as ‘Canada’s Best Law Firm’ for Intellectual Property by the Globe and Mail / Statista Research, and “IP Boutique Firm of the Year” by Managing Intellectual Property North America Awards.
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.