Clarity on brand risks and opportunities
By integrating a focused trademark strategy with your overall business goals, our highly specialized lawyers fully harness your brand’s strength and economic potential.
Choosing and clearing a new brand can involve considerable commercial risk, and requires careful planning and a thorough review of the market to avoid costly mistakes.
At Smart & Biggar, our expert lawyers work with clients to help them identify and adopt strong, distinctive and protectable marks from the outset, together with the ongoing support, services and advice needed to build their brands domestically and internationally.
From conducting thorough brand portfolio audits and assessments, to analysis and consideration of the competitive landscape, we counsel clients on the strengths and weaknesses of their trademark rights to develop commercially-focused brand management strategies.
Our clients benefit from sophisticated and tailored trademark searching and monitoring programs combined with our deep experience in successfully clearing more than 1,000 domestic and international brands every year. Backed by our unmatched expertise in trademark litigation, we provide clients with a practical understanding of the real-world risks and consequences in creating and adopting a new mark.
We also work with clients to develop internal brand management systems, and to provide business-directed internal training programs as part of a comprehensive, long-term brand strategy.
Key Contacts
Unparalleled Expertise in Trademark Counselling, Clearance & Strategy
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WTR
12 leading trademark practitioners
2021World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
WTR
Gold Band Firm
2011-2021World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
WTR
Four partners named as Global Leaders
2019 & 2020World Trademark Review -
MIP
Tier One Firm for Trademark Law
2014-2020IP Stars Handbook: Trademark & Copyright -
WTR
11 leading trademark practitioners
2020World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
MIP
Eight IP Stars in Trademark Law
2019IP Stars Handbook: Trademark & Copyright -
WTR
Six leading trademark practitioners
2019World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals -
Who's Who Legal
Four leading trademark practitioners
2019Who's Who Legal: Trademarks -
Who's Who Legal
17 leading IP experts
2019Who's Who Legal: Canada -
Euromoney LMG
Eight leading trademark experts
2016-2018Expert Guides: Trade Mark
Related Publications & Articles
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Consider Canada: Why you should designate Canada – and a Canadian agent – in your next Madrid application
A little over a year has passed since Canada overhauled its trademark legislation and acceded to the Madrid Protocol, making it easier than ever to protect trademark rights in Canada.Read More -
Global brand expansion: Why Canadian trademark owners should consider whether international registration is right for them
Until last year, most Canadian brand owners doing business abroad had limited options for protecting their trademarks outside of Canada.Read More -
You’ve received a “cease and desist” letter – now what?
This is the sort of letter that no one wants to receive: one containing the words “cease and desist”. Whether it arrives by post, email or someone showing up at your door with a personal delivery, a c...Read More -
Yes, CIPO really will be writing to your client instead of to you
If you filed a Madrid application on behalf of your client, and designated Canada, you should have received a “Courtesy Letter” from the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).Read More -
A long and winding road: Canada nears the end of an ambitious project to modernize patent, trademark and industrial design laws
On July 30, 2019, Canada acceded to the Patent Law Treaty. This accession marks the near completion of a long and ambitious journey by Canada to modernize its patent, trademark and industrial design l...Read More -
It’s the final countdown: Top 10 changes to Canada’s trademark law in 2019
After five years of anticipation, sweeping changes to Canada’s trademark law will finally come into force on June 17, 2019.Read More -
ACT NOW: Follow this ‘TO DO’ list to save money on Canadian trademarks before June 17th
By now you have probably heard that Canada’s trademark regime is changing, bringing about dramatic amendments to our law, regulations and practice.Read More -
The date is set: June 17, 2019 — Canada’s New Trademark Law will be in Force
After years of uncertainty, a date has been finally been set for the implementation of Canada’s new trademark law. The new law will come into force on June 17, 2019.Read More
Related News & Media
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Smart & Biggar again earns highest ranking with 12 lawyers honoured for “success across the brand spectrum” in the 2021 edition WTR 1000
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share our acclaim in the most recent release of the World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR 1000) – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals.Read More -
Nora Labbancz presented with Education Foundation Award at IPIC 2020 Virtual conference
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share that Ottawa associate Nora Labbancz has received the IPIC Education Foundation Award in recognition of earning the highest overall mark in the 2019 Canadian Trademar...Read More -
Smart & Biggar partners hailed as “highly experienced,” “highly respected”, “skilled” and “one of the strongest trademarks experts” by Who’s Who Legal: Trademarks 2020
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share that three partners are listed in the Who’s Who Legal: Trademarks 2020 guide as being among the world’s leading lawyers in trademarks.Read More -
Eight Smart & Biggar lawyers listed in Trademarks Expert Guides 2020 edition
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share the inclusion of eight of the firm’s lawyers in Legal Media Group’s (LMG) Trademarks Expert Guides 2020 edition.Read More -
Mark Evans named Canada’s “Outstanding Practitioner of the Year: Trademarks” by Managing Intellectual Property
Smart & Biggar is proud to announce Mark Evans, Toronto managing partner, was named Canada’s “Outstanding Practitioner of the Year: Trademarks” by Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) as part of the 2...Read More -
5 Smart & Biggar associates have qualified to become Canadian trademark agents
Smart & Biggar is pleased to congratulate four associates — Tierney GB Deluzio in Toronto, Elodie Dion and Olivier Jean-Lévesque in Montreal, and Nora Labbancz in Ottawa — who wrote and passed the Tra...Read More -
Smart & Biggar, “the leading IP boutique in the trademarks space,” ranks as Gold Tier for Canadian trademarks in WTR 1000
Smart & Biggar comes out on top with a ‘gold tier’ ranking for Canadian trademarks in the 2020 World Trademark Review 1000 (WTR 1000) – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals.Read More -
14 Smart & Biggar practitioners recognized in the 2020 edition of WIPR Leaders
Smart & Biggar is pleased to share that fourteen of the firm’s lawyers and agents have been recognized in the 2020 World IP Review (WIPR) Leaders, a comprehensive guide to the top intellectual propert...Read More