Intellectual Property
- Overview
- Who To Contact
- Representative Matters
- Recent Developments
Aird & McBurney LP is a leading Canadian intellectual property boutique firm with an internationally renowned reputation. Aird & McBurney works in union with Aird & Berlis to secure Canadian and worldwide protection and provide IP rights enforcement. Our clients benefit from the integration of agency and legal services within a single, full-service legal organization.
Who We Help
We represent Fortune 100 companies in the life sciences, food and beverage, entertainment, media, sports and communications, energy and mining sectors, in addition to the electrical, mechanical, biomedical, computer engineering and software development industries. Our clients also include individuals, startups, universities, hospitals and research institutions.
Members of our IP team are involved in many industry organizations, including:
- Advocates’ Society
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
- Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
- Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences (CSPS)
- Canadian Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CSPT)
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)
- International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI)
- International Trademark Association (INTA)
- Licensing Executives Society (LES)
- Life Sciences Ontario (LSO)
- Toronto Intellectual Property Group (TIPG)
Our Clients
Our clients’ interests span a wide range of industries, including fast-moving consumer goods, IT, telecoms, financial services, electronics, materials, manufacturing, life sciences, medtech, pharmaceuticals, media and aviation.
- Startups & Scale-ups
- Overseas attorney firms
- Fortune 100 companies
- Universities & TTOs
- Venture Capitalists
- Solo inventors
- Hospitals
- Research Institutions
Our Services
Our technical depth allows us to offer unparalleled services in:
- Preparing patent applications
- Patent filing and prosecution in Canada and worldwide
- Prior art searching
- Patentability, infringement and validity opinions
- Preparing licences, assignments, security interests
- Performing patent audits
- Devising patent strategies and portfolio management
- Due diligence in commercial transactions
Contacts
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Kazim helps clients succeed by providing thoughtful guidance on how to protect and leverage their intellectual property.
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Lola is a registered patent agent in Canada and the Unites States, with a PhD in clinical biochemistry from the University of Toronto.
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Erica’s aptitude for grasping the technicalities of emerging innovations helps her draft strong patent applications for her clients, strategical...
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Kimberly thrives on the challenge of figuring out how best to claim, strengthen and protect her clients’ inventions in order to create a strateg...
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Jay is a registered patent agent in Canada and the United States, with extensive experience in mechanical, electromechanical and software-related tech...
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Tony represents clients in a variety of high-technology industries, and has extensive patent prosecution experience in the fields of software, hardwar...
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With an extensive science background and industry experience at a multinational pharmaceutical company, Kitt has established himself as a leading pate...
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Peter is an intellectual property lawyer and a registered patent agent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the United States Trademark ...
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Grant is focused on determining the most effective solutions to clients' business, licensing and intellectual property issues.
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Ken is driven to help his clients resolve their problems, particularly the ones for which it seems there is no answer.
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Tim Lowman is head of the firm's Intellectual Property Group. Clients and colleagues consistently recommend him for his ability to achieve results in ...
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Joanna is an intellectual property lawyer who enjoys developing and nurturing relationships with clients and colleagues alike.
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Kaitlin is an intellectual property lawyer who enjoys collaborating with clients to develop effective IP strategies.
Group Members
Representative Matters
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CIPO Rules in Favour of The Niagara Herbalist in Trademark Dispute
On February 5, 2024, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office ruled in favour of The Niagara Herbalist Ltd. in trademark dispute Nova Cannabis Stores Limited Partnership v. The Niagara Herbalist Ltd.... -
Investor Group Announces Formation of North American Professional Women’s Hockey League
On June 30, 2023, the Mark Walter Group and Billie Jean King Enterprises (the “Investor Group”) announced that a single viable professional women’s hockey league in North America, featuring the best w... -
Pollitt & Company Inc. Leads Brokered Private Placement for Playgon Games Inc.
On May 3, 2023, Playgon Games Inc. (TSXV:DEAL), a proprietary SaaS technology company that delivers mobile, live-dealer technology to online gaming operators globally, closed a brokered private placem... -
Zoeller Company Acquires the Burke Group
Aird & Berlis successfully represented Zoeller Company in the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of the Burke Group. -
Voltage Pictures Successful in Court of Appeal Decision
The Federal Court of Appeal released its decision regarding Voltage Pictures’, a movie production company, certification of a reverse class action for pursuing copyright infringement claims. -
Federal Court of Appeal Affirms Use of Reverse Class Actions For Copyright Infringement Claims
On September 8, 2021, the Federal Court of Appeal released its decision in Salna v. Voltage Pictures, LLC, 2021 FCA 176 regarding certification of a reverse class action (i.e. where there is a class o... -
Putman Investments Acquires Toys “R” Us Canada
On August 19, 2021, Putman Investments Inc., a Canadian-based, family-owned enterprise, announced its acquisition of Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Canada from Fairfax Financial... -
City Water Successfully Defeats Opposition to VIRGIN WATER Trade-Mark
City Water International Inc. was successful in defeating an opposition to its application for the registration of the VIRGIN WATER trade-mark in Canada. -
Hand Sanitizer Patent Lawsuit Gets Green Light
A Master of the Ontario Superior Court has ruled that Francisco Munoz, a chemical engineer whose name appears on the patent as the inventor of foaming alcohol hand sanitizer, can sue Deb Group, the mu...
Recent Developments
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Firm News
Aird & Berlis Recognized in Chambers Canada 2025
Aird & Berlis is pleased to announce its inclusion in the 2025 edition of the Chambers Canada Legal Guide. The firm was recognized as a leader across 12 different practice areas. 34 of the firm’s lawy... -
Firm News
Aird & Berlis Welcomes New Partners John Munnis and Andrea Kroetch
We are pleased to welcome John Munnis and Andrea Kroetch as new partners of the firm. -
News Item
112 Aird & Berlis Lawyers Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025
Aird & Berlis is proud to announce that 112 members of the firm were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada. We are also pleased to share that an addit... -
Firm News
Aird & Berlis Partners Recognized as 2024 IP STARS
We are proud to share that three of our intellectual property lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 edition of IP STARS, Managing Intellectual Property’s guide to the world's leading IP firms and p... -
TheSpotlight
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses Trademark for ‘Trump Too Small’
This article discusses the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to deny a trademark application for "Trump too small," affirming that trademarks cannot use names of living individuals without their consent. -
Firm News
Aird & Berlis Welcomes New Partner Ryan Evans
We are pleased to announce that Ryan Evans has joined the firm as a partner and member of our Intellectual Property and Litigation & Dispute Resolution Groups. -
TheSpotlight
Patent Term Adjustment Is Coming to Canada but Very Few Patents Will Qualify
This article summarizes the upcoming implementation of a patent term adjustment (PTA) framework in Canada to comply with CUSMA, noting that very few patents will qualify due to strict eligibility crit... -
Firm News
Aird & Berlis | Aird & McBurney Recognized in 2024 Edition of IAM Patent 1000
Aird & Berlis and Aird & McBurney are proud to be recognized in the Canada section of the 13th edition of IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. IAM's rankings identify top patent ... -
TheSpotlight
Federal Court Allows Sharing Access to Copyrighted Services
At issue was whether Parks Canada infringed copyright or violated technological protection measures laws by sharing a password to a subscription news website where the articles were behind a paywall. -
Firm News
Aird & Berlis Recognized in 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory has recognized 62 partners at the firm as leading lawyers across 37 different practice areas. Aird & Berlis was also recognized at the firm level across 16 differe... -
Firm News
Jonathan Adams Has Success With Patent Agent Examinations
Aird & McBurney LP and Aird & Berlis LLP are very pleased to announce that Jonathan Adams has successfully passed the Canadian Patent Agent Examinations and will become a qualified Canadian Patent Age... -
TheSpotlight
Use It or Lose It: Summary Trademark Expungement in Canada
The Federal Court’s recent judgment in Centric Brands Holdings LLC v. Stikeman Elliott LLP, 2024 FC 204 has clarified that an intention to use a trademark at a future date is not a special circumstanc... -
Firm News
Aird & Berlis Trademark Practice and Practitioners Recognized in 2024 WTR 1000
Aird & Berlis is proud to be recognized in the 2024 edition of World Trademark Review 1000: The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals at both the firm and individual levels. -
TheSpotlight
Too Byosimilar? Federal Court Finds Trademark for BYOOVIZ Infringes BEOVU
Despite being different drugs with different active ingredients, the Federal Court of Canada recently held that BYOOVIZ was confusing with BEOVU in part because they treat the same condition (a form o... -
TheSpotlight
Abuse of Process: Federal Court of Appeal Clarifies Application in PM(NOC) Proceedings
In the recent decision of Janssen Inc. v. Apotex Inc., the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal declared a subsequent action brought under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations to be a... -
TheSpotlight
The Mountains Are Calling – Rare Interlocutory Injunction in Outdoor Apparel Trademark Dispute
Canadian-based Arc’teryx obtained a rare interlocutory injunction against Adidas Canada from using its TERREX mark on a retail store in Vancouver.