I am an Ontario lawyer, and a registered trade-mark agent with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. I assist clients with all aspects of intellectual property law, including copyright, IP licensing, rights clearing, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, Internet and domain name matters, IP portfolio management, and intellectual property related disputes. I have experience drafting a wide range of contracts and licenses, and I provide advice and representation in information technology, entertainment, and privacy matters.
I am a strong supporter of open source software, copyleft licensing of all kinds, and open hardware, and I love watching creative licensing change the world. As a way of giving a little back to the open source community, I am generally happy to provide free consultations to open hardware or software projects and organizations. If more than a consultation is required, I may be able to work with you at a rate you can afford. Please feel free to get in touch and tell me about your project.
Prior to attending law school, I worked as a computer programmer, web designer and technology consultant. My involvement in computing continues through a variety of personal projects, including some modest contributions to open source software development projects. Recently, I have developed an interest in microcontroller electronics, and have taught myself to build a variety of microcontroller-based musical instruments, synthesizers and sequencers. This background gives me an uncommon ability to understand and address the needs of tech clients on a fundamental level, and to translate technical issues into legal language.
I graduated from the law school at Queen’s University in 2006 and began my legal career with the Toronto office of Baker & McKenzie LLP, a leading international law firm. My work there focused on intellectual property matters, including international anti-counterfeiting work and trade-mark litigation. I also worked with the firm’s antitrust group, providing advice on competition issues. During my years with the firm, I gained exposure and experience across the spectrum of corporate, commercial and litigation practice areas, and worked on significant multinational transactions, contracts and disputes.
Since happily leaving Bay Street in 2011, I have enjoyed the freedom and flexibility of practising law as a sole practitioner with low overhead costs. As a result I am able to offer my services and expertise at rates that are significantly lower than other intellectual property lawyers with similar experience and skill set.
If you need legal input in connection with an interesting but underfunded charitable or community-oriented project, feel free to email or give me a call – if I find the work and your project to be interesting I may be able to help you at a rate that fits your budget.
I look forward to working with you.
Client Work
The majority of my work is in copyright and trademark strategy, management, licensing, domain name and internet issues, negotiations, and dispute resolution. I have experience handling large and small IP portfolios for clients in a variety of product and service markets, and have provided advice on intellectual property protection, creative licensing, anticounterfeiting, and enforcement in Canada and around the world.
While I am not a patent agent, and do not draft or prosecute patent applications, I can assist you with an initial look at whether your invention may be patentable and can recommend an appropriate patent agent with expertise in your technology area to prosecute your patent application. I have represented a variety of clients in patent licensing matters and patent related disputes.
Qualifications and Designations
J.D. – Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, 2006
Called to the Bar in Ontario, Canada in 2007 (Law Society of Upper Canada)
Canadian Intellectual Property Office Trade-mark Agent
Continuing Education
Completed Harvard Law School’s CopyrightX Course, 2014 (certificate)
12 week online course in copyright, with a focus on U.S. Law – taught by Prof. Terry Fisher.
Completed Case Western Reserve University’s Representing the Professional Athlete course, 2014 (certificate)
9 week online course on the legal and other issues facing sports agents and lawyers when advising professional athletes.
Completed Stanford University’s Surveillance Law course, 2014 (certificate)
6 week online course taught by Jonathan Mayer, on the current status of surveillance law in the United States.
Completed Lund University’s European Business Law course, 2015 (certificate)
10 week online course on constitutional and legal structures in the EU, and the primary areas of law relevant to conducting business with and within the EU.
