Québec

Firm overview

Smart & Biggar is widely recognized as Canada's leading firm for intellectual property law. With offices across Canada, and over 100 lawyers, patent agents and trademark agents, we are the largest firm focused purely on IP and related specialty areas.

We specialize in asserting and defending our clients' IP assets to maximize their return on investments and preserve competitive advantage. Intellectual property rights - from patents, industrial designs and trademarks, to trade secrets, confidential information and copyrights - are critical business assets that need to be aggressively protected and enforced. 

In high-stakes litigation, we know what it takes to win and we routinely handle Canada's most commercially important and technically complex intellectual property cases. Our lawyers possess a rare combination of successful trial and appellate experience combined with a deeply sophisticated understanding of technical subject matter and analytical expertise - resulting in victories at all levels. From start-up companies in emerging growth sectors to multinational corporations across a broad range of industries, we draw on our vast technical and legal experience to provide creative, effective and cost efficient enforcement and litigation strategies tailored to each client's unique situation and needs. 

Smart & Biggar has received Benchmark's Award as Canadian IP Litigation Firm of the Year for six consecutive years. Our Practice Group has vast experience and success in all areas of IP litigation, including: 

• Patent Litigation & Enforcement
• Pharmaceutical Litigation
• Trademark Litigation & Enforcement
• Trademark Oppositions & Cancellation Proceedings
• Industrial Design Litigation & Enforcement
• Copyright Litigation & Enforcement
• IP Crime & Anti-Counterfeiting

We know what it takes for our clients to win in high stakes IP litigation. 

Some of our representative recent victories include: 

Largest reported damages award in Canadian history for patent infringement at $645 million 

The Dow Chemical Company et al v Nova Chemicals Corporation 

Victory in the Federal Court providing relief and clarity for patent owners

Angelcare Development Inc. et al. v Munchkin, Inc.

Success in the Supreme Court of Canada - Abolishing the "Promise Doctrine" for patents 

AstraZeneca Canada Inc v Apotex Inc. 

Trial victory to protect Captain Morgan "trade dress" to block competitors and protect brand value 

Diageo Canada Inc v Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc. 

Unprecedented site-blocking order requiring Internet Service Providers to impede access to piracy services 

Bell Media Inc. et al v Goldtv.biz et al. 

Defended the Pampered Chef “PC Logo” in trademark infringement battle with Canada’s largest retailer 

Loblaws Inc v Columbia Insurance Company

Longstanding successful representation for Bauer Hockey in various trademark and patent infringement actions for over 25 years

Bauer Hockey Ltd v Sport Maska Inc dba Reebok-CCM Hockey

For over 100 years, we have remained devoted to protecting our clients' intellectual property and technology assets. Whether we are advising an innovative company on patent strategy or infringement issues, providing counsel on brand protection and enforcement, or handling the IP aspects of a corporate transaction, we provide clients with solutions to protect, enforce and leverage their IP. 

Smart & Biggar proudly operates as part of the IPH Limited group, under its own brand and independent from other IPH member firms.

Updated March 2023

Firm overview

CONSUMER LAW GROUP is a law firm with offices in Montreal and Ottawa, Canada.

We are actively engaged in complex litigation, emphasizing consumer protection, antitrust, drugs and product liability class actions.

Consumer Law Group’s experience and capabilities in these fields are based upon the talents of its attorneys, who are involved in numerous class action lawsuits.

We have worked in collaboration with several class action firms across Canada and the United States in files with a national and international scope.

Consumer Law Group is committed to practicing law with integrity and in an ethical and professional manner. We also strive to be good corporate citizens and to work with a sense of global responsibility.

Last updated April 2020.

Firm overview

Founded in February 2015, Renno Vathilakis Inc. has quickly become one of Montreal’s premier corporate and commercial litigation boutiques. Practising in the fields of corporate litigation and shareholder disputes, class actions, franchise and distribution litigation, commercial arbitration, bankruptcy and insolvency, competition law, family law, constitutional law, privacy law, defamation and freedom of expression, employment law, construction law and securities law litigation, Renno Vathilakis Inc. provides its clients with top flight representation.

Both of the firm’s co-founders have a consistent and impressive track record litigating and resolving corporate and commercial disputes.

Karim Renno was previously a partner in the Montreal litigation department of renown Canadian firm Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, as well as a partner in the highly regarded Montreal litigation boutique of Irving Mitchell Kalichman LLP. Through his fifteen years of litigation experience, he has amassed a number of accolades. Since 2013, he has been ranked as a Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation and was cited as an Up and Coming litigator in the 2014 and 2015 editions of Chambers Global. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers Canada as a leading practitioner for corporate/commercial litigation in Québec since 2015. In 2013, Karim was awarded by the Client Choice awards as the top litigator in the province of Québec for client service. Finally, Karim has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of Canada’s top 50 trial lawyers since 2015. He is also the founder and editor in chief of the ‘’ À bon droit’’ blog and contributes hundreds of case commentaries every year. In fact, his blog was named best practitioner legal blog in Canada for 2012 by the Canadian Law Blog Awards and was a finalist for Best Canadian Law Blog at the same awards in 2013 and 2014. He is a regular contributor to well-known law blogs such as Canlii Connects, Droit Inc. and Edilex. Moreover, Karim has published numerous articles relating to corporate law, commercial law, evidence and civil procedure.

He has amassed a vast experience and enjoys an excellent reputation with regard to private international law matters and injunctions, having argued before the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions in cases involving such issues. Moreover, Karim has represented some of the most important companies before all levels of Québec courts. Karim has acted as lead counsel in several high profile cases related to the telecommunications, credit card, pharmaceutical, construction, tobacco, software, real estate, airline and transportation industries.

Co-founder Michael Vathilakis has an equally impressive track record. After working for two national law firms, Michael was tapped to lead the in-house team of Future Electronics Inc., one of the world’s largest electronic components distributors. He soon rose to the position of General Counsel, Vice-President Legal Affairs of the company. From that position, he spearheaded and oversaw numerous high profile commercial court trials and arbitrations, as well as a number of significant business transactions. He returned to private practice to found Renno Vathilakis Inc. His practice focuses on dispute prevention, commercial litigation and family law. In fact, Michael is recognized by Best Lawyers Canada (2020) as leading practitioner in Family Law. Michael has acted before all levels of Québec courts as lead counsel in significant cases related to, amongst others, technology, electronic component distribution and real estate industries. A member of the Law Society of Upper Canada - as well as the QUÉBEC Bar - Michael has represented clients in international arbitrations both in Canada and abroad. He has also acted in various employment cases and is presently one of the lead counsel in a number of significant class actions.

Michael holds a master’s degree in law from Harvard University (LL.M.) and has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a Litigation Star from 2016.

Michael lectures to law students on a frequest basis - with respect to international commercial arbitration and class actions - at Harvard Law School, Stanford, McGill Law School and the University of Montreal.

The founding partners are supported by a highly skilled and growing team. The young firm currently consists of six lawyers, two articling students and several summer students - with a view of further growth in the coming years.

Renno Vathilakis Inc. is dedicated to providing its clients with top notch dispute resolution services and to finding creative solutions to complex problems.

Updated April 2023

Firm overview

Torys LLP is an international business law firm that works with clients who expect the best advice and exceptional service. Torys’ dedication to excellence across practice areas and industries has resulted in an enviable record of experience in Canada and globally. Teamwork is one of the firm’s distinguishing features, reflected in all aspects of how the firm partners with clients and collaborates internally. Long-standing clients continue to retain Torys not only for its excellent service and legal expertise but also because of a shared value for lasting partnerships based on trust and respect. The firm serves clients across Canada and globally from offices in Toronto, New York, Calgary, Montréal and its Legal Services Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Torys’ nationwide disputes practice includes some of the most sophisticated litigators in the country. Bet-the-company commercial claims, reputationally critical class actions, complex arbitrations—we have a decades-long track record of high-profile domestic and international experience. Above all, we are skilled advocates: litigators who understand our clients’ business and are true partners vested in their success, inside and outside the courtroom. Beyond commercial matters, our experience extends to securities litigation, product liability disputes, significant antitrust issues and patent infringements, among others.

We tap the broader firm’s wealth of corporate, compliance and regulatory knowledge to benefit our clients' goals, both in the context of a dispute and to mitigate long-term risk and resolve their most challenging matters.

Areas of Service

• Appellate
• Arbitration
• Class Actions
• Commercial Litigation
• Competition Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Employment and Pensions Litigation
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Privacy
• Product Liability Litigation
• Public Law
• Securities Litigation
• Tax Controversy and Litigation
• Trade and Investment Disputes
• White Collar Defence and Investigations

Updated April 2023