The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50802
in counterfeiting and the erosion of privilege in IP case law, and recently retired Supreme Court of Canada justice Michel Bastarache provided judicial insights into harmonizing related Canadian and foreign laws. The session wrapped up with a live- ly discussion billed as "IP practice in tough economic times," during which panellists discussed means to leverage any shift in their routine workloads to improve other areas of practice. Dimock suggests that intellec- tual property law has, due to glo- balization and information technol- ogy, grown in import to become an entrenched practice and therefore less vulnerable to market variables. "Ten years ago, we wondered if the Supreme Court of Canada would ever again hear an intellectual property appeal but now there seems to always be a case that's about to be heard or being heard," he says. "I would say it's probably one of the hottest areas of law." Such evolution renders the annual judges dinner particularly significant, he says, enabling lawyers of all levels to get to know judges on a more personal level which improves their rapport in the courts. Over the years the event has grown from a handful of senior lawyers and judges who socialized over a meal at a private club to a full day of discussion including a town-hall style meeting in the morning to address current issues and a continuing education pro- gram during the afternoon. At the dinner, judges and lawyers poised to retire are honoured for their profes- sional contributions and presented with a cartoon caricature depicting their work. "It's really done won- ders for the collegiality between the bench and the bar," says Dimock, who is also assisting with organizing the event. Susan Beaubien of Macera & Jarzyna LLP intellectual property boutique in Ottawa, is overseeing plans for the event in her capacity as chairwoman of the CBA's court practice committee. She agrees its significance has grown, perhaps even more so in the current economic climate based on lessons learned from the last downturn. "IP law is certainly becoming a more prominent area of specialty and the bar has grown considerably as our economy has become more focused on innova- tion and the protection of intellectual Intellectual Property discreet and professional investigations Surveillance discreet videotaping detailed reporting Investigations interviews - enquiries statements 10 Offices Located in Ontario A Partner in Investigations Canada www.king-reed.com Southwestern Ontario: (800) 253-1666 Central Toronto: (877) 695-6575 Eastern Ontario: (800) 670-0407 www. C ANADIAN Law ye rmag.com M ARCH 2009 47