Top 10 intellectual property boutiques Ridout & Maybee LLP (Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Ont.)
This firm of 38 professionals boasts some of the most recognizable names in the IP bar, including its co-founder James Maybee, who acted as the first president of the Patent and Trademark Institute of Canada, now known as the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. Another partner at the firm, Janet Fuhrer, just completed her own term as president of IPIC, making her the sixth partner at the firm to helm the organization. Notable clients include Ford, RIM, and Canon Inc. "I feel very comfortable passing off any issues I have to them," says one Bay Streeter.
Robic LLP (Montreal, Quebec City)
The firm traces its history back to 1892 and the creation of patent agency Marion & Marion by two brothers who were also engineers. Author, teacher, and inven- tor Raymond Robic came on board in 1917, driving the Montreal firm's growth into one of Canada's most repu- table IP boutiques. The Robic name made its way onto the firm's letterhead in 1932, and never left. In 1970, the law firm Leger Robic Richard was formed, and now the fully integrated firm's more than 40 professionals are split evenly between lawyers and patent agents. In May 2011, the firm branched out with a new office in Quebec City, and it keeps an eye on the interests of key players in the cosmetics, luxury goods, petro-chemical, entertain- ment, and food-and-retail sectors. A highlight was its representation of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin at the Supreme Court in a key 2006 trademark battle.
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www.ridoutmaybee.com
www.robic.ca
