Canadian Lawyer

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 8 33 listed alphabetically Also in the trademark space, John Simpson at Shift Law — which landed on the top 10 for the first time this survey — is seeing "very local types of businesses that haven't been tradition- ally as concerned about getting national protection for their brands have been increasingly concerned with protecting their brands." He chalks this up to the fact that someone across the country with anoth- er localized business could go register their brand and tell the other business they have to change their name because they've got a trademark registration for it — and they found out because of their internet presence. It becomes more of an issue with more businesses setting up websites, he says. Simpson also notes he's finding "an increasing rush by businesses in the micro-brewery and cannabis industries to jump on great brands." "We're seeing a real increase in trade- mark applications from those industries and a corresponding increase in disputes between players in those industries — trademark oppositions and even some infringement action. That's a reflection of where there is new economic activity." Sotiriadis says his firm has "made a huge effort to become the go-to firm for cannabis-related issues." One of his colleagues has made it a priority to be everywhere the cannabis industry is meeting and has handled a couple of patent matters for cannabis clients, Sotiriadis says. "We're getting consulted by general practice firms from other provinces, American lawyers, we have some smaller transactional files we've opened, we have some regulatory files, some patent files — things like extraction and processes and things like that — right across the spectrum of intellectual property. It's very promising for us — we're off on the right foot." For Kosa, his business is interesting because the firm not only does intel- lectual property but also technology law and he says the technology law section "is, for us, booming." Because of the complexity and breadth of emergent technologies, now more than ever before people need more specialized advice in addressing particu- lar technologies, he notes. "We're getting asked to opine on things like how should we incorporate new block chain technologies into our contracts? How should we use artificial intelligence in our law practice or our clients' practice? All these really interest- ing questions that revolve around brand new technologies," he says. Kosa says technologies are driving a lot of legal work and he thinks "there's a lot of room in that space for agile prac- titioners — smaller practitioners and boutique firms." Change is always good for lawyers, including intellectual property lawyers, Simpson says. "I think increasingly clients are becoming aware that some of the small- er firms, in my case very small firms, provide the same quality of service as some of the more traditional larger firms," he says. "It's a good time for boutiques." TOP 10 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BOUTIQUES Aitken Klee LLP Toronto, Ottawa aitkenklee.com Aitken Klee LLP was established in 2013 when David Aitken and Marcus Klee left a large law firm in Ottawa to set up their own IP litigation boutique, following their victory in the 2012 Supreme Court of Canada decision holding the patent for Viagra invalid. The firm expanded to Toronto in 2014 with the addition of IP litigators Jonathan Stainsby, Bill Mayo and Lesley Cas- well. Since its inception, Aitken Klee LLP has received a number of awards and nominations. Aitken Klee LLP have experi- enced IP litigation counsel with many precedent setting decisions at all levels of court. "They have consistently succeeded in registering patents and trademarks and are excellent in maintaining close follow up, especially on renewals." "Excellent work at a reasonable price. Aitken Klee has delivered a remarkable success rate for its clients." "Great lawyers, depth of knowledge, client oriented."

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