Heer Law

Intellectual Property; Patent Prosecution; Patent Litigation; Trademark Prosecution and Litigation; Copyright; Industrial Designs; Trade Secrets and Confidential Information; Intellectual Property Transactions; Information Technology

Christopher Heer is the founder of Heer Law and an intellectual property lawyer, Canadian and U.S. patent agent, and Canadian trademark agent. He is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Intellectual Property Law (Patent).

Christopher practises across intellectual property law, with particular emphasis on patent drafting and prosecution, intellectual property litigation, and matters involving software and other computer-related technologies. His computer-engineering background enables him to work directly with inventors, engineers and business leaders on technically complex innovations, including artificial intelligence, software, computer hardware, electronics, fintech and blockchain technologies.

He has prepared and prosecuted patent applications covering computer-related, electrical, mechanical, chemical and biotechnological inventions. In addition to obtaining Canadian and U.S. patent rights, Christopher coordinates international patent portfolios through foreign counsel in Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and other jurisdictions. He also advises on patentability, freedom to operate, infringement and validity, intellectual property due diligence, licensing and commercialization.

Christopher acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in patent disputes. His litigation experience includes technologies such as wireless communications, robotics, oil and gas equipment, temporary road systems, pharmaceuticals, computer software and semiconductors. In a multimillion-dollar patent action concerning oil and gas technology, admissions he obtained during cross-examination contributed to summary judgment dismissing the claim against his clients.

His broader practice includes trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement, trade secret disputes, software-related contractual matters, industrial design protection, trademark oppositions and expungement proceedings, and the negotiated resolution of intellectual property disputes.

Christopher is recognized by IAM Patent 1000 for patent prosecution, by IP STARS as a Patent Star, by World Trademark Review 1000 for trademark enforcement and litigation, and by IAM Strategy 300 as a leading intellectual property strategist.

Christopher founded Heer Law in 2014 after practising for ten years with Bennett Jones LLP and specialist intellectual property firm Dimock Stratton LLP.

He has written on patent law and intellectual property litigation for professional publications. He was a co-author of the Patents chapter of Canadian Forms & Precedents – Information Technology & Entertainment and contributed a chapter concerning directions to attend to Intellectual Property Litigation – Forms and Precedents. His articles have appeared in the Intellectual Property Journal, the Canadian Intellectual Property Review and the Federated Press Intellectual Property Newsletter.

Christopher has presented on intellectual property issues and has lectured as a guest speaker on patent law and data protection in the Intellectual Property Law course offered through Osgoode Hall Law School’s Health Law LLM program. For several years, he also prepared quarterly intellectual property case summaries for the Canadian Bar Association.

English

• Law Society of Ontario

• Intellectual Property Institute of Canada

• Public Awareness Committee, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada

• Sole and Small Practice Community Committee, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada

• Past Chair, Toronto Intellectual Property Group

• Registered Patent Agent, Canadian Intellectual Property Office

• Registered Patent Agent, United States Patent and Trademark Office

• Registered Trademark Agent, Canadian Intellectual Property Office

Entrepreneurs' Organization

Before entering law, Christopher obtained a degree in computer engineering from the University of Waterloo and worked in engineering roles for an enterprise software provider, a defence contractor and a handheld-software developer.

Christopher received his law degree from the University of Toronto. While at law school, he received the Gowlings Prize in Innovation Law and Policy for achieving the highest overall grades in intellectual property courses, the Gowlings Prize in Law and Information Technology, and the Stikeman Elliott Prize in Technology Law.