Martha Savoy > Gowling WLG > Ottawa, Canada > Lawyer Profile

Gowling WLG
SUITE 2600
160 ELGIN STREET
OTTAWA, ON K1P 1C3
Canada

Work Department

Intellectual Property

Position

Partner

Career

Martha Savoy is a partner in Gowling WLG’s global Intellectual Property Group. Based in Ottawa, she focuses her practice on trademark and copyright enforcement, litigation and prosecution.

Routinely distinguished as a leader in her field by World Trademark Review 1000Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and Best Lawyers Canada, Martha has sophisticated experience helping some of the worlds most valuable brands protect and enforce their IP assets around the globe. She possesses a particularly extensive track record in the food and beverage, sporting equipment, apparel and footwear, technology, manufacturing and media sectors.

“[Martha] consistently demonstrates strong leadership and determination in resolving matters and achieving the best interests for her organisation. There are a variety of skills an effective attorney must possess, and she exceeds these in every aspect. Even among the best, she is a cut above.” – WTR 1000

Wherever possible, Martha seeks to resolve IP disputes quickly and efficiently – and always with her clients’ best interests at heart and a thorough understanding of the larger commercial realities at play. Whether through mediation or other avenues, she harnesses more than two decades of experience in negotiating and formalizing crucial protections for her clients’ IP assets.

When infringement actions must be pursued or defended in court, Martha works closely with clients to develop a robust litigation strategy tailored to their unique circumstances. Over the course of her career, she has represented clients in a range of complex matters before the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Canadian Trademarks Opposition Board.

Martha complements her enforcement and litigation skills with a formidable background in trademark prosecution. She regularly registers trademarks and copyright with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office on behalf of her clients, and she also has experience managing large global trademark portfolios.

Outside of her individual practice, Martha remains highly active in the global and Canadian trademark communities. She is a former chair and present member of the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Enforcement Committee. She is also a member of the Canadian Bar Association’s Counterfeiting and Trade Offences Committee, and has served on the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada’s (IPIC) Litigation Committee, Copyright Committee, and on the editorial board of its publication the Canadian Intellectual Property Review.

Lawyer Rankings

Canada > Intellectual property

(Hall of Fame)

Martha SavoyGowling WLG

IP powerhouse Gowling WLG stands out for its unrivalled national platform — which takes in seven offices across the country — as well as for its ability to leverage on-the-ground teams in the UK, Europe, the UAE and China. The group’s global coverage and comprehensive service offering marks it as a first port of call for major companies looking for support on domestic and multinational IP issues, with its strong suits encompassing the full range of patents, trademarks, designs, trade secrets, copyrights, advertising and IP litigation matters. The department is led jointly by Canadian IP head Shelagh Carnegie (Toronto), who stands out for her premier trademark prosecution practice; John Harris (Ottawa), who spearheads the patents area; Will Boyer (Ottawa), who serves as head of IP litigation and strategy; and Nelson Godfrey (Vancouver), who fronts the trademark group. The firm’s formidably deep bench additionally benefits from the senior expertise of seasoned IP litigators Christopher Van Barr (Ottawa), Michael Crichton (Ottawa) and Laurent Massam (Toronto). Also highly recommended are: Ottawa-based trademark specialists Martha Savoy and Paula Clancy; Toronto-based Natalie Rizkalla-Kamel, who focuses on contentious work involving patents, trademarks and copyrights; and Ottawa-based patent partner Jay Zakaïb. An impressive pool of younger lawyers includes next generation partner Charlotte McDonald, who specializes in IP litigation and trademarks, as well as talented associate Jasleen Chahal — both are in Toronto.