Ms Charlotte McDonald > Gowling WLG > Toronto, Canada > Lawyer Profile

Gowling WLG
1600 – 1 FIRST CANADIAN PLACE
100 KING STREET WEST
TORONTO, ONTARIO, M5X 1G5
Canada

Position

Partner
Trademark Agent

Career

Charlotte McDonald is a partner and trademark agent in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office. She practises intellectual property law, with a focus on intellectual property litigation and trademark prosecution.

Charlotte has extensive experience before the Federal Court. She has been counsel for parties involved in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and Patented Medicine Prices Review Board disputes. She has participated in multiple Federal Court trials and judicial reviews. She manages complex trademark oppositions and expungement proceeding before the Trademark Opposition Board. She is skilled in alternative dispute resolution, frequently settling matters prior to trial and participating in successful court-assisted and independent mediations.

Charlotte provides advice for contentious and non-contentious legal issues, including enforcement of copyright, trademark and patent rights; patent, trademark and copyright licensing and assignments; and trademark registrability and use opinions.

With her wide range of legal experience, Charlotte has managed small to mid-sized trademark portfolios in Canada and internationally in a variety of different industries, including software, education, cosmetics, publishing, environmental conservation, cannabis, food and beverage, and other consumer products.

Charlotte is also an active member of Gowling WLG’s IP Litigation Practice Group, Trademark Practice Group and pro bono program. Charlotte is also a member of the National Association of Women Lawyers, Editorial Board of the CIPR, the Litigation Committee of IPIC, the Executive Committee for the Intellectual Property Section of the CBA. She won the Gowling WLG Neil Abbott Mentorship Award in 2022.

Lawyer Rankings

Canada > Intellectual property

(Next Generation Partners)

Charlotte McDonaldGowling WLG

Gowling WLG’s pre-eminent practice is widely lauded for its ‘in-depth expertise and knowledge in the field of intellectual property’. The group’s enviably deep bench and full-service coverage of IP law ensures that it is a go-to choice to support major Canadian and multinational companies in patent and trademark prosecution and IP litigation, among other issues. In Toronto, national IP head Shelagh Carnegie is sought after for her wealth of experience in trademark portfolio management and enforcement; Natalie Rizkalla-Kamel is also a key contact for trademark work; and Laurent Massam heads the IP litigation team. In Ottawa, heavyweight IP litigator Christopher Van Barr is widely revered for his record in representing major global corporations such as Google and Bayer. Patent experts Jay Zakaïb and John Harris, as well as trademark specialists Martha Savoy and Paula Clancy, are also noted in Ottawa. The group additionally benefits from a strong pool of up-and-coming lawyers including partners Nelson Godfrey (Vancouver) and Charlotte McDonald (Toronto), and impressive associate Jasleen Chahal (Toronto).