Profile
Position
Partner
Lawyer, Trademark Agent
Certified Specialist - IP (Trademarks)
Career
Paula Clancy is a partner and trademark agent in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office. She is a member of the Intellectual Property Group and her practice focuses on trademarks.
Paula has more than 27 years of experience as a corporate/commercial and trademark lawyer, and she is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in IP (Trademarks). Her background in business law and intellectual property law is a valuable asset to her clients.
Paula works with in-house counsel as an extension of their legal team to assist with trademark filing strategies, global portfolio management, and procurement. Her clients range from start-ups and SMEs to prominent public companies, including a number of global brands. These clients operate in industries including, technology, fashion, consumer goods, cosmetics, food and beverage, sports, banking, manufacturing, and life sciences. Paula also has experience working with women-owned and minority-owned businesses.
Paula is very active in the intellectual property community, and currently serves as a director of the International Trademark Association (INTA). She also currently serves as president and chair of the board for the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC); Canada's national delegate for the Interamerican Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI); and "councillor" or "member of council" of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property AIPPI (Canada).
Paula has been ranked for 12 consecutive years as one of the world's top IP lawyers in World Trademark Review's WTR1000, and has recently been recognized in the 2023 editions of Best Lawyers in Canada and The Legal 500 Canada as a leading individual in IP. Paula is a past recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal's Top 40 Under Forty Award and Distinctive Women Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She was a finalist for the Women's Business Network's Businesswoman of the Year Award.
Prior to re-joining Gowling WLG (she practised with the firm from 1994-2008), Paula founded and operated a boutique intellectual property firm in Ottawa. Her firm was ranked in the WTR1000 as a leading Canadian trademark prosecution firm; was certified by WBE Canada as a Women Business Enterprise; and was selected as an Amazon IP Accelerator firm. As a founder and entrepreneur, Paula has picked up valuable insights that help her effectively advise startups and SMEs. She knows from experience how to help them navigate their pain points and challenges.
Content supplied by Gowling WLG
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The client service and responsiveness from the Gowlings IP team is unmatched. We also appreciate their expertise on the full spectrum of Canadian IP issues (patents, trademark prosecution and enforcement, domain names etc.).’
‘Natalie Rizkalla-Kamel - impressive expertise in trademark issues, communication is excellent, very responsive; James Green - experienced IP litigator that supports on various trademark and domain name enforcement issues. Very practical, business-friendly approach. Excellent work product.’
‘Paula Clancy is an excellent attorney with a brilliant team. They always answer quickly and precisely in a cheerful manner. As a foreign IP attorney, I wholeheartedly recommend this team for Canadian IP, particularly trademark matters. Paula's attention to detail and responsiveness makes her stand out.’
‘Gowling WLG has worked through several trademark-related issues for us over the last few years. Exceptional collaboration, knowledge and the ability to link decisions with strategy and costs. Jayde Wood is awesome, responsive, knowledgeable and always available. She delivers exceptional advice.’
‘It provides us with advice on a pro bono basis and we feel we get the same level of attention and priority of paying clients. There is a very high level of professionalism. Charlotte McDonald is responsive, excellent at explaining complexities and supports us in locating local council in other countries. ’
‘Gowling WLG is highly capable and very knowledgeable regarding intellectual property practice in Canada. Moreover, it is completely reliable — one can truly depend on it. Its docketing system is well-organized, and it provides excellent support, both in substantive IP matters and in related administrative aspects.’
‘We must highlight partner Paula Clancy, who possesses vast knowledge and extensive experience in IP matters. She has always been approachable and responsive, consistently providing efficient solutions to the requests made to her. She is an outstanding professional in whom one can place complete trust.’
‘Excellent value. Highest quality of attorneys and work product. Kelly Gill and Shelagh Carnegie. Both are trusted colleagues who are experts in trademark law and understand their clients' business priorities. They are a rare find.’
Key clients
1196278 Ontario (Sassafraz)
adidas
Ansys
American Standard
Australian Mud Company
Bayer
BC Hydro
Bean Box
Biogen Idec Canada
Boehringer Ingelheim
CAE
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders
Cenovus Energy
Chanel Canada
CNH Industrial America
Crocs
CSL Behring
Dassault Systèmes Solidworks
Drs. Homuth, Solmi and Bleau
Deciem
Dollarama
eBay
Eli Lilly
Evolution Engineering
Exxon Mobil
Farmobile
Federici Brands
Galderma Canada
Garmin Switzerland
GE Renewable Energy Canada
Genentech
General Fusion
GeologicAI / Enersoft
Google Canada / Google / Alphabet
Guangzhou Unique Electronics / Sui Cheng / Shenzhen Gooloo E Commerce / Aukey Technology
Harlequin Enterprises
Harvest Operations
Hifi Engineering
Honeywell International
International Markets Live
Ipsen
JCAI
JemPak
Johnson & Johnson
Learning Tree
Little Brown Box Pizza
Lundbeck Canada / Lundbeck
Lutron Electronics
Lux Windows and Doors
Magna International
Manulife / John Hancock Life Insurance Company
Mark Anthony Group
Molson Coors Beverage Company
Mouvement Desjardins
Noralta Technologies
Oakville Stamping & Bending
Ontario Lottery and Gaming
OpenAI
Oregon Precision Industries (PakTech)
PetroChina Canada
PhatMojo
Planet Fitness
Playtika / Caesars Interactive Entertainment
Queen’s University
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Remitbee
Sandvik Mining and Construction
Sobeys Capital
SOCAN (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada)
Spectrum Brands
Starbucks Coffee Company
Takeda Canada
Thermon
Toronto-Dominion Bank
uniQure biopharma
Universal Music Group
VF Corporation
Weetabix