Protect your intellectual property.

Win trademark & copyright disputes. 

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TRADEMARK REGISTRATION

Register & clear trademarks in Canada, U.S. and beyond 

TRADEMARK & COPYRIGHT LITIGATION

Succeed in & out of court

IP AGREEMENTS

Protect your IP interests
in commercial contracts

IP AUDITS, DUE DILIGENCE & STRATEGY

Capture the value
in your IP

1,500+

Clients Helped

3,000+

TM Applications Filed

1,000+

IP Disputes Resolved

Choose Shift Law – a top boutique IP law firm in Toronto, Canada

ABOUT US

IP focused expertise

The intellectual property lawyers at Shift Law have deep expertise in trademark and copyright law. We only do the kind of work that we do really well and for clients who we work best with.

Helping clients since 2011

We have extensive experience in our field, including from years working at large firms. We were founded in 2011 on a commitment to helping clients who care about “getting it right” and keeping their business out of trouble, especially in the minefields of trademarks and copyright.

Boutique personal legal service

Our clients like working with experienced trademark and copyright lawyers who listen to them and who care about their business and priorities. We do everything we can to make working with us a positive experience, even in difficult circumstances.

IP Law firm within your budget

Our rates are highly competitive. We are always transparent about our fees to prevent any surprises. We consult our clients throughout the process on how to get the most value out of their legal expenditure, allowing our clients to be active participants in setting fees.

Testimonials

  • Focused, Practical Trademark Advice

    Shift Law’s trademark advice is focused, practical, thoughtfully considers the costs and benefits of particular strategies, and is valuable to our business.

    Michael Rosenstock, Senior Director, Legal Affairs, Roots Corporation

  • International portfolio

    As a growing business with a large portfolio of intellectual property, Shift Law has been critical to the successful registration and protection of our trademarks. Not only is John diligent, creative and thoughtful in his ability to advise on the best method to register marks and respond to office actions here in Canada, but he has helped us organize our international portfolio through monitoring and by connecting us with excellent agents in other territories. Given our unusually large IP portfolio for a company of our age and size, costs to administer our marks have been prohibitive in the past. John’s cost structure is transparent, reasonable and project-based, which has allowed us to effectively budget and foresee our legal expenses and to continue to build our Canadian portfolio. Further, John is a pleasure to work with!

    Jacqueline Prehogan, Canada Pooch Ltd. and Open Farm Inc.
    Founder and President

  • Supremely competent

    We are honoured to recommend the services of John Simpson for all things relating to intellectual property, especially trademark litigation. John is a highly capable, measured, and supremely competent lawyer… John did a masterful job for us and I’m sure he will for you as well.

    David Farnell, Real Food For Real Kids Inc.
    Co-founder and CEO

  • Shift Law protects our brand

    As we grow and scale in the market, Shift Law protects our brand and makes our life easier.

    George Boutsalis, Impact Cleaning Services
    Vice President

  • Practical advice

    John is technically strong, provides practical advice, and works in a cost-effective manner.

    Todd May, Enghouse Systems Limited
    Vice President, General Counsel

  • Thorough and straightforward

    Shift Law is thorough, their process is straight-forward, and they have resources available that enable us to do business in other jurisdictions.

    Ari Weinberg, O’Doughs Bakery

  • Top 10 intellectual property boutique

    “Big Law dedication to excellence in technical matters and client service, with boutique-level humanness and rate structures and flexibility.”

    “Exemplary service and professionalism.”

    “Very service oriented and great attention to detail.”

    Read Article

    Client Testimonials, Canadian Lawyer Magazine Survey

  • Outmaneuvered the opposing lawyers

    Shift Law represented us against a large Bay Street firm in a business-critical trademark litigation suit. They outmaneuvered the lawyers on the other side at, I’m sure, a fraction of the cost. They were a pleasure to deal with and we were delighted with the result. We will trust them again in a heartbeat if we ever need to.

    Steve Walker, Walkers OneShot
    Co-Owner

  • Uncover the best answers

    John Simpson has the success traits a business would desire in any lawyer – he’s quick to respond, he’s an expert, and he’s service-oriented. John has the desire and aptitude to consistently dig at matters, seeking to uncover the best answers or responses for his clients. For copyright and trademark legal matters, John Simpson and Shift Law are highly recommended.

    Andrew Schiestel, tbk Creative
    President and Co-Founder

  • Pleasure to work with

    John Simpson is an intellectual property and trademark lawyer with the best combination of independent, low-to-the-ground savvy and the broad insight that comes from experience in big firms. He’s a pleasure to work with, and I’m continually grateful for his balanced legal perspective.

    Josh Greenhut, Brand Strategy Consultant

  • High level of service

    John has provided us with a very high level of service over the years, as a trusted legal adviser and as a smart and aggressive advocate when we’ve need one.

    Sammie Kennedy, Booty Camp Fitness Inc.
    CEO and creator

  • Expert advice

    John Simpson at Shift Law provides us with the kind of straightforward, expert advice that we need to manage and protect our trademarks. John’s in-depth knowledge of the legal issues and his strategic insights are invaluable to us, as is his timeliness, responsiveness and overall focus on customer service.

    Patricia Finkelstein, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
    General Counsel

Team

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Insights


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Client Work

  • Bombay Frankie Inc. et al. v. 2788610 Ontario Inc.

    Acted for the successful appellant in this appeal from an interlocutory injunction order in a trademark infringement and passing off action in the Ontario Superior Court. Three Divisional Court judges unanimously agreed that the Superior Court had erred in each element of the three-part test, including in finding that the plaintiff had established a serious issue to be tried. You can read more about the case in this article about it.

  • The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board v. RE Stats Inc.

    We successfully defended a motion for an interlocutory injunction in a copyright infringement case in the Federal Court.

  • Effective IP Enforcement Strategy on Amazon

    We developed and successfully executed an IP enforcement strategy on Amazon.ca for a skincare products manufacturer that eliminated infringing retailers without the costs and delays of trademark litigation

  • Corey Bessner Consulting Inc. v. Core Consultants Realty Inc.

    We represented the successful plaintiff in a trademark infringement action in the Federal Court involving complex issues of what happens to the trademarks of a joint venture after it breaks up. You can read more about this case in our blog post about it.

  • Collett v. Northland Art Company Canada Inc.

    We obtained a large damages award for our client by way of summary judgment for copyright infringement and moral rights infringement.

  • Arkipelago Architecture Inc. v. Enghouse Systems Limited

    We successfully defended a counsel’s eyes only protective order in the Federal Court of Appeal in a copyright infringement case involving computer software.

  • Dermaspark Products Inc. v. Prestige MD Clinic et al

    We acted for the successful defendants in this motion to strike the statement of claim on the basis that it disclosed no reasonable cause of action. The Court’s decision illustrates the importance of filing proper pleadings in trademark and copyright cases and retaining experienced intellectual property lawyers who are able to do so. You can read more about this case in our blog post about it.

  • Boaden Catering Ltd. v. Real Food for Real Kids Inc.

    We obtained summary judgment dismissing numerous IP related claims against our client, including trademark and copyright infringement and defamation claims – and obtained an order against the plaintiff for all of our client’s legal costs in a related costs endorsement, an exceptional remedy that is rarely awarded. You can read more about this case in our blog post about it.

  • Vass v Leef Inc.

    We acted for the successful respondent in this appeal to the Federal Court from a decision of the Trademarks Opposition Board. The Court agreed with us that our client had filed sufficient evidence of use of its trademark in the relevant period in order to maintain its registration. You can read more about this case in our blog post about it.

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