Have a million-dollar idea that you’d like to protect against intellectual theft? If so, then you’d need the best patent lawyer in Calgary to fight for the protection you and your ideas need.
Remember, Canada follows a “first to file” and not “first to invent” policy when granting patents. So, we’re here today to save you some time by providing you with a list of the best law firms in the city for intellectual property (IP) law.
At the end of this article, we also listed FAQs and some tips for choosing the best lawyer to help with your patent application. But first, let’s talk about the costs of hiring the best Calgary patent lawyer.
Table of Contents
How Much Do Patents Cost in Calgary
We’ve rounded up the costs of applying for a patent so you can gauge whether or not your prospect lawyer’s quotations are reasonable or not.
Before looking into the table, you should know that in Canada, small entities are companies that have less than 50 employees. These are the patent application costs a small entity and regular company will have to pay the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO).
| Types of services | Small entity prices | Regular prices |
| Application | $200 | $400 |
| Examination fees | $400 | $820 |
| Maintenance fees (from 2nd to 4th year of filing) | $50 | $100 |
| Maintenance fees (from 5th to 9th year of filing) | $100 | $205 |
| Maintenance fees (from 10th to 14th year of filing) | $125 | $255 |
| Maintenance fees (from 15th to 19th year of filing) | $230 | $460 |
| Final fees | $150 | $300 |
| Advanced examination | $510 | |
| Reinstatement fees | $205 |
Here are the types of services you’ll need from your patent lawyer and their respective costs.
| Types of services | Average price range |
| Patent search | $1,000-$2,500 |
| Filing patent applications (depending on complexity) | $1,999-$11,000 |
| Prosecution costs | $2,000-$10,000 |
The Best Law Firms in Calgary for Intellectual Property
We know how complex patent application cases can be. So, we only listed firms with lawyers who are invested both in IP laws and in certain technical expertise.
1. Stemp & Company
| SERVICES | IP law, real estate law, estate law |
| WEBSITE | https://stemp.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 1670, 734 – 7 Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 3P8 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | Direct: 403-777-1125 Fax: 403-777-1124 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Stemp & Company devotes a significant portion of their practice to IP law services. From filing patents to copyrights and trademarks, innovative minds can rely on this law firm.
The firm also provides legal advice on Canadian, US and foreign trademark filings, designed to protect the name of your business as well as any advertising slogans and graphic signs that you may want to protect in order to properly promote your business.
Its patent services range from patent searches up to the prosecution of patent applications. So, clients who want help throughout the process can benefit from Stemp & Company.
While it helps clients avoid infringement cases early on through proper searching and legal advising, some inventors may not be so lucky. Fortunately, Stemp & Company also has the expertise and resources to aid those suing for patent infringement.
This law firm can also handle industrial design patents. The primary lawyer for IP law, William Stemp, already has 45 years of experience filing patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
Pros
- Expertise in industrial design patents
- Full range of IP services
- Handles patent infringement cases
- A+ BBB rating
Cons
- Small team handling all types of legal services
Customer Reviews
Read these reviews to know what to expect should you choose William Stemp as your patent lawyer in Calgary:
“Stemp & Company is currently helping me with intellectual property (patent and trademarks). Both Bill and Kari have been very responsive. They are able to answer my questions and make sure I have the information I need before we proceed.”—Alexandra B
“Bill Stemp is everything you could ever want in a lawyer. He is extremely knowledgeable in intellectual property law, and with his extensive knowledge comes his ability to quickly understand his clients case, no matter how unique it might be. Bill puts his clients first, with quick responses, efficient communication, and a solid understanding of the facts of any case. From the getgo Bill was quick to follow up with me after my first message (a prompt email 15 minutes later followed by a phone call the next morning).”—Dennis Bennet
2. Parlee McLaws LLP
| SERVICES | Intellectual property law, real estate law, immigration law, indigenous law, corporate and business law, |
| WEBSITE | https://www.parlee.com/ |
| ADDRESS | 421 7 Ave SW #3300, Calgary, AB T2P 4K9 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 294-7000 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
For over a century, Parlee McLaws has been one of the biggest intellectual property law firms in all of Western Canada.
It has numerous patent lawyers, with seven lawyers in Calgary alone. So, Parlee McLaws can handle a wide range of industries, including agriculture, energy, engineering, biotechnology and life sciences, nanotechnology, and software development.
Parlee McLaws’ large team of lawyers also means it provides all types of patent services, including defending IP rights in court. They can even handle international patent applications, thanks to their connections with other experts around the world.
This law firm also has the qualifications to help inventors draft non-disclosure agreements and other contracts to protect their invention. Parlee McLaws also has the capacity for online brand protection.
But despite all of these qualities and guarantees, some clients, especially those with relatively smaller cases, have expressed how this company has put them in a lower priority.
Pros
- A large team of lawyers
- Extensive technical background in numerous industries
- Handles international and local patent applications
- Full range of IP services
- Numerous payment options available
Cons
- Some complaints about poor customer services
Customer Reviews
Most of Parlee McLaws’ reviews centred on how the law firm has made things more convenient for its customers. Here’s one of those reviews to tell you more:
“They did an excellent job for me and I would highly recommend them to all my friends and family. Thank you for helping and making things smooth and easy.”—Tony Styles
3. Field Law
| SERVICES | Intellectual property law, business law, bankruptcy law, employment law, real estate law, tax law, wills and estate law |
| WEBSITE | https://www.fieldlaw.com/ https://www.fieldlaw.com/Services/Intellectual-Property-Technology |
| ADDRESS | 444 7 Ave SW #400, Calgary, AB T2P 0X8 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 260-8500 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Field Law is another one of the largest law firms in Western and Northern Canada. With over 100 years of experience, it has bred numerous relevant lawyers that have in time become judges in court.
Given this fact, clients can truly obtain peace of mind knowing that the company’s best lawyers are skilled enough to meet the provincial government’s high standards.
When it comes to IP law, Field Law has two lawyers working on cases. These lawyers have backgrounds in education, technology, energy, media and entertainment, and manufacturing.
With its resources and its lawyers’ expertise, Field Law can help during registration and application, commercialization, protection, and enforcement of its clients’ IP rights. Additionally, innovators can also rely on this firm for infringement cases and other disputes.
Field Law also helps innovators with cyber liability and emerging technology protection services.
However, all these advantages result in costly services. So, make sure you’re financially capable if ever you choose Field Law’s patent lawyers.
Pros
- Full range of patent services
- Includes protection for online and emerging technology products
- Numerous convenient payment options
Cons
- More expensive prices
- Relatively smaller range of technical background
4. Hicks Intellectual Property Law
| SERVICES | Intellectual property law |
| WEBSITE | https://www.hicksip.com/professional-team/christine-hicks/ |
| ADDRESS | 304 Old Canmore Rd #213, Canmore, AB T1W 0L5 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 609-9421 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Now, this next entry on our list may not be based at the city proper, but it is still open to many of Calgary’s business-minded and inventive individuals.
Hicks Intellectual Property Law can handle everything, from IP management and strategic planning to the prosecution stage. It also helps in the organization of patent portfolios for improved protection of its client’s business rights.
It can also compete with other law firms when it comes to its expertise in energy, manufacturing, engineering, and computer technology. Medical devices, nanotechnology, and cleantech are also some of Hicks’s technical backgrounds.
But what sets Hicks apart is that it has the best patent lawyer in Calgary who is also qualified in UK and European IP law. So, clients who want to patent their products and ideas internationally can get direct access and communication through Hicks Law.
Above all this, Hicks Intellectual Property Law also offers protection for domain names and other advertising and marketing matters.
Pros
- International patent lawyer available
- IP protection for online products and ideas
- Large team of patent lawyers and agents
- Wide range of technical background (including medical inventions)
Cons
- Located outside of Calgary
Bonus: ATMAC Patent Services
NOTE: ATMAC Patent Services are patent agents and NOT a law firm but included in the list because of its good reviews
| SERVICES | Patent applications |
| WEBSITE | https://atmac.ca/ |
| ADDRESS | 1000 8 Ave SW #550, Calgary, AB T2P 3M7 |
| CONTACT DETAILS | (403) 640-7737 [email protected] |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
ATMAC Patent Services specializes in technical inventions. It offers its services to innovators planning to file a patent not only in Canada but also in the US and other countries abroad.
Not only does it help Calgarians, but it also helps foreigners who want to file for patents here in Canada. Clients who have already drafted their patents can also benefit from ATMAC’s patent filling services.
This firm even features a patent clarity session where it provides a one-hour consultation to its customers. During this session, clients receive a strategy and action plan to ensure the success of their patent application.
To back up technical inventions, ATMAC’s in-house expert, Andrew MacMillan, uses his extensive background in designing telecom controller boards.
However, you should know that he only finds and supports lawyers for patent cases, and is not a legal professional himself. So, ATMAC may not be the best option for those looking to fight for their patent appeals in court.
Pros
- Useful technical background
- One-hour consultations for planning
- Coordinates patent filing both locally internationally
- Convenient online appointment form
Cons
- Outsources lawyers
Customer Reviews
Among ATMAC’s few online reviews, most have shown just how effective and informative its services are. Here’s a client review to tell you more:
“Satisfaction 10/10! What I like best is learning. the truth about patents.”—Colin Corasiniti
Patent Lawyer vs. Patent Agent
Patent agents are the only professionals, other than the inventor itself, who can file for patent applications. They can also represent their clients during patent prosecution.
Additionally, a patent lawyer can represent their clients when defending against or suing for patent infringement cases. They can also provide legal advice on how to proceed with commercialization or litigations for the patent.
However, lawyers can’t represent their clients during prosecution or file for their applications unless they are also patent agents. Lucky for you, we’ve only listed firms with lawyers who are also patent agents.
What to Look for in a Patent Lawyer?
1. Qualifications
Your patent lawyer should have an excellent and up-to-date understanding of patent laws in Canada and in other countries where you want to apply for a patent. Make sure they also have the qualifications from CIPO so they can represent you there as well as in court.
Their qualifications will also determine their range of services. So, a patent lawyer who is also an agent will be able to help you from planning, search, and registration, up to the enforcement of your patent rights.
2. Technical background
Patent lawyers should also have a technical background so they can easily understand your idea or inventions. Their technical background will also help them differentiate your idea from other ideas from the same industry and thus, defend your idea against potential infringement cases.
3. Values
You wouldn’t want to hire a lawyer who spills your trade secrets to potential competitors, right? So, make sure your lawyer is trustworthy and honest because you’ll be sharing your secret and valuable ideas.
4. Costs
Lastly, make sure you can pay for the costs of your patent lawyer. Patenting is an investment, so make sure you are putting your money in the right places, lest you lose all your capital before you can even profit from your invention.
FAQs about Patents and Intellectual Rights
And that’s it for our list of firms that’ll give you the best patent lawyer in Calgary. Now all you need to do is to choose someone with a technical background close enough to your idea!
Did we forget to include other great patent lawyers in Calgary on our list? If we did, kindly send us a message so we can check out your recommendation ASAP.
Now, if you’re looking for other legal services, maybe for when you’ve jumpstarted your business thanks to your patented ideas, then you can also check out our list of the best tax lawyers in Calgary.
