Federal Court of Canada establishes IP Chambers Pilot Program
After consultation with members of the intellectual property bar, the Federal Court announced in June of last year that it would launch a pilot project involving the creation of specialized Chambers of the Court.
In a positive development for intellectual property practitioners in Canada, the Federal Court of Canada has established an specialized Chambers of the Court pilot program. In a Notice to the Parties and the Profession dated March 3, 2023, the Chief Justice announced the creation of a specialized Intellectual Property and Competition Chambers.
As a result of this development, judges with experience in IP will hear IP cases. This is a similar approach to that used in the English High Court.
The Chambers will be used for assignment of judges to:
- motions to be heard on a special sitting
- case management of class actions
- hearings on the merits
The Judges assigned to the Intellectual Property and Competition Chambers are:
- Chief Justice Crampton
- Associate Chief Justice Gagné
- Justice O’Reilly
- Justice Zinn
- Justice Manson
- Justice Roy
- Justice McVeigh
- Justice St-Louis
- Justice Brown
- Justice Fothergill
- Justice Gascon
- Justice Southcott
- Justice McDonald
- Justice Lafrenière
- Justice Pentney
- Justice Grammond
- Justice Walker
- Justice McHaffie
- Justice Fuhrer
- Justice Pallotta
- Justice Little
- Justice Furlanetto
- Justice Aylen
- Justice Tsimberis
For a copy of the Notice to the Parties and the Profession, see here.
