About Us

Michelle L. Wassenaar

mwassenaar@jawiplaw.com

Michelle L. Wassenaar is a founding partner of Johnston Wassenaar LLP.

Michelle has represented and advised multinational and domestic clients on patent and trade-mark law, particularly in the pharmaceutical, consumer goods, and food and beverage industries.

Michelle is a lawyer as well as a registered patent and trade-mark agent. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 1994, and has appeared before the Federal Court, Federal Court of Appeal, and the Trade-marks Opposition Board. She has also represented clients in ICANN domain name dispute proceedings brought before WIPO.

Michelle received her law degree, a Juris Doctor (J.D.), in 1992; a Master of Science (Clinical Biochemistry) in 1990; and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Biochemistry/Microbiology, Honours, High Distinction) in 1987; all from the University of Toronto.

Michelle has spoken on intellectual property issues for various organizations, including:

• The Osgoode Professional Development program entitled "Structuring, Negotiating and Drafting Intellectual Property Licensing Agreements - Key Patent Concepts" on October 4, 2010 and "The Intensive Course in Intellectual Property License Agreements - Elements of Trade-marks and Key Patent Concepts", annually from 2006 to 2008
• Ontario Bar Association Conference, “Clients, Clients Everywhere: Essential Tips for Aspiring Rainmakers III” in November 2008
• CAMA (Canadian Agri-Marketing Association), speaker with a representative of Monsanto on trademarks, April 2007
• Canadian Undergraduate Technology Conference, mentor, January 14, 2006
• National Franchise and Business Opportunities Show, presenter on “Basics of Intellectual Property”, January 14 and 15, 2006
• Strategic Leadership Forum, featured speaker at Focus on Strategy, October 2005
• Insight Information, Drug Patents in 2003 and Licensing in 2002
• Canadian Bar Association Ontario, in 2002 on domain name dispute resolution and in 1996 on intellectual property generally

Michelle edits the Intellectual Property chapter of “The Accountants Manual” and co-wrote a chapter on licensing in Carswell's “Intellectual Property Disputes: Resolutions and Remedies” text.

Michelle is past president of the Canadian Netherlands Business & Professional Association (www.cnbpa.ca), and provides pro bono legal services to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and Women for Women International.

Michelle has successfully participated in Arbitration and Mediating Conflicts programs at the University of Toronto and served on the ADR Committee for the Canadian Bar Association’s National Intellectual Property Section. She was honoured by Lexis Nexis Martindale-Hubbell as a CV Rated Attorney in 2009 for high legal ability and ethical standards.  Michelle was recently recognized as one of the "Top 5 Women Who Make it Work" on Lerners LLP's Monthly List for January, 2011.

She is also a member of a number of professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the International Trademark Association and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

Michelle can be reached by telephone at (416) 867-1661, ext. 241, or by e-mail at mwassenaar@jawiplaw.com.

To learn more about our team please click on their links below:

Keri A. F. Johnston
Andrea Long
Carolyn Hewitt

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