People

Ryan Smith, JD, Lawyer and Trademark Agent

Areas of Practice: Corporate Commercial, Software, Data, and Privacy, and Intellectual Property

Ryan Smith is a lawyer and trademark agent. His practice focuses on corporate and commercial law and intellectual property law. In his corporate and commercial law practice, Ryan assists clients with organization and governance along with all manner of commercial contracts. In intellectual property law, Ryan provides advice on trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Ryan also assists with IP and IT licensing contracts and commercial privacy law compliance.

After working at large full-service law firms for over a decade, Ryan co-founded the firm in 2020. Ryan is author of the book Intellectual Property in Commercial Transactions published by Thomson Reuters. He received the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Hamilton Law Association in 2017. Ryan is a frequent speaker and has authored many articles.

Ryan studied and worked in Germany for two years. He articled at the law firm Anderson Mori & Tomotsune in Tokyo, Japan. Ryan is a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation.

Education

J.D., University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 2004

Admissions

Ontario (2006)

Activities

Canadian Tax Foundation, Member
Church Volunteer
Oakville Soccer Club, Volunteer Coach

Nozomi (Zoe) Smith, JD, LLM, TEP, CEA, Lawyer

Areas of Practice: Wills and Estates

Nozomi (Zoe) Smith is a Wills and Estates lawyer. Zoe offers individuals and families personalized estate planning solutions to ensure that their wishes are carried out smoothly in the event of incapacity or death. Recognizing common challenges to modern estates, Zoe gives guidance to Executors, Trustees and Attorneys to navigate through the administration of estates and trusts.

As one of the few native speakers of Japanese in the Ontario Bar, Zoe has extensive experience in dealing with estate planning and administration issues arising in Ontario and Japan. She has a network of legal and accounting professionals in Japan who can assist her clients on the Japanese side.

Zoe is passionate about promoting estates literacy among the general public through writing articles and speaking engagements on Wills and Estates topics.

Education

J.D., University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 2009
LL.M., University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, 2004
LL.M., Chuo University, Graduate School of Law, 2003
LL.B, Chuo University, Faculty of Law, 2001

Admissions

Ontario (2010)

Professional Designation

Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), designated by The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)

Certified Executor Advisor (CEA), designated by the Canadian Institute of Certified Executor Advisors