Stephanie Chong Elected IPIC’s First BIPOC President 2020-2021

IPIC is pleased to announce that for the first time since the Institute’s inception in 1926, it has elected Stephanie Chong as its first BIPOC President to serve for the 2020-2021 term. The timing of Stephanie’s appointment could not come at a more relevant period in recent history. With an increasing focus on diversity and inclusion on a global scale, it is high time that this initiative be reflected across IPIC’s own Board of Directors.

Diversity and inclusion are key areas of focus in IPIC’s new three-year Strategic Plan, which takes effect as Stephanie settles into her new role as IPIC President. Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) are under-represented in the IP community relative to the Canadian population, which has been a concern for industry leaders for several years. IPIC is committed to becoming a leader on equity, diversity, and inclusion issues, starting by setting an example within its own organization under Stephanie’s leadership. IPIC will ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion are integrated into the leadership development process. The process of identifying and encouraging members to seek leadership roles, such as committee chairs, will be reviewed and concrete EDI targets will be established to inform future decisions.

Stephanie previously served as IPIC’s Vice President from 2019-2020, its Secretary from 2018-2019 and its Treasurer from 2017-2018. She is the Past Chair (inaugural) of the Indigenous IP Committee, Forums & Seminars Committee and Continuing Education Committee, past Ex Officio of the Public Awareness Committee and a Member or Past Member of the Trademark Practice, Women in IP and Sole and Small Practice Committees.

Stephanie practices exclusively in the area of intellectual property law, with an emphasis on the strategic acquisition, management and enforcement of trademark and other IP rights. She advises entities ranging from small-and medium-sized enterprises to large multi-nationals and represents clients in proceedings before the Trademarks Opposition Board, as well as the Ontario and Federal Courts. Stephanie is also a registered trademark agent. In addition to her years of experience in private practice, Stephanie had the opportunity to serve as Interim Counsel, Patents and Trademarks, for one of Canada’s largest pharmaceutical companies.

Stephanie is frequently invited to speak on various IP topics, and has written many articles and academic papers for both national and international publications including authoring a chapter for a textbook on IP litigation. One of Stephanie’s papers was cited with approval by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Harvard Mouse case, Harvard College v. Canada (Commissioner of Patents), [2004] 4 S.C.R. 45. The results of her research for her Masters of Law degree were published in The Trademark Reporter.

When not practicing law, Stephanie volunteers for various community initiatives and actively mentors young lawyers and law students. IPIC looks forward to the year to come under her leadership and wishes her all the very best in her new role.