Our people

Gary PARTINGTON

gpartington@marks-clerk.ca Tel: +1 613 236 9561 extension 288

Associate
Barrister & Solicitor

Specialism: Trade-Marks

Gary was born and raised in Toronto where he attended high school and the University of Toronto. After graduating with honours in Mechanical Engineering from U. of T. and working briefly as a mechanical engineer with Canadian Kodak, Gary returned to Law School at the University of British Columbia.

Gary graduated from Law School in 1972 and articled with a patent and trade-mark firm in Ottawa before being called to the Ontario Bar in 1974. Gary became a registered patent agent in 1974 and practiced as a patent and trade-mark agent for five years with two firms in Montreal. In 1978, Gary joined the federal government as Assistant Chairman of the Trade-marks Opposition Board and became Chairman of the Opposition Board in 1981. After more than twenty years as Chairman of the Opposition Board and a short period as Registrar of Trade-marks, Gary assumed the position of Special Advisor, Trade-marks in January 2002 and retired from the federal government at the end of September 2003.

Apart from more than a thousand opposition and summary expungement (section 45) decisions written by Gary during his tenure with the Opposition Board, Gary has written published articles relating to Evidence in Opposition Proceedings [P.T.I.C. Review - August 1985 - Vol. 2, No. 1, at page 54] and Theoretical Considerations of Prior Art and Obviousness [9 Canadian Patent Reporter (2d) at page 247]. As well, Gary has given numerous presentations over the years relating to opposition proceedings and summary expungement proceedings before the Opposition Board.

Gary coached girls' and boys' competitive soccer teams when his children were young, was also trainer for competitive hockey teams in Nepean, and was part of the executive of the Nepean Lacrosse Association. Now, Gary spends his spare time at the local YMCA, at the cottage during the summer, and working with stained glass, a hobby he has had for almost twenty years.