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Chris Bennett

Chris Bennett

Partner
He is knowledgeable, conscientious and has a great sense of humour.
— WTR 1000 (market commentators)
VancouverTorontoCalgary
About

Chris Bennett is the head of Canada's IT Law Group and Trade-marks Law Group, and a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology, Franchise, Commercial Contracts and Video Games and Interactive Entertainment Law Groups. 

Chris primarily advises clients in connection with the following:

  • creating, protecting, enforcing and commercializing intellectual property (IP) and technology (IT)
  • drafting franchise agreements and franchise disclosure documents, and Canadianizing US and international franchise documents
  • developing, distributing, licensing and supporting software, video games and other technology
  • negotiating IT outsourcing and services agreements
  • negotiating athlete, event and corporate sponsorship agreements
  • negotiating gift card agreements and drafting gift card terms
  • complying with privacy legislation and drafting privacy consents and privacy policies
  • complying with Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL)
  • complying with promotional contest laws and drafting contest rules and waivers
  • establishing and protecting internet-based businesses, franchise systems and other distribution systems

Chris is recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada as a leading lawyer in Information Technology Law, Intellectual Property Law and Technology Law, by Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a Leading Practitioner in Computer and IT Law, Technology Transactions and Intellectual Property, by Legal 500 Canada for Intellectual Property, by the World Trademark Review (WTR1000) as a Leading Trademark Professional and by American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell as a Top Rated Lawyer in Canada.  He is also AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and RetailHealthcareLife SciencesMedia, Sport and EntertainmentFranchiseIntellectual PropertyTechnologyData Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity
Bar admissionsBritish Columbia, 1999
Languages
  • English
Education
  • Advanced Trade-mark Practitioner Course, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, 2002
  • Law clerk at the British Columbia Court of Appeal for the Honourable Mr. Justice Goldie and the Honourable Mr. Justice Hollinrake
  • LL.B., University of British Columbia, 1998

Awards

  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in Canada (Information Technology Law), 2013-2023; (Intellectual Property Law), 2014-2023; (Technology Law), 2017-2023
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Computer and IT Law), 2012-2023; (Intellectual Property), 2016, 2020-2023; (Technology Transactions), 2023
  • WTR 1000, World Trademark Review, Leading Trademark Professional, 2014-2023
  • The Legal 500 Canada (Intellectual Property), 2022-2023; (Technology), 2022-2023
  • 2014 Video Games Lawyer of the Year in Canada, Global Law Experts
  • 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Canada, American Lawyer Magazine and Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2009 Business in Vancouver Forty under 40
  • 2008 Lexpert® Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40
  • Wesbrook Scholar, UBC

Publications

  • Contributor, "Trade Marks 2023 - Canada," chapter of Chambers Global Practice Guides (2022-2023)
  • Author, "Non-Fungible Tokens: Emerging Issues in the Emerging Marketplace" (May 2021) 26:4 Cyberspace Lawyer NL 1.
  • Author, "Practical Law Sponsorship Q&A" (Canada Section), Cross-border Commercial Transactions, Practical Law, Thomson Reuters, 2017-2018
  • Author, "Three Mistakes to Avoid with your Canadian Trademarks," Law a la Mode, Issue 24, December 2017
  • Contributor, Advertising & Marketing to Children, a global report for UNICEF, November 2016
  • Author, “Sponsorship: International Overview” (Canada Section), Sales and Marketing International Transaction Guide, Practical Law, Thomson Reuters, September 2016
  • Author, "Buyer beware when evaluating IT assets," The Lawyers Weekly, June 5, 2015.

Media Mentions

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Chair, Licensing Subcommittee, International Trademark Association Building Bridges Committee (2020-2021)
  • Chair, International Trademarks Association Pro Bono Committee (2018-2019)
  • Vice-Chair, International Trademarks Association Pro Bono Committee (2016-2017)
  • Chair, Communications and Public Awareness Sub-Committee, International Trademark Association Pro Bono Committee (2014-2015)
  • Member, International Trademark Association Pro Bono Committee (2012-2014)
  • Advisory Board Member, International Legal Technology Standards Organization
  • Advisory Board Member, 2009 Pacific Legal Technology Conference
  • Registered Canadian Trade-mark Agent
  • Member, Law Society of British Columbia
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Chair, Computer Law Section, Canadian Bar Association (2001-2003)
  • Co-instructor, New Media and Law Course, British Columbia Institute of Technology
  • Affiliate, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
  • Affiliate Member, Canadian Franchise Association
  • Member, International Game Developers Association
  • Member, New Media BC
  • Overseas Member, The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys

My latest insights

News
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DLA Piper Canada IP lawyers contribute to Chambers Global 2023

15 March 2023 .2 minute read

News
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World Trademark ‎Review 1000‎ recognizes four Canadian lawyers

10 February 2023 .2 minute read

News
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Eight DLA Piper Canada lawyers named leading lawyers in the 2022 Lexpert Special Edition...

16 June 2022 .1 minute read

View All

Connect

Phone

+1 604 643 6308
(Work, Vancouver)
+1 416 365 3427
(Work, Toronto)
+1 403 776 8808
(Mobile, Calgary)
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