Cristina Mihalceanu

Associate
Toronto
About

Cristina Mihalceanu is an intellectual property lawyer with experience in litigating and providing strategic advice in all areas of patent, trademark, and copyright, as well as regulatory and compliance for life sciences companies.

She assists clients on all aspects of their projects and litigation – from managing intellectual property portfolios and providing strategic advice on intellectual property risk management, to representing clients in court. Cristina has notable trial and appellate experience as she has appeared before the Ontario Court, Federal Court, and Federal Court of Appeal. In addition, she works with clients and counsel in various jurisdictions to manage a global strategy to multi-jurisdictional intellectual property matters.

Cristina's expertise in intellectual property law is informed by her technical background in the sciences, coupled with her ability to understand complex technologies across multiple industry sectors. She has acted on behalf of clients in a wide range of industries including the life sciences, pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, oil and gas, mining, and high-technology areas.

Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural ResourcesLife SciencesIntellectual PropertyTechnology and Commercial TransactionsMining and Mineral ResourcesTechnologyPatent Development and StrategyTrademark and Copyright LitigationFood and Beverage
Bar admissionsOntario, 2011

EXPERIENCE

  • Alexa Translations v. Amazon et al. (T-1188-23) – representing Amazon in a trademark action relating to Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant
  • Representing Multi Access Limited & Every Green companies in trademark enforcement actions in the Federal Court concerning a popular canned herbal tea
  • Assisting Zoe International Distributing Inc. c.o.b. HBI Canada, a leading smoking accessory wholesaler and manufacturer, in managing its IP portfolio and in relation to various trademark protection and enforcement matters
  • Representing G&W Distilling et al. (T-890-19; T-779-19) in litigation asserting trademark and trade dress rights related to vodka soda beverages
  • Imdex v. Globaltech (T-410-23 and T-903-23) – representing a global mining technology leader in multiple patent infringement and invalidity actions
  • Sandvik Mining and Construction OY et al. v Epiroc Canada (T-754-22) – represented Sandvik in enforcing its patent on battery-enabled underground mining equipment
  • Pfizer Canada Inc. et al. v. Janssen Inc. et al. (T-396-13) - acting on behalf of Pfizer in a damages case flowing from a patent infringement action related to biologics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
  • Darin Grenke et al. v. DNOW Canada ULC et al. (T-1236-01/A-282-10/A-244-18) - representing GrenCo in a patent infringement and damages action concerning a patent on stuffing boxes used on oil wellhead drives
  • MediaTube Corp. v. Bell Canada (T-705-13/A-35-17) - representing patent owner NorthVu Inc. in a high-technology patent infringement action relating to distribution of audio/video signals over existing telephone wires
  • SNF Inc. v. Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Limited (T-1749-11/A-479-15) - acting as counsel in a patent impeachment action concerning treatment of tailings ponds
  • San Remo Lighting v. Ortech Industries Inc. (T-2188-14) - acting on behalf of San Remo in an action seeking a declaration of non-infringement related to plastic electrical boxes
  • Francisco Munoz v. Deb Worldwide Healthcare (CV-12-453905) - defending patent owner Deb in an action brought by an inventor to invalidate a patent assignment related to foamed alcohol hand sanitizing compositions
  • Aria Vent Inc. et al v 2033784 Ontario Inc. c.o.b. Made2Match (T-469-20) - represented the plaintiff in a patent infringement action related to air vent register assemblies
  • Deb Worldwide Healthcare v. Ecolab (T-379-11) - representing Deb in a patent infringement action relating to foamed alcohol hand sanitizing compositions

Awards

  • Recognized, Toronto Intellectual Property Law, Best Lawyers in Canada, (2025 – 2026)
  • IP Stars - Rising Star, Managing Intellectual Property, 2020 and 2025
Education
  • J.D., University of Windsor, 2010
  • B.Sc., Biochemistry and Biotechnology (Hons), University of Windsor, 2007

Publications

  • Co-author, "International Copyright Law: A Practical Global Guide, Second Edition," Globe Law and Business, February 2022
  • Co-author, "Cannabis regulations: Health Canada's solution to support the Cannabis Act," Inside Internal Controls, August 2018
  • Co-author, "Canada to recognize patent agent privilege," The Lawyers Weekly, January 2016
  • Co-author, "Science v. sales," The Lawyers Weekly, July 2015
  • Co-author, "Red Label Vacations Inc. (Redtag.ca) v. 411 Travel Buys Limited," E-Commerce Law Reports, Volume 15 Issue 2, March/April 2015
  • Co-author, "Patents: Year in Review," (presented at the annual Intellectual Property Law: The Year in Review program), Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, 2010 – 2015 

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Member, Toronto Intellectual Property Group
  • Member, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
  • Member, Ontario Bar Association
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association Biotechnology Committee, 2015 – current

My latest insights

Publication

Executive Order aimed at reducing prescription drug prices could affect prescription drug...

28 May 2025 .2 minute read

Publication

Not a prank – How April 1 changes to trademark proceedings in Canada will impact your IP...

26 March 2025 .13 minute read

News

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP to host the 2024 Harold G. Fox Moot

7 February 2024 .1 minute read

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Phone

+1 416 862 3384
(Work, Toronto)