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Sana Halwani listen

About

Sana* is a force to be reckoned with in the IP world, and it’s easy to see why. Sana takes on matters that would intimidate others without a molecule of hesitation. She earns the trust of her clients for her thorough grasp of their situations and her compelling courtroom presence. When faced with challenging problems, she doesn’t just provide answers, she creates§ value for clients, no matter their business. She is as comfortable delving into the details of a chemical synthesis as she is analyzing source code. It’s no surprise that she has been recognized as a Global Female IP Star. In even the most complicated cross-border disputes, Sana works constructively with experts and international counsel to identify novel solutions for any problem. But if a solution can’t be precipitated, her clients are glad she’s on their side. Her scientific acumen and passion for advocacy are a winning combination in any context. .

Expertise

  • Practice Areas:
  • Bar Admissions:
    • Ontario (2005)
  • Education:
    • University of Toronto Faculty of Law (2004) JD (Dean's Honours List and Awarded Dean's Key)
    • University of Sheffield, School of Law (2001) Master of Arts in Biotechnological Law and Ethics with Distinction; Special Commendation for Outstanding Performance
    • Queen's University (2000) Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry (First Class Degree; Arts and Science Honour Roll)

Details

Sana Halwani (she/her)

is a partner at Lenczner Slaght.

"A tenacious litigator. Highly respected by the judiciary, she lets her legal, technical and advocacy skills speak for themselves." — IAM Patent 1000

Sana co-leads the firm's Intellectual Property group. In patent matters, she has experience with numerous industries, including pharmaceutical and biologics, information technology, telecommunications, gaming, oil and gas, and heavy industrial. In copyright, trademark, and trade secret matters, Sana has represented diverse clients including software companies, innovator and generic drug companies, collectives, and media companies.

Sana has represented clients at all levels of the Ontario and Federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, and regularly provides strategic and regulatory advice. She has also acted pro hac vice in patent actions in the United States, and has extensive experience as part of international teams litigating large cross-border disputes.

As Chair of our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee and co-founder of ReferToHer™, a groundbreaking program that helps keep women top of mind for referrals, Sana is a leading advocate for IDEA at our firm and in the legal profession.

Sana is frequently invited to speak on topics in intellectual property, advocacy and diversity in the profession. Sana sits as the IP Law representative of the Federal Courts Rules Committee and is a former member of the Federal Court IP Users Committee. Sana holds numerous volunteer leadership positions including Director and Secretary of the Writer’s Trust of Canada, and Senior Chair of the University of Toronto Tribunal. She previously held the positions of President of the University of Toronto Alumni Association as well as Director of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) and co-Founder of its Women in IP Networking Group.

Prior to entering private practice, Sana clerked for Justice Rosalie Abella of the Supreme Court of Canada. Sana is a registered patent agent and trademark agent. She is also fluent in French.

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  • Federal Courts Rules Committee - Designated by the Minister of Justice as the IP Law representative (of the five members of the bar on this statutory Committee) (2022-present)

  • Intellectual Property Institute of Canada - Fellow; Intervention Committee; Former Co-Chair of the Women in IP Networking Group (WING); Former Member of Conference Committee; Member of the IPIC Council (2019-2021); Chair of the Litigation Committee (2018-2021)

  • University of Toronto Alumni Association - Board of Directors – President (2016-2025)

  • Governing Council, University of Toronto - College of Electors (2015-2019)

  • University of Toronto - Academic Tribunal, Senior Chair (2013-present)

  • University of Toronto Faculty of Law - Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy (2010-2019)

  • Advisory Committee on Prothonotary Appointments - Bar Representative (September 2017-2020)

  • Federal Court IP Users Committee - Member (2018-2024)

  • Harold G. Fox Moot in Intellectual Property - Judge (2011-present)

  • Chiefs in Intellectual Property - Toronto Chapter

  • Writers' Trust of Canada - Board of Directors, Secretary, EDI Committee and Governance Committee (2020-present)

  • University of Toronto - Law Alumni Association (2010-2018)

  • Rouge Valley Health System - Research Ethics Board (2014-2017)

  • The Advocates' Society

  • Canadian Bar Association - Ontario

  • Ontario Bar Association

  • American Bar Association - Intellectual Property Law Section

  • The Mabin School - Board of Directors, Governance, and Strategy & Equity Committees (2022-present)

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  • Chambers Global (2019-2025)

    Intellectual Property: Litigation (Canada)

  • Chambers Canada (2019-2025)

    Intellectual Property: Litigation (Nationwide – Canada)

  • IAM Patent 1000 (2016-2025)

    Patent Litigation: Recommended Individual (Gold)

  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2018-2025)

    Intellectual Property (Most Frequently Recommended), Litigation - Intellectual Property (Most Frequently Recommended), Life Sciences & Health (Consistently Recommended), Litigation - Corporate Commercial (Repeatedly Recommended)

  • Lexpert Guide to the Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada (2020-2025)

    Intellectual Property; Intellectual Property Litigation

  • Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Litigation Lawyers (2018-2024)

  • Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers (2021-2025)

  • Lexpert Rising Stars (2018)

    Leading Lawyers Under 40

  • Managing Intellectual Property: IP STARS (2017-2025)

    Patent Star – Canada, Trademark Star – Canada, Top 250 Women in IP

  • Best Lawyers in Canada (2023)

    Toronto "Lawyer of the Year" in Intellectual Property Law


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