17 Aug 2022
Smart & Biggar to sell to Australia-based IPH for $348 million
On August 17, 2022, Smart & Biggar, Canada's top IP agency firm, had entered into an agreement to become part of IPH Limited's group of prominent international IP firms. This move allowed Smart & Biggar access to IP expertise across 25 countries in the Asia-Pacific region and significant resources to improve their IP service delivery in Canada. As part of the deal, IPH was set to acquire the IP agency practice of Smart & Biggar and would hold an interest in the firm's legal practice, in compliance with Canadian regulations. This marked IPH's inaugural acquisition outside the Asia-Pacific. Matthew Zischka, Managing Partner at Smart & Biggar, highlighted that joining IPH would greatly enhance their service capabilities and foster the growth of their Canadian operations. Post-acquisition, the firm would still operate under the "Smart & Biggar" brand, with the completion expected in September 2022. Dr. Andrew Blattman, IPH's CEO, warmly welcomed Smart & Biggar's team, praising their top-notch professionals and the firm's esteemed international reputation in Canada's IP sector. He noted the similarities between Australian and Canadian IP markets and emphasized the combined entity's strength in offering comprehensive IP services with global reach.
