Background

Hafeez Rupani is an Associate in the Ottawa Office of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP and is a member of the Intellectual Property, Commercial Litigation, and Labour & Employment Groups.

Hafeez was called to the Ontario Bar in 2004 after clerking for the Honourable Mr. Justice Robert Décary of the Federal Court of Appeal. Since being called to the Bar, Hafeez has represented clients in intellectual property and commercial disputes before all levels of court, including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, and the Ontario Superior Court.  Hafeez has also represented clients before administrative tribunals, including the Trade-marks Opposition Board and the Copyright Board of Canada.

Prior to receiving his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ottawa in 2003, Hafeez received his Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A) (Hons) from the Schulich School of Business at York University in 2000 where he focused on Strategic Management and Marketing.

Areas of Practice

Hafeez's practice at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP is focused on the resolution of trade-mark, copyright, domain name, and related commercial disputes before all levels of court.  In particular, Hafeez has represented clients in trade-mark infringement, passing off, and expungement proceedings before the Federal Court; trade-mark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trade-Marks Opposition Board; and tariff proceedings before the Copyright Board of Canada and subsequent judicial reviews proceedings before the Federal Court of Appeal.

Hafeez also assists clients in the acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of intellectual property rights in Canada and around the world, and in advising clients on the application of intellectual property rights in the employment and online context, including in respect of social media.

Professional Memberships

• Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
• Ontario Bar Association (OBA)
• Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)
• International Trademark Association (INTA)
• Advocates' Society
• County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA)

Community Activities

• Member of the Legal Committee, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance Canada (2010-Present)
• Member, Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Ottawa (2010-Present)
• Chairperson, Legal Matters Portfolio, Aga Khan Ismaili Council for Ottawa (2005-2009)