The rules have changed. Quebec's Bill 96 represents one of the most significant legislative shifts in Canadian trade mark practice, imposing stringent French-language requirements that demand immediate attention. For UK practitioners advising clients with Canadian interests, understanding these provisions is essential.
This session delivers a focused examination of Bill 96's requirements and their practical application in trade mark prosecution. We'll explore how established multilingual jurisdictions - including Switzerland and the EU - balance linguistic mandates with commercial realities, providing valuable comparative insights.
You'll hear directly from practitioners and international filers who navigate these complexities daily, offering battle-tested strategies for compliance and risk management.
This session provides the technical knowledge and practical frameworks you need to guide clients confidently through an increasingly complex landscape.
Learning outcomes:
- Understand Bill 96's core requirements and practical implications for trade mark filings in Quebec
- Identify compliance strategies for French-language trade mark obligations in Canadian practice
- Compare multilingual trade mark approaches across jurisdictions, including Switzerland and the EU
- Apply best practices for advising clients on trade mark protection in linguistically diverse markets
- Anticipate common pitfalls and client questions when navigating multilingual trade mark requirements
This webinar supports skill set 1.1: objections of the Advanced Competency Framework.
Meet your speakers
Shelagh Carnegie, Gowling WLG
Shelagh Carnegie is a partner and the co-head of the firm's Global Intellectual Property Group. Based in Toronto, she focuses her practice on all aspects of the trademark prosecution lifecycle. Shelagh is also a member of the firm's China Management Team that oversees the operations of its China offices.
Routinely distinguished as a leader in her field by publications such as World Trademark Review, Managing Intellectual Property, Chambers Canada, Chambers Global, Lexpert and Best Lawyers, Shelagh has extensive experience helping a local and international clientele clear, protect, commercialize, and enforce their trademark rights at home and abroad.
Over the course of her nearly 20-year career, she has provided sophisticated solutions to companies across an array of industry sectors, including alcohol, automotive, cannabis, clothing, food and beverage, consumer products, manufacturing, medical devices, professional services and technology.
As co-head of Gowling WLG's Global IP Group, Shelagh works closely with colleagues in Canada, China, France, Germany, the UK, Singapore, the UAE and other locales to strengthen and streamline the firm's offerings across all areas of IP law – including with respect to IP prosecution, enforcement, litigation and transactional work.
Melissa Tehrani, Gowling WLG
Melissa Tehrani is a partner in Gowling WLG's Montréal office and the leader of the firm's National Advertising & Regulatory Group – the largest, most awarded and recommended advertising and marketing law practice in Canada. Recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, Melissa is a trusted legal advisor for many of the country's leading brands and agencies.
Harnessing experience across a number of industry sectors – including consumer goods and retail, financial services, automotive and telecommunications.
Outside of her work with clients, Melissa is a respected thought leader and frequent speaker in advertising law, and is regularly sought by media – including CBC, BNN Bloomberg, CityNews and the Montreal Gazette – to provide insight and context on an array of advertising-related issues in the public eye. She is also a recurring speaker at Lexpert magazine's annual Advertising and Marketing Law and Social Media Law conferences, as well as at conferences presented by the Law Society of Ontario, the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, the Ontario Bar Association and OsgoodePD.
In addition to her speaking appearances, Melissa writes on a range of topics related to her practice. She authored the Canadian chapter of International Advertising Law (Wolters Kluwer) and is a contributing author of Advertising and Marketing Law in Canada (LexisNexis).
She is also co-editor of, and frequent contributor to, Gowling WLG's AdBytes: Advertising & Product Regulatory publication, and sits on the Advisory Committee for How2Recycle (GreenBlue).
Daniel Zohny, Abion
Daniel's 20+ year career in Intellectual Property law spans from his studies, including an LL.M. in IP from Cardozo Law School and bar qualifications in Germany and New York, to significant professional achievements. As FIFA's Head of IP, he led an award-winning team, managing all facets of IP for the organization, notably the brand protection and ticketing enforcement programmes for the FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, including for the FIFA World Cup QATAR 2022.
Daniel also plays an instrumental role in INTA, having served on the Board of Directors and as an officer on the Executive Committee, most recently as Vice President. In 2025 he co-chaired the Presidential Task Force exploring the changing roles of in-house counsel and effects on external partners and ultimately INTA. Renowned in the field, he has been recognized by IP publications and frequently shares his insights at industry events.
Daniel leads Abion’s Switzerland office as a partner and country manager. He is also co-responsible for the company's global brand protection business segment.
Programme:
- 15:00: Presentation
- 15:45: Q&A
- 16:00: Close
Cost
- Member £0 (VAT exempt)
- Standard £35 (VAT exempt)
To note
- Payment online via debit or credit card only; proforma invoices are not available.
- Full terms and conditions apply.
- Closing date: 10am, Wednesday 4th February 2026
