Natalie Raffoul is the managing partner of BRION RAFFOUL LLP and a world-renowned expert in the patenting of software, business methods, artificial intelligence (Al) and machine learning (ML), and the legal issues surrounding such subject matter. She is consistently ranked among the world's leading patent practitioners in the IAM Patent 1000 publication annually since 2014, and shortlisted as one of the most Highly Recommended patent prosecutors in Canada. Since 2020, she has been recognized in the IAM Strategy 300: The World's Leading IP Strategists. She is frequently called upon by the Canadian and Ontario governments to advise on IP and commercialization issues, and Natalie is frequently published or quoted in the leading Canadian news publications, such as the Globe and Mail and the Hill Times, on current IP and licensing issues. In 2019, Natalie was appointed to Ontario, Canada's first Expert Panel on IP led by Jim Balsillie (former Co-CEO of BlackBerry), and in 2020, she was appointed as an advisor to the Joint Minister's Roundtable on the Ontario Health Data Platform. Since 2018, she has been recognized in Who's Who Legal as a world-leading expert for patents in Canada.
As a patent agent, Ms. Raffoul specializes in filing and prosecuting patent and design applications for her Canadian clients worldwide. She advises clients, in English and French, on worldwide patent filing strategies and portfolio management, including trade secret considerations. As a lawyer, Ms. Raffoul works with clients on IP enforcement issues in the pre-litigation context. She is also experienced in drafting customized IP ownership agreements, software licence and service agreements.
Ms. Raffoul holds a degree in electrical engineering from Western University (London, Canada) and a JD in law from Queen's University (Kingston, Canada). She is also a registered patent agent.
Year founded firm: 2008