Matthew Zischka

As managing director of Smart & Biggar, Matthew Zischka is responsible for the strategic direction of the firm and its day-to-day operations, including oversight of its leadership team. He is passionate about excellent client service, transparency, employee engagement, mentoring the future generation of firm leaders, and supporting the larger community outside the firm. As a seasoned lawyer, he has guided his clients through complex IP challenges – providing legal advice in transactions, licensing, interpretation of commercial agreements, and in establishing intellectual property policies, as well providing litigation support. As an engineer and patent agent, he has experience advising public and private companies in patent matters in the electrical, software, electronics, cloud, mobile, mechanical, and medical device fields, and in emerging technologies such as AI, cryptography, and fintech. He has held leadership roles across the industry, including at IPIC, AIPPI, and the AIPLA. He has been chairman of the IPIC patent practice committee, director of the IPIC-McGill summer patents course, and a sessional instructor of patent law and policy at one of Canada’s leading law schools. He is currently secretary and treasurer of AIPPI Canada.