Laura Easton is a senior associate in Smart & Biggar's Calgary office. As a skilled intellectual property litigator, Laura has a talent for finding practical solutions to complex problems. Laura’s practice is focused primarily on patent, trademark and copyright litigation, together with litigation surrounding misappropriation of confidential information or trade secrets. Laura also advises clients with respect to the protection of their intellectual property in the employment context. Laura has appeared before the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, all levels of the Alberta courts, the British Columbia Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. She has also appeared before the Alberta Surface Rights Board, and has represented clients in private arbitration. Laura counsels Canadian and international clients on intellectual property matters across a broad range of industries, with a particular emphasis in oil and gas. Laura focuses on understanding her clients’ respective businesses and industries in order to create strategies tailored to best serve her clients’ individualized needs.