From luxury fashion designers to start-up tech companies, brand owners across industries and continents pour countless hours into their new products and then face a growing threat that their creative work could be copied and sold for pennies on the dollar once it hits the open market. That’s where Stephanie Vaccari steps in.
“The internet has made it much more difficult for brand owners to protect and enforce their marks because it feels like you’re playing Whack-a-mole. You get one popping up here, so you whack them, then another pops up,” said Stephanie, a partner and leading IP lawyer in our Toronto office.
“It’s tough, but because Baker McKenzie is a global company we approach it with a global perspective, so everybody works together and our strategy is to nip counterfeiting at various ports of entry, globally.”
Stephanie says our Global Intellectual Property Management initiative was one of the first of its kind and allows her to access and share information throughout our offices worldwide, so clients no longer need to worry about dealing with multiple firms across multiple countries. Stephanie and her team are a one-stop shop.
“Clients with registrations or establishments in various countries will come to us and ask, ‘What should we be doing?’ and we put together the most cost-effective strategy on where they should be registering their marks globally and how they should be protecting them,” she said. “Our GIPM is streamlined, cost- effective and it’s definitely helped our practice grow.”
Stephanie took an unusual route to becoming a leading IP lawyer. She was studying Biology at the University of Toronto when a series of events led her to contemplate other options. Then came a timely piece of advice from a professor.
“I loved science and my professor said, ‘You should get into Intellectual Property and represent us scientists.’ I wrote my LSAT and the rest is history,” she said.
She didn’t end up representing scientists but she did feel right at home in the world of IP law. Since joining Baker McKenzie 18 years ago, Stephanie has grown from being a IP and patent litigator to focusing more on global branding and the protection of trademarks. She’s now spearheading the Toronto office’s Luxury and Fashion Group, something she admits she was rather persistent in getting involved with.
“I believe in working but also having a perk, something of personal interest,” she said. “I’ve always loved fashion so this was an added benefit to my job.”
And aspiring IP lawyers take note, Stephanie says it’s crucial to stay on top of technological advances while also narrowing down your area of specialization.
“Because IP focuses on so many industries, you can’t be an expert in everything. I think you should choose a few that you’re passionate about and really learn those ones inside and out,” she said. “It’s better to know a lot about a few than a little about everything.”
Outside of her practice, Stephanie also dedicates her time as co-chair of Baker McKenzie’s Toronto Women’s Networking Group, initiated alongside fellow Partner Nancy Hamzo more than six years ago. They hold multiple events throughout the year aimed at offering a supportive environment for women to discuss their professional development and learn from leaders in their field.
“The whole premise was to provide a forum for our young female associates to have the opportunity to business-develop, and we invite all our female clients to these events as well,” she said. “It’s a place to network, hear impressive women speak, ask more personal questions and be inspired.”
