Ismaël Coulibaly, LL.M.

Lawyer / Trademark Agent / Shareholder

Lawyer (Quebec Bar) and registered Trademark agent (Canadian Intellectual Property Office), Ismaël’s practice encompasses all aspects of intellectual property, including prosecution, commercial agreements and licensing, litigation and contentious proceedings, regulatory matters and strategic counseling.

Ismaël serves clients ranging from startups, to SMEs, to large corporations in a wide array of industries, including computers and software, electronic devices, biotech and medtech, industrial equipment, automotive, fashion, jewelry, cosmetics, music, media and entertainment, food and beverages, etc.

Highly pragmatic, Ismaël is able to deal with complex intellectual property issues and deliver tailored advices and solutions for his clients, from a business perspective.

His trademark practice has contributed to BENOÎT & CÔTÉ being ranked in the IPPractice Top 50 Canada.

Ismaël has been recognized by the World Trademark Review (WTR 1000) as a “World’s Leading Trademark Professional” (2022).

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In parallel to his practice, Ismaël has been involved in the field of intellectual property along the years: administrator at FORPIQ (International Forum on Intellectual Property), lecturer at Polytechnique Montréal (Internet and civil liability), workshop at CENTECH, reviewer for Les Cahiers de propriété intellectuelle (CPI), coach and mentor at Coopérathon and Startup Weekend.

His community involvement has led Ismaël to be director of strategic partnerships for REPAF (Réseau des entrepreneurs et professionnels africains) and a member of the board of directors of Parasports Québec.

Ismaël is the winner of the ESTim 2021 contest (Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Montreal) in the “Young Leader” category, and Governor of the Quebec Bar Foundation.

A sports enthusiast, Ismaël holds a 1st dan black belt in Taekwondo (a discipline in which he won the French university championship), has completed the Montreal Marathon and various running challenges.

CONTACT

EDUCATION

  • Quebec Bar (2013).
  • Registered Trademark agent (CIPO) (2016).
  • Master’s degree in business law (LL.M.), IP/IT, University of Montreal (2011).
  • IP Certificates : Trademarks, Copyright, Patents, McGill/IPIC (2014).
  • Certificate in IP Licensing, Osgoode Hall Law School of York University (2018).
  • Master 1, Business law (France) (2009).
  • Administrateur de la relève (ADR), Collège des administrateurs de sociétés de l'Université Laval | RJCCQ (2015).

EXPERTISE

Representative mandates
  • -International management of the brand portfolio of a global leader in the software industry.
  • -Representation of a Canadian leader in the video game industry in the drafting and negotiation of various licensing agreements.
  • -International trademark registration via the Madrid Protocol for a world leader in NMR instruments.
  • -Trade-mark consulting and strategic guidance for a Canadian leader in the field of lingerie.
  • -Intellectual property consulting for a global leader in the transportation industry in connection with a rail equipment construction contract.
  • -Defending a POS software company in copyright infringement litigation.
  • -Representation of a biotech company in trademark opposition proceedings.
  • -Defending an industrial equipment manufacturer in patent infringement litigation.
  • -Counsel to a touch interface technology company in connection with collaborative development agreements and licensing.
  • -Assisting a travel technology company in removing IP infringing content from social networking platforms.
  • -Defending a literary publishing house in a copyright dispute (plagiarism).
  • -Counsel to a Canadian leader in GNSS systems in strategic discussions with a competitor in patent matters.
  • -Counsel to a company in the agricultural industry in an unfair competition (passing-off) dispute of commercial packaging of products.
  • -Setting up an intellectual property strategy for a company in the cosmetics and beauty products industry.
  • -Setting up and registering certification marks for training institutes.
  • -Consulting in the context of a transaction (investment) involving a medtech company.
  • -Representation of an architectural firm in a copyright infringement dispute over plans.
  • -Representation of a microbrewery in trademark infringement litigation.
  • -Drafting and negotiating a manufacturing and licensing agreement in the automotive parts industry.
  • -Consulting a company in the field of medical devices in regulatory matters: Charter of the French language, packaging and labeling, Health Canada.
  • -Consulting a biotech company (CBD) in the setting up of a joint venture and licensing structures.
  • -Counsel to a wine producing company in trademark cancellation proceedings (Section 45).
  • -Intellectual property advice for an IT startup in employment contracts/consultation.
  • -Representation of artists in drafting and negotiating production contracts.
  • -Representation of a sports equipment manufacturer in connection with a settlement agreement and trademark coexistence agreement.
  • -Counsel for a pharmaceutical process company in a fraudulent transfer of intellectual property assets.
  • -Drafting and implementation of legal notices for an online platform in the health field.
  • -Negotiation with technology valuation companies in the context of commercialization licenses.
  • -Drafting and negotiation of collaborative development contracts between state-owned companies and technology startups.

MEMBERSHIPS

  • APRAM (Association des Praticiens du Droit des Marques et des Modèles)
  • Licensing Executives Society (LES)
  • International Trademark Association (INTA) delegation at Benoît & Côté
  • Member of the Montreal Young Bar (YBM)
  • Member of the College of Patent and Trademark Agents (CAPTA)
  • Member of the Quebec Association of trademarks practitioners (RPM)
  • Member of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)
  • Member of the Board at FORPIQ (International Forum on Intellectual Property)
  • Member of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), Quebec Chapter
  • Member of the African Business Network (REPAF)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Publications / conferences
  • Les Cahiers de propriété intellectuelle, « Marques de commerce en 2021 : cinq décisions d’intérêt », vol. 34, n°2, Éditions Yvon Blais, Mai 2022
  • Association Littéraire et Artistique Internationale (ALAI), « Le dernier mot sur les contrats en droit d’auteur », October 20, 2021
  • Lexology, “Bake at your own risks : a cautionary tale about making your own bread”, June 1st, 2021
  • Isarta, « Nouvelle marque déposée ça va bien aller », April 16, 2020
  • Revue fancophone de propriété intellectuelle, « L’utilisation de marques de commerce de tiers dans la publicité au Canada », RFPI, n°9, November 2019
  • Les Cahiers de propriété intellectuelle, « Marques de commerce en 2017 : cinq décisions d’intérêt », vol. 20, n°2, Éditions Yvon Blais, May 2018
  • Revue PLAN (Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec), « Véhicules autonomes : les principaux freins législatifs » (Dossier Transport de l'avenir), Volume LV, N° 3, May 2018 ; « L’idée ne fait pas l’inventeur » (Dossier propriété intellectuelle), Volume LIV, N° 6, November 2017
  • Futurpreneur, « Protéger l’apparence visuelle de vos créations par dessins industriels, un outil efficace à ne pas négliger ! »; “Launching Your Tech Startup : Pre-Flight IP Checklist. Laying The Foundations For A Smooth Ride Into Orbit”; “Put It On Paper ! Startup Safety Tips for Navigating Through Rough Waters”; « L’idée ne fait pas l’inventeur ! Comment protéger son idée d’affaires », 2017-2018
  • Droitdu.net, « Cybersquatting .CA et marques de commerce: tel est pris qui croyait prendre… »; « Référencement internet et télémarketing trompeur: Allez en prison. Ne passez pas par la case départ »; « L’affichage d’une marque sur la page d’un site internet répond au critère d’usage », 2013-2014
  • Polytechnique Montréal : Internet et responsabilité civile, 2019-2021
  • Centech: École de design - Droit et propriété intellectuelle, 2019-2020
  • Expo Entrepreneurs « PI 101 : ce que les entrepreneurs doivent savoir », March 19, 2021
  • IPR Gorilla, International Virtual IP Conference “Licensing in Crisis: What Are Brands Doing Now with Existing and Future License Relationships”, November 10, 2020
  • École supérieure de mode (ESG UQAM), « Mode et propriété intellectuelle », Commerce international de la mode, December 3, 2018
  • Stratégies PME, « Protégez votre marque », November 22, 2018
  • Chambre de commerce Canada-Floride, « Marques de commerce », November 29, 2018
  • Shopify, « Protégez et valorisez vos marques offline & online : les clés d’une stratégie gagnante », en collaboration avec Safebrands, October 16, 2018
  • Licensing Executives Society (Montreal Chapter) « La propriété intellectuelle à l’épreuve des technologies émergentes », @Lab Desjardins, February 6, 2018
  • YES Montréal, « The ins and outs of trademarks registration », February 20, 2018
  • Jeune chambre de commerce de Montréal, @LaGare, Programme RJE, « La protection de l’innovation et les enjeux reliés à la propriété intellectuelle », March 28, 2017
  • Jeune Barreau de Montréal, « Développer son image de marque », LexStart’Up, March 10, 2016