Theodore Sum

Theodore Sum serves as a Partner at Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh. His practice covers all aspects of intellectual property, with particular emphasis on licensing and commercialization, patent and trademark prosecution, intellectual property due diligence, online issues including privacy and security and counselling Canadian, U.S. and foreign clients on the strategic management and exploitation of their intellectual property assets. Theodore works with domestic and international clients in numerous industries and with varied technologies and intellectual property, including clients in the high tech, software, energy, clean tech, aerospace, defence, robotics, telecommunications, transportation, mining and forestry industries. He has extensive experience advising on a broad range of intellectual property matters involving the research, development, acquisition, clearance, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, supply and exploitation of products, processes, devices, systems and related intellectual property. Theodore has also built a strong practice in the development and execution of revenue generating licensing programs, including structuring, drafting, negotiating and rendering opinions on license agreements for various types of intellectual property-related assets and rights. Theodore is regularly involved in advising on intellectual property matters relating to research and commercial collaborations and joint ventures, strategic alliances, technology transfers, IP-related commercial contracts (including manufacturing, distribution, supply or technical assistance agreements), marketing, advertising and merchandising agreements, and e-commerce and other online-related agreements. Theodore's technical training involved a combined focus on mathematics and computer science. His knowledge of software systems and architectures, computational science, modeling, programming languages, data structures and design, and computer graphics are an additional asset to clients operating in these areas. Theodore is frequently involved in public speaking engagements covering a broad range of intellectual property and information technology issues. Theodore is also the author of several papers on a variety of intellectual property and information technology law issues. Theodore has been an instructor at the University of British Columbia Law School for many years, teaching intellectual property law. He has also been a lecturer on licensing at the University of Victoria Law School.