Corporate Lawyer & Registered Trademark Agent
Helping clients with their corporate and commercial matters, business transactions, & trademark registration and enforcement.
Year of Call.
Alberta
2022
First Nations
Practice Areas.
Yukon
2015
British Columbia
2009
Bio
Kristi is a corporate and commercial lawyer who advises businesses and professionals at every stage of the business lifecycle. She advises on private company transactions of varying size and complexity, business start-ups, re-organizations and other corporate law matters, and the drafting and negotiation of a range of commercial agreements, including commercial leases, supply agreements, service agreements and employment contracts. Kristi works with businesses across a variety of industries, with notable experience in the energy sector, First Nations economic development, and advising regulated health professionals. Her experience working both in private practice and in-house provides her with a practical understanding of how legal advice must support operational and commercial decision-making.
As a Registered Canadian Trademark Agent, Kristi advises on the adoption of new trademarks, files and prosecutes trademark applications in Canada, and represents clients in enforcement matters, including opposition and expungement proceedings. Her combined corporate and intellectual property experience allows her to provide strategic advice that integrates brand protection with broader commercial planning.
Kristi approaches the practice of law as a collaborative partnership with her clients. She takes the time to understand each client’s business, priorities, and risk tolerance in order to provide practical and commercially grounded solutions that support their business objectives.
Kristi was raised in Saskatchewan, then completed her studies in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland area. She spent time in the Yukon before settling in Calgary, where she appreciates the city’s balance of professional opportunity, access to nature, and friendly people.
Education
University of British Columbia, 2008, LL.B
Simon Fraser University, 1999, BSc.
Professional Memberships & Courses
-
College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents (Canada)
-
Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
-
Canadian Bar Association Tax Law for Lawyers Conference (2024)
-
Canadian Bar Association, Business Law, Intellectual Property Law & Tax Law Sections
Representative Work
Mergers & Acquisitions.
-
Counsel on private company purchases and sales ranging from the sale of a $10 million food products business to transactions in the $500,000- $3 million range, including dental practices, bottle depots, pharmacies, a greenhouse, and a high-end barbershop.
Commodity Trading.
-
As in-house counsel, supported commodity trading, origination and credit teams, including drafting, revising and negotiating electricity supply agreements, renewable energy credit agreements and related credit support arrangements.
First Nations Economic Development
-
Advised self-governed First Nations, their economic development corporations and trusts on governance, corporate law matters, employment issues and property development, with attention to cultural considerations and the applicable legislative framework.
Leasing
-
Responsible for lease due diligence and tenant matters in connection with the purchase of a $30 million shopping complex; reviewed and negotiated commercial leases for both tenants and landlords; advised property managers and developers on commercial leasing and tenant matters; drafted options to lease for clean energy projects.
Corporate Re-organization & Succession Planning
-
Advised on succession planning for a family real estate business, on a corporate re-organization involving a hardware business as part of an estate matter, and documented re-organizations for a variety of businesses, including family-owned businesses.
Business Start-Up
-
Assisted with the launch of various businesses, including a specialty medical clinic, involving lease negotiation, physician service agreements, corporate structuring, medical research contracts, and patient waivers.
Supply, Distribution & Procurement
-
Drafted and negotiated distribution agreements, master supply agreements and master services agreements relating to the procurement or supply of goods and services such as software, pet supplements, beer and power plant testing services.
Debt Financing
-
Advised borrowers and private lenders on debt financing secured by specific assets, general personal property, shares, and intellectual property.
Trademark Enforcement
-
Represented a natural supplements business in trademark expungement proceedings initiated by a competitor, resolved by the sale of the trademarks at a satisfactory price.
-
Represented lifestyle nightclub in enforcing trademark rights and in opposition proceedings taken against similarly named restaurant/nightclub, resulting in a co-existence agreement and registration of the client’s trademark; also drafted a license agreement for operation of a branded club in another city.
-
Successfully opposed a trademark registration on behalf of the vendor of tangible business assets in a dispute with the purchaser (see: Au-Yeung v Taste of BC Fine Foods Ltd, 2015 TMOB 161; aff’d 2017 FC 299); and
-
Represented clients in enforcing trademark rights against potentially infringing businesses, including representing a wilderness tourism cooperative, an indoor golf establishment, a medispa, a law firm, and a property developer; resolutions included licensing, settlement and co-existence agreements.
