Overview
Larissa Leong is a lawyer, registered patent agent, and registered trademark agent who practices in all areas of intellectual property law, with a focus on the strategic creation, protection, commercialization, and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Larissa develops global patent and intellectual property strategy.
Leveraging her degree in both computer science and pharmacology, Larissa has significant experience in patent drafting and prosecution to secure granted patents globally for complex inventions across many high-tech computer, life sciences and therapeutic, and chemical industries.
Larissa has drafted and obtained granted patents for multinational and local clients in computer software and hardware, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, blockchain, natural language processing, computer vision, fintech, cybersecurity and encryption, telecommunications, database query languages and data management systems, search engine optimization, business methods, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, chemistry, and oil and gas, among many others.
Larissa’s intellectual property law practice includes:
- Patents: Larissa drafts, prosecutes, and directs to obtain granted patents globally. She advises on freedom to operate, validity, patentability, infringement, and global patent strategy.
- Licensing, commercial agreements, and privacy: Larissa negotiates transactions and drafts complex intellectual property agreements, including licensing, joint development, software development and support, cloud computing and software as a service, transfer, and confidentiality, as well as privacy policies and terms of use.
- Trademarks, industrial designs, other intellectual property: Larissa secures trademark registrations, design patents, and registered copyrights, and advises on brand protection and enforcement.
- Litigation and enforcement: Larissa represents clients in disputes, including advising on IP enforcement, trademark opposition, cease and desist, and copyright infringement matters.
Larissa serves on the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada’s Patent Practice Committee, which liaises with government to shape patent law and practice in Canada.
Larissa draws from her experience practicing at a leading global law firm in Toronto, as well as on a secondment to the legal group of a major financial institution.
While completing her law degree, Larissa was recognized with numerous awards for academic excellence, legal writing, top standing in coursework, and community service.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Larissa conducted research in artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and medical genetics and mosaicism, including under a research award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Professional achievements & leadership
- Registered Patent Agent, Canada
- Registered Patent Agent, United States
- Registered Trademark Agent, Canada (with recognition in the United States)
Notable matters
- Advising on, drafting, and obtaining granted patents for a major Canadian university in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and computer vision
- Advising on, drafting, and obtaining granted patents for a university-originated company in computer encryption
- Advising and patent drafting for an innovative company in pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine
- Advising and obtaining granted patents for a major energy services provider in oil and gas
- Patent drafting for two major financial institutions for fintech, blockchain, and artificial intelligence innovations
- Patent drafting for another major Canadian university for electrochemistry innovations
- Negotiating and drafting joint development and licensing agreements for an industry partner of a major Canadian university
Professional memberships
- Law Society of Ontario
- Law Society of British Columbia
- College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, Patent Practice Committee
- Canadian Bar Association
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario, 2017
- British Columbia, 2018
- Juris Doctor, University of British Columbia, 2016
- Bachelor of Science with Distinction, Computer Science and Pharmacology, University of British Columbia, 2013
