Avneet has experience in India, having practiced for almost a decade in litigation and contract portfolios for various entertainment, news & media, technology, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceutical, electronic, and other Fortune 500 companies. Avneet continues her IP practice in Canada, providing advice in the digital and IP transactional sector on broad areas covering sports and entertainment law, franchising law and privacy law as well as establishing a robust trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement practice.

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

• 10 years varied and increasingly responsible experience in Intellectual Property Law, Immigration law, Contracts, Criminal and Civil Litigation and Human Rights Law 
• Performed due diligence analysis for various technology transfer, business acquisitions and joint ventures 
• Extensive experience of handling, resolution and documentation of legal issues, transactions and litigation

REPRESENTATIVE WORK

• Counsel for chemical company in Canada on strategy to establish their franchising business
• Counsel for a chemical company on finalizing and closing a partnership with an indigenous partner
• Counsel to a fast-food chain in India on launching their brand in India and globally as well as managing their global trademark portfolio
• Counsel to an FMCG in India on their global IP portfolio management
• Counsel to a pharmaceutical company in India on management of their IP portfolio in India
• Counsel to a pharmaceutical company in India for drafting opposition to a patent application
• In-house counsel for an entertainment and media company in India as head of IP division for India and global, and was legal lead of IP for the Group comprising of 45 companies reporting directly to the Group General Counsel.
• As in-house counsel for an entertainment and media company, launched brands in India and abroad for television, digital media, OTT media services and segmented channel content for India including representation at the Central Board of Film Certification. Also registered trademark of a well-known mark in India. Drafted the IP, social media and privacy policies for the Group.
• As in-house counsel for an entertainment and media company, educated business on use of IP and standardized contract for IP transactions.
• Performed preliminary trademark “knock-out” searches using various electronic and online search tools in various trademark offices including India, USPTO, UKIPO, EUIPO, CIPO, IPOS
• As in-house counsel for an entertainment and media company, negotiated and closed production and performance agreements including contracting artists for a reality tv show in India
• Registered trademark agent in India and Trademark agent in training in Canada. Has appeared for clients at the Trademarks Office in India, the IPR Tribunal and High Courts
• Registered copyright and design agent in India
• Counsel for oil and gas company for managing their design and copyright portfolio in India
• Counsel for a shoe manufacturer, electronics goods and oil and gas kit manufacturers at Customs for cross-border trademark enforcement against infringement in India
• Counsel to a mobile manufacturer in India on trademark enforcement
• Counsel to a pharmaceutical company in India on their brand protection and trademark enforcement
• Counsel to an FMCG in India on their global IP brand enforcement and design application
• As in-house counsel for a news and media company, enforced copyright on YouTube, news media and blogs

Litigation and support

• Advised business and provided solutions on potential litigation and infringements before and post release of media, news, products, marketing campaigns etc. 
• Managed litigation case files for 500 matters independently 
• Supervised civil and criminal Investigations and supervised IPR raids 
• Drafted suit pleadings for IPR and Criminal matters, FIR reports and translation of legal documents 
• Advised on enforcement of copyrights on YouTube, news media and blogs 
• Implemented IPR Policy in Zee and organized training seminars, educating the business on use of copyrights and data protection

Legal Support Services 

• Facilitated communication between domestic and international clients, agents, attorneys and trademark offices on a daily basis 
• Maintained docketing calendar for large portfolios: 4,000 to 6,000 matters 
• Researched Trademark laws and Copyright laws nationally and internationally 
• Reviewed and interpreted legal documents and new laws both nationally and internationally 
• Responsibilities included performing discrepancy reports for outstanding deliverables from the clients and the trademark agents 
• Authored and implemented benchmarked best practices for IP docketing and e-billing to increase productivity and efficiency 
• Monitored up-coming due dates for all pending applications during each phase of Trademark and Copyright prosecution. 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• Intake Consultant – Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission Aug 2020 – Jul 2022
• Manager- Essel Group (Zee TV), Noida Jan 2017 – Aug 2019
• Senior Associate- Kochhar & Co, New Delhi Apr 2013 – Dec 2016
• Associate- Grover & Associates, New Delhi Apr 2012 – Mar 2013
• Assistant- Montague Solicitors, London Jan 2011- Jan 2012
• Assistant- Sharma Law Solicitors, London Oct 2010 – Dec 2010

BAR ADMISSIONS & EDUCATION

• Saskatchewan Bar, 2023
• National Committee on Accreditation Certification August 2021
• Bar Council of Panjab & Haryana, 2010
• (LL.M.) Masters of Law – Queen Mary University of London – (assessed by WES- Masters in Law) Sep 2010
• (LL.B.) Bachelors of Law – Panjab University – Chandigarh – (assesses by WES – Juris Doctor in Law) Aug 2009
• (B.A.) Bachelors in Arts – Punjab University, Chandigarh – (assesses by WES Bachelors of Arts) Aug 2005

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

• Member, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Saskatoon Bar Association

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

• Speaker, ““IP/tech best practices”, CBA Corporate Counsel North and South

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Current

• Mentor,  Saskatchewan Intercultural Association

Past

• Queen Mary Students Union Volunteering Program 
• Saskatoon Open Door Society Interpreter and Volunteer 
• Junior Achievement 

LANGUAGES 

• English, Hindi and Punjabi