Expertise
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Practice Areas:
- Bar Admissions:
- Education:
- McGill University (1999) BCL/LLB
- Tufts University (1995) BA
Details
- Bio
- Cases
- Associations
- Blog Posts
- News & Media
- Publications & Presentations
- Recognition
Jordana Sanft (she/her)
is a partner at Lenczner Slaght.
"Jordana draws upon her experience, technical expertise, advocacy skills, and comprehensive understanding of the law to deliver the best results for her clients." — Chambers Canada
Jordana is a leading litigator with over 25 years of experience in complex, high-stakes disputes, from patent, trademark, and copyright litigation to commercial disputes and judicial review. She co-leads the firm's Intellectual Property group. Jordana is known for creative, pragmatic litigation strategies grounded in deep technical and industry knowledge and a thorough understanding of her clients' business objectives. She treats her clients as partners, acting as a trusted adviser from the earliest stages of a dispute through to its resolution and achieving successful results in and out of the courtroom.
Jordana regularly acts in patent impeachment and infringement actions, including proceedings under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, and has particular expertise in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry, having worked on some of the most complex cases in Canada. Jordana led the first precedent-setting challenges under the amended PM(NOC) Regulations. She also represents clients in judicial review proceedings, including challenges to administrative decisions and delegated legislation, regulatory matters, and damages actions. Her litigation practice extends across a wide range of industries, including technology, biotechnology, infrastructure, consumer products, energy, packaged goods, hospitality, and agriculture. She is particularly sought after by clients who put innovation and technology at the core of their business.
Jordana engages closely with clients to align litigation strategy with their commercial objectives at the local and global level. She is experienced in coordinating multi-jurisdictional litigation and navigating the cross-border complexities that arise in global disputes. She advises clients on pre-litigation strategy, developing sophisticated and practical positions to achieve the strongest possible outcomes throughout the litigation lifecycle. Whether enforcing intellectual property rights or managing commercial disputes, Jordana brings the same rigour and strategic depth to every engagement.
Jordana is a recognized thought leader on emerging issues in IP and technology, including the intersection of intellectual property and artificial intelligence. She is deeply engaged in the legal and IP community as a committee member, Chair, Director, mentor, and frequent speaker and writer.
Jordana has appeared as counsel before the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and specialized tribunals including the Trademarks Opposition Board. She is a registered patent and trademark agent.
Recognized nationally and globally for her deep expertise, Jordana is trusted by clients as a powerful advocate who brings innovation, energy, and rigour to their most complex and commercially significant cases.
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Genentech Inc and Hoffmann-La Roche Limited v Biosimilar Collaborations Ireland Limited
Counsel to Genentech Inc and Hoffmann-La Roche Limited in a PM(NOC) action in the Federal Court in respect of Canadian Patent Nos. 2,788,253 and 2,711,798.
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Counsel to Hoffmann-La Roche Limited in an application for judicial review in the Federal Court, in respect of a decision made by the Minister of Health and its continued course of conduct in respect of the filing of a new drug submission by Biosimilar Collaborations Ireland Limited.
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Confidential Construction Arbitration
Counsel to a contractor against a sub contractor in a confidential construction arbitration relating to negligence, breach of contract, and damages arising from deficient installation of shoring and foundation systems.
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Adeia Guides v BCE Inc, Ericsson et al
Counsel to Adeia Guides, Inc. and Adeia Media Holdings LLC in a patent infringement action involving four patents related to digital entertainment technologies.
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Carol Rosenstein v Queen Productions Limited et al
Counsel for Carol Rosenstein in a dispute with Queen Productions Limited, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc. over the copyright infringement of several Queen music videos directed and produced by Bruce Gowers, including the music video for Bohemian Rhapsody.
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Gilead Sciences, Inc et al v Apotex Inc
Counsel to Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. in a NOC action in the Federal Court in respect of Canadian Patent Nos. 2,845,553 and 2,990,210.
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Gilead Sciences, Inc et al v Apotex Inc
Counsel to Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. in a NOC action in the Federal Court in respect of Canadian Patent No. 2,845,553.
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Gilead Sciences Inc, et al v JAMP Pharma Corporation
Counsel to Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. in a NOC action in the Federal Court in respect of Canadian Patent No. 2,845,553.
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Gilead Sciences, Inc et al v JAMP Pharma Corporation
Counsel to Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. in a NOC action in the Federal Court in respect of Canadian Patent No. 2,990,210.
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Gilead Sciences, Inc et al v Natco Pharma (Canada) Inc
Counsel to Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Gilead Sciences Canada, Inc. in a NOC action in the Federal Court in respect of Canadian Patent No. 2,845,553.
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Intellectual Property Institute of Canada - Executive Board-Treasurer (2025-2026); Director (2022-2024); Conference Committee Chair (2021-2023); Vice Chair (2019-2021); Women in IP Networking Group; Intervention Committee (2025-2028)
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Canadian Bar Association - Intellectual Property Section; Federal Courts Bench and Bar Liaison Committee - Chair (2023-2025) and Member (2022-2023); IP Court Practice Committee - Chair (2017-2020) and Member (2021-present)
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International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
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The Toronto Intellectual Property Group
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ChIPs - Non-profit organization advancing women in technology, law and policy
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The York School - Risk Committee of the Board of Directors; Member at Large (2017-2022)
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Youth Rising Above - Board Member (2021-2022)
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Making a Splash in Patent Law: The Federal Court of Appeal Clarifies Overbreadth and Utility
ProSlide Technology and WhiteWater West Industries are the two largest competitors in the global water slide market. That competitive pressure has, perhaps inevitably, spilled into the courtroom.
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25 for 25: IP Milestones from the Last Quarter Century
As 2025 draws to a close, we present a curated set of 25 turning points in Canadian intellectual property law from 2001–2025. Each entry touches on a key Canadian IP development and distills why it matters. These decisions, reforms, and treaty-driven changes moved the dial and continue to shape how businesses build IP portfolios, negotiate deals, and win disputes.
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DABUS Down, Not Done: Thaler Appeals Canadian Ruling on AI Inventorship
As we predicted in our earlier comment, Dr. Stephen Thaler – who created an AI system that allegedly conceived two disparate yet novel products – is not giving up his bid to have that system (DABUS) awarded a Canadian patent.
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Robots Rejected: Canada Denies AI as Patent Inventor
The wait is over – the Canadian Patent Appeal Board (the Board) has answered the question we’ve been tracking since 2022: can an artificial intelligence (AI) system be named as an inventor on a Canadian patent application? That answer, delivered in Re Thaler, Stephen, is no.
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From Red Carpet to Rights: Top 5 IP Considerations for TIFF Goers
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) isn’t just a red carpet for filmmakers – it’s a global marketplace where content creators, distributors, investors, business professionals, and film enthusiasts converge. Amid all the glitz and creative content, intellectual property (IP) issues may not be top of mind for many at TIFF, but a film’s journey from inception to screening should carefully curate relevant IP rights to avoid unhappy IP plot twists. In this post we discuss five practical IP considerations for navigating the film festival.
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Class Dismissed: Copyright Reverse Class Action Fails to Get Passing Grade
On July 16, 2025, a long-running effort by several film studios to have claims of copyright infringement decided by way of reverse class action reached a further impasse. In Voltage Pictures v Robert Salna (Voltage FCA #2), the Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) dismissed – for a second time – the studios’ appeal for certification of a proposed class of unknown individual defendants.
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On the heels of Canada Day and with Canadian patriotism on the rise, many companies doing business in Canada are eager to promote their products as “Canadian”. Before wrapping a product in the Canadian flag, and to avoid common pitfalls, the legal and regulatory requirements for “Made in Canada” and “Canadian” claims should be considered.
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Coming Soon: Changes to Trademark Proceedings in Canada
On April 1, 2025, various amendments to the Trademarks Act and Trademarks Regulations will come into force. The overarching theme of the upcoming amendments is to increase efficiency and effectiveness in trademark proceedings before the Trademarks Opposition Board (TMOB) and the Federal Court.
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The U.S. Copyright Office released a comprehensive report titled "Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Part 2: Copyrightability" (“U.S. Copyrightability Report”) in January 2025, which delves into the complex issue of copyright protection for AI-generated material.
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Following on Health Canada’s plan to introduce new regulations aimed at addressing therapeutic product shortages as discussed previously in our Fall Regulatory Roundup, proposed amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations and Medical Device Regulations were published for public comment on December 28, 2024. The comment period closes on March 8, 2025.
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Lenczner Slaght Celebrates 25 Years on the Lexpert Bull’s-Eye
The 2026 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory continues to recognize Lenczner Slaght as the #1 firm in Toronto for Litigation and Commercial Litigation.
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized in World-Renowned Directory, Chambers Global
For the 24th consecutive year, Canada’s leading litigation firm and its expert litigators have been recognized in world-renowned directory, Chambers Global.
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11 Lenczner Slaght Litigators Recognized in Lexpert 500 Cross Border
The 2026 edition of Lexpert's Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers features 11 of our preeminent lawyers, reflecting their exceptional advocacy and the trusted counsel they provide to clients navigating complex, high-stakes cross-border disputes.
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized in Legal 500 Canada for Litigation Excellence
As Canada’s leading litigation firm, we are proud to maintain our Tier 1 ranking in Dispute Resolution in Legal 500 Canada.
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Lenczner Slaght Recognized as Canada’s Leading Litigators
Based on an in-depth peer review process across the legal profession, 26 Lenczner Slaght lawyers are recognized in the 2025 Lexpert Special Edition: Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers for their exceptional advocacy and extensive courtroom experience.
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Toronto Bar Asked to Remove Post Featuring Blue Jays Logo
Interviewed by CBC News, Jordana Sanft explains why businesses should avoid using sports team's logos without permission, and why it’s essential for brands to actively protect their own trademarks to prevent consumer confusion and dilution.
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Calling on the Feds to Close the Federal Courts’ Funding Gap
Jordana Sanft was featured in an article by the Canadian Bar Association’s National Magazine on the funding gap facing Canada's federal courts. Jordana reinforced the importance of having adequate resources to protect judicial independence, uphold the rule of law, and maintain public confidence in Canada's justice system.
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LMG Life Sciences Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Expertise in Patent Litigation
Lenczner Slaght is proud to once again be recognized for its patent litigation expertise in the latest edition of LMG Life Sciences, following extensive qualitative research informed by client and peer feedback
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Chambers Canada Highlights Lenczner Slaght’s Excellence in Advocacy
Canada’s leading litigation firm continues to be recognized in world-renowned directory, with new rankings highlighting its deep bench of expertise.
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Lenczner Slaght Litigators Featured Among Best Lawyers in Canada
The 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada recognizes Lenczner Slaght with 180+ rankings, featuring 48 of our expert litigators across 27 practice areas.
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2025 Snapshot: Through the Lens of Lenczner Slaght
We’ve released our 2025 Snapshot, highlighting the most significant developments, decisions, and trends in litigation from the past year across 21 practice areas. Reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026 through the lens of our expert litigators.
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Patent Agent Training Course: Infringement & Validity
Jordana Sanft served as a lead instructor at the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada’s Patent Agent Training Course: Infringement & Validity, on the Virtual Lectures and Workshops "Section 1: Patent Infringement", which took place from February 4-6. The program covered core principles of patent infringement and included hands-on exercises to deepen students' understanding of these key concepts.
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Jordana Sanft, Anna McAllister, and Kyle Magee were invited to speak at McGill University – Faculty of Law's integration workshop on “Effective Factum Writing."
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14th Annual University of Toronto Patent Colloquium
Jordana Sanft was invited to share her expertise at the University of Toronto’s annual Patent Colloquium. Jordana presented on the panel titled, Utility and Sound Prediction.
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Jordana Sanft was invited to moderate the session, Redefining Deference: Implications for IP Professionals, at the IPIC 2025 Conference. Jordana led a discussion on the recent judicial shifts reshaping standards of review for administrative decisions. The session focused on the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2024 rulings in Auer and TransAlta, which favours a reasonableness standard for subordinate legislation.
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IP Litigation in the AI Era: Challenges and Strategies
Jordana Sanft was invited to share her expertise at the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)'s AI & IP Law Webinar Series. Jordana spoke on the panel, IP Litigation in the AI Era: Challenges and Strategies where she discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of intellectual property litigation. The session covered both the opportunities and potential risks associated with using AI in trial preparation and during trial, while also addressing principles, practice directions, and professional obligations relating to its use at trial.
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Jordana Sanft was invited to speak at a joint event hosted by the Intellectual Property Society of Osgoode and the Osgoode Women's Network, titled Women in IP Panel. Jordana shared her insights on building a successful career in intellectual property law, strategies for professional growth, and navigating the path to senior leadership roles.
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Patent Agent Training Course: Infringement & Validity
Jordana Sanft was invited to share her expertise at the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada’s Patent Agent Training Course: Infringement & Validity. Jordana served as a lead instructor on the Virtual Lectures and Workshops on "Section 1: Patent Infringement", which took place from February 5-7. The program covered core principles of patent infringement and included hands-on exercises to deepen students' understanding of these key concepts.
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2024 Snapshot: Through the Lens of Lenczner Slaght
Lenczner Slaght launches our 2024 Snapshot, which highlights the most significant developments, decisions, and trends in litigation from the past year across 20 areas of expertise. Reflect on 2024 and look ahead to 2025 through the lens of our expert litigators.
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Intellectual Property Commercialization
Jordana Sanft was invited to speak as a guest lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School on the topic of Intellectual Property Enforcement.
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Chambers Global (2020-2026)
Intellectual Property – Litigation (Canada)
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Chambers Canada (2020-2026)
Intellectual Property: Litigation (Nationwide – Canada), Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation (Nationwide – Canada) (2022)
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Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (2018-2026)
Intellectual Property (Most Frequently Recommended), Litigation - Intellectual Property (Consistently Recommended), Life Sciences & Health (Consistently Recommended)
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Technology Lawyers (2021-2025)
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Lexpert Special Edition: Canada's Leading Health Sciences Lawyers (2021-2025)
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Best Lawyers in Canada (2015-2026)
Intellectual Property & Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
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IAM Global Leader (2025-2026)
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IAM Patent 1000 (2019-2020; 2022-2025)
Patent Litigation: Recommended Individual (Gold)
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Lexology Index: Canada (2018-2026)
IP – Patents (Global Leader), Healthcare & Life Sciences – Patent Litigation (Global Leader), Healthcare & Life Sciences – Regulatory (Global Leader), Patents (National Leader), Patent Agents (National Leader), Life Sciences (National Leader), IP – Patent Agents & Attorneys (Global Leader)
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Lexpert Guide to the Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada (2024-2026)
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