Atty. Paula Clancy
Paula Clancy is a partner and trademark agent in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office. She is a member of the Intellectual Property Group and her practice focuses on trademarks.Paula has more than 26 years of experience as a corporate/commercial and trademark lawyer, and she is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in IP (Trademarks).
Intellectual Property Law Attorney · Serving Ottawa, ON · 30+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Paula Clancy at a Glance
Paula Clancy is a real estate and ip attorney based in Ottawa, Ontario, practicing at Gowling WLG. They have 30+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1996. Admitted to practice in Ontario (1996). Educated at University of Toronto (—, 1994). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law (2026). Serves clients in Ottawa, ON and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Paula Clancy
- Paula Clancy is a partner and trademark agent in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office
- She is a member of the Intellectual Property Group and her practice focuses on trademarks.Paula has more than 26 years of experience as a corporate/commercial and trademark lawyer, and she is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in IP (Trademarks)
- Her background in business law and intellectual property law is a valuable asset to her clients.Paula works with in-house counsel as an extension of their legal team to assist with trademark filing strategies, global portfolio management, and procurement
- Her clients range from start-ups and SMEs to prominent public companies, including a number of global brands
- These clients operate in industries including, technology, fashion, consumer goods, cosmetics, food and beverage, sports, banking, manufacturing, and life sciences
- Paula also has experience working with women-owned and minority-owned businesses
- Paula is very active in the intellectual property community, and has recently been nominated to serve as a director of the International Trademark Association (INTA) for the 2022-2024 term
- She also currently serves as director and treasurer of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)
- Canada's national delegate for the Interamerican Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI)
- and director of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property AIPPI (Canada)
- Paula is a past recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal's Top 40 Under Forty Award and Distinctive Women Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- She was a finalist for the Women's Business Network's Businesswoman of the Year Award.Prior to re-joining Gowling WLG (she practised with the firm from 1994-2008), Paula founded and operated a boutique intellectual property firm in Ottawa
- Her firm was ranked in the WTR1000 as a leading Canadian trademark prosecution firm
- was certified by WBE Canada as a Women Business Enterprise
- and was selected as an Amazon IP Accelerator firm
- As a founder and entrepreneur, Paula has picked up valuable insights that help her effectively advise start-ups and SMEs
- She knows from experience how to help them navigate their pain points and challenges
Practice Areas Explained
Paula Clancy's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Paula Clancy handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Ottawa.
Real Estate Law in Ottawa
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Paula Clancy is one of 313,729 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Ontario →
Intellectual Property in Ottawa
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
Paula Clancy is one of 105,285 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Ontario →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Ottawa
Practicing law in Ontario. Legal matters in Ontario are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Ottawa are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Ontario state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Ontario brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Ontario courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Ottawa Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Ottawa-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Ontario attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Ottawa or all attorneys in Ontario.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Ottawa Choose Paula Clancy
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Paula Clancy's practice in the field of real estate and ip.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Paula Clancy brings 30+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering real estate and ip, Paula Clancy can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Ottawa
A Ottawa-based practice means Paula Clancy attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Paula Clancy Handles in Ottawa
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Paula Clancy has experience with under Ontario law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Paula Clancy directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Paula Clancy Online
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Paula Clancy's Practice Areas & Specializations
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