Donna  White

Donna White

Ottawa Managing Partner

Contact Information

dwhite@osler.com

tel: 613.787.1061

Office

Ottawa

Bar Admission

Ontario, 1984

Education

  • University of Ottawa, LL.M.
  • University of Ottawa, LL.B.
  • Carleton University, B.A.

Language(s)

English

Donna is the Managing Partner of Osler’s Ottawa office. Donna’s practice focuses on trademark prosecution with a significant emphasis on proceedings before the Trademarks Opposition Board. Her expertise encompasses international and domestic trademark counselling, licensing, Internet and domain name issues, trademark enforcement and product labelling. She regularly counsels clients on international registration and the management of domestic and international portfolios. Donna is on the Editorial Board of the Internet Law & Business. She is also former Chair of the Trademark Agents Board of Examiners and was a member for many years of the Editorial Board of the Canadian Patent Reporter. She is author of Selecting and Protecting Trade-marks: A Practice Guide and has spoken extensively on international and domestic trademark protection at many conferences and seminars.

    Among the clients whom Donna White has advised or acted for are: Live Nation Worldwide; Bausch & Lomb Incorporated; ADP Inc.; Bloomberg LP; Combe Incorporated; Wrangler Apparel Corp.; Polo/Ralph Lauren as well as numerous celebrities, entertainers and fashion designers.

  • Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Intellectual Property
  • Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Intellectual Property
    • “Ottawa managing partner Donna White has a strong focus on trade mark issues and is also proficient in domain name issues and product labelling matters. One source enthused: "She is my go-to person in Canada for trade mark filings."
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Intellectual Property; Ontario's best intellectual property lawyers in 2021
  • The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Intellectual Property
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Intellectual Property Law
  • Legal 500: Recognized in Intellectual Property 
  • Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in International - Trademarks; Canada - Trademarks
  • Managing IP: Recognized as an IP Star in Trade mark (Canada) and as one of the Top 250 Women in IP
  • WTR 1000: Recognized in The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals in Prosecution and Strategy (Gold Band)
    • “Donna’s a guru when it comes to opposition proceedings, as well as a judicious all-round counsellor.”
    • “An efficient, knowledgeable and practical adviser,” White is “very service-oriented, always accommodating for last-minute changes.”
  • WTR Global Leaders: Recognized as a Global Leader
  • World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR): Global Leader (2023)

  • Canadian Bar Association, Committee Member
  • Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, Chair, Trademark Committee
  • International Trademark Association, Committee Member
  • Registered Trademark Agent
  • Former Chair of Trademark Agents Examination Board

Previous Speaking Engagements

  • Canada’s new trademark regime: Bad faith in opposition cases, 2019 (article).
  • What's In a Name, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada Annual General Meeting, October 2018 (presentation).
  • Catching up with Practice Notices, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada Annual General Meeting, September 2010 (presentation).
  • Securitization and Collateralization of Brands, International Trade-mark Association Annual Meeting, May 2009 (presentation).
  • Advanced Opposition Evidence, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada Annual General Meeting, September 2009 (presentation).

Publications

  • A year on, Canada's sweeping trademark law is driving delays, Managing IP, June 2020.
  • Trade-mark Protection in Canada – Tips and Traps, Osler Update, April 2007.