Sydney practices intellectual property law, with a focus on trademarks, copyright, branding and commercial IP matters. A registered trademark agent, Sydney acts on behalf of clients across industries, including music and entertainment, luxury goods and high fashion, beer and spirits and software and technology.
Sydney’s practice comprises of litigation of infringement involving trademarks and copyright, brand strategy and domain name disputes, as well as trademark clearance, prosecution and opposition. Sydney has appeared before the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Trademarks Opposition Board. Sydney also advises on general commercial intellectual property matters, such as licensing, acquisition, joint development and collaboration agreements, and intellectual property matters in corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, financings and insolvencies.
Sydney has been recognized two years in a row as a Rising Star in Canada by Managing IP. Sydney is active in the IP bar, including as the Lead of the Trademarks and Copyright Subcommittee on the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada’s (IPIC) Conference Committee and a member of the Anti-Counterfeiting Committee for the International Trademark Association (INTA). Sydney is also dedicated to the advancement of women in law and IP, as evidenced by her role as Co-Chair of the Osler Women Lawyers’ Network and involvement as a mentor for law students through the Osgoode Women’s Network.
Prior to joining Osler, Sydney was the Director of Legal & Business Affairs with CONNECT Music Licensing and Legal Counsel with Re:Sound Music Licensing Company. Sydney also practised corporate restructuring law at another large Toronto law firm.
During her studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, Sydney completed an exchange to Trinity College Dublin. She also completed an exchange to the Chinese University of Hong Kong while completing her Bachelor of Commerce at Queen’s University.
Representative Work
- Agilysys
Agilysys in its US$150-million acquisition of Book4Time
- Newsfile
Newsfile in its sale to TMX Group
- MoonPay
MoonPay in its acquisition of Nightshift
- Spire Global
Spire Global in its $204.2 million acquisition of exactEarth
- IVC Nutrition Corporation
IVC Nutrition Corporation in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc.
- Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial
Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial in their Series A investment in InvestX Capital
- Accomplice and JPMorgan Chase
Accomplice and JPMorgan Chase in FreshBooks’ US$130 million Series E financing
- Higher Logic
Higher Logic in its acquisition of Vanilla
- Animalcare
Animalcare in its agreement with Kane Biotech to form STEM Animal Health Inc.
- Sinclair Interplanetary
Sinclair Interplanetary in its acquisition by Rocket Lab
- ESC Corporate Services Ltd.
ESC Corporate Services, a portfolio company of Information Services Corporation, in its acquisition of Securefact
- JMI Equity
JMI Equity's $115 million investment in Vena
- Clio
Clio in its acquisition of Lexicata
- Interaxon Inc.
Interaxon in its acquisition of Meditation Studio
- Magna International Inc. in the sale of its global fluid pressures and controls business to South Korean automotive parts maker Hanon Systems for US$1.23 billion.
Agilysys in its US$150-million acquisition of Book4Time
Newsfile in its sale to TMX Group
MoonPay in its acquisition of Nightshift
Spire Global in its $204.2 million acquisition of exactEarth
IVC Nutrition Corporation in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc.
- Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial
Jefferies Financial Group and Virtu Financial in their Series A investment in InvestX Capital
- Accomplice and JPMorgan Chase
Accomplice and JPMorgan Chase in FreshBooks’ US$130 million Series E financing
- Higher Logic
Higher Logic in its acquisition of Vanilla
- Animalcare
Animalcare in its agreement with Kane Biotech to form STEM Animal Health Inc.
- Sinclair Interplanetary
Sinclair Interplanetary in its acquisition by Rocket Lab
- ESC Corporate Services Ltd.
ESC Corporate Services, a portfolio company of Information Services Corporation, in its acquisition of Securefact
- JMI Equity
JMI Equity's $115 million investment in Vena
- Clio
Clio in its acquisition of Lexicata
- Interaxon Inc.
Interaxon in its acquisition of Meditation Studio
- Magna International Inc. in the sale of its global fluid pressures and controls business to South Korean automotive parts maker Hanon Systems for US$1.23 billion.
Latest Insights
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Osler Update Jun 9, 2022
Canadian Federal Court issues dynamic website-blocking injunction to combat unauthorized hockey webcasts
Holders of Canadian broadcast rights to National Hockey League games scored a victory in their fight against online piracy with a novel dynamic...
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Osler Update Jan 19, 2021
Making the best of a bad year: Winning IP cases in 2020
May Cheng and Sydney Young highlight their list of the key decisions in Canada in 2020 for each of the three main areas of IP law.
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Osler Update Nov 20, 2019
Federal Court issues landmark website-blocking injunction with significant implications for ISPs
In the first order of its kind in Canada, the Federal Court has issued an injunction directing internet service providers (ISPs) to prevent user...
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Osler Update Aug 31, 2018
No breaks in Europe for KitKat bars: Stripped of design protection
Europe’s highest court has invalidated trademark protection covering the shape of the KitKat bar, on the basis that it is not distinctive, in...
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Awards and Recognition
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Managing IP: Rising Star for 2020-2023
Media Mentions
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Osler News Oct 25, 2023
Faylene Lunn and Sydney Young named 2023 Rising Stars by Managing IP
Congratulations to Faylene Lunn, partner, and Sydney Young, associate, from Osler’s Intellectual Property Group, for being named Managing IP Rising...
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Osler News Oct 5, 2021
Faylene Lunn, Lillian Wallace, Sydney Young named Managing IP Rising Stars for 2021
For the second year in a row, Osler is pleased to congratulate partner Faylene Lunn, and associates Lillian Wallace and Sydney Young, on being...
Read more -
Osler News Oct 23, 2020
Faylene Lunn, Lillian Wallace, Sydney Young named Managing IP Rising Stars for 2020/21
Osler is pleased to congratulate associates Faylene Lunn, Lillian Wallace and Sydney Young on being recognized by Managing IP as Rising Stars in...
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Published Work
Publications
- Co-author, “Chapter 7 – Infringement and Depreciation of Goodwill”, Canadian Trademark Law Benchbook, 4th ed., ed. by Donald M. Cameron (Toronto: Carswell – Thomson Reuters, 2022).
- Co-author, Making the best of a bad year: Winning IP cases in 2020, The Lawyer’s Daily, January 13, 2021.
- Co-author, Appeal Court rejects supreme reign of official marks, The Lawyer’s Daily, December 24, 2020.
- Co-author, “Chapter 3 – Copyright”, Intellectual Property Disputes: Resolutions and Remedies, ed. by Ronald E. Dimock (Toronto: Carswell – Thomson Reuters, 2020).
- Co-author, Federal Court Issues Landmark Website-Blocking Injunction with Significant Implications for ISPs, Ontario Bar Association (OBA), December 2, 2019.
- Co-author, No breaks in Europe for KitKat bars: Stripped of design protection, The Lawyer’s Daily, August 31, 2018.
Credentials
Education
- Osgoode Hall Law School, J.D.
- Queen’s University, B. Comm.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Registered Trademark Agent
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- International Trademark Association
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada