Marks & Clerk is delighted to share that we have recently celebrated well-deserved promotions of three of our team members in Canada, across our patents and trademarks practice areas. These promotions are effective February 1, 2026.
Promoted to Partner
- Evangellos Vekris – Evangellos (Van) is a Patent Agent in the Toronto office of Marks & Clerk. He specializes in drafting and prosecution of patent and design matters, over a wide range of fields including materials science, metallurgy, automotive, oil and gas, and manufacturing.
- Justin Smith – Justin is a Lawyer and Patent Agent in the Ottawa office of Marks & Clerk. Justin’s practice focuses on patent prosecution and covers a range of technologies including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biotechnology, medical devices, and consumer products. He also provides strategic advice to clients in the life sciences sector in navigating Canada’s regulatory landscape governing patented and innovative drugs.
Promoted to Principal
- Shannon Young - Shannon is a Trademark Agent in the Ottawa office of Marks & Clerk. Her practice includes trademark prosecution, opposition and cancellation proceedings, as well as national and global portfolio management and clearance work. She advises clients from around the world and across a range of industries, including the automotive, electronics, and chemical industries.
“We are thrilled to congratulate Evangellos, Justin and Shannon on their new promotions. During their time at Marks & Clerk, they have demonstrated their exceptional talent and expertise in the field of Intellectual Property and dedication to delivering best-in-class service to their clients. They are all well-respected and valued members of the team, and we look forward to working with them in the next stage of their careers.”
- Jonathan Colombo, Canadian Managing Partner
Please join us in congratulating all of them on their achievements and wishing them every success in their new roles!