Michael Crichton
- Year of Call, Ontario (2004)
Michael Crichton is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office and former Canadian leader of Gowling WLG's Intellectual Property Litigation & Strategy Group.
With over two decades of experience as an intellectual property litigator and strategic adviser, Michael assists both domestic and international clients that engage in a wide range of technologies, including mechanical, electrical, computer hardware and software, manufacturing/fabrication, communications and related technologies.
Michael has conducted numerous trials as lead counsel, and particularly focuses on patent, complex trade secret and copyright litigation matters. Michael also has substantial experience with respect to Canada/U.S. cross-border intellectual property litigation and related matters.
In 2025, Michael was shortlisted for Practitioner of the Year (Patent Disputes) at the Managing IP Americas Awards. Also for 2025, Michael was named one of the IAM Global Leaders for Canada, and ranked in the gold band of the IAM Patent 1000. Michael is also regularly recognized for his IP litigation experience by Lexpert, Managing IP’s IP Stars, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal: Patents, and The Best Lawyers in Canada.
Outside of the courtroom, Michael regularly represents and advises clients with respect to licensing of intellectual property, mediation and settlement negotiations, and opinions regarding patent infringement, patent validity and related issues. In addition, as a registered patent agent for over a decade, Michael's practice includes patent drafting, prosecution and portfolio management.
Michael is a regular author on intellectual property matters, including articles published by IAM, Managing IP and the Financial Post, among others, as well as a chapter regarding patent litigation in Canada for the treatise Global Patent Litigation: How and where to win published by Bloomberg BNA.
In 2017, Michael was named a Lexpert "Rising Star - Leading Lawyer under 40" for being at the top of the legal profession in Canada—both in his law practice and in the community. In 2015, he was also recognized as a Forty under 40 winner by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce for both his business and community accomplishments.
Michael was previously an adjunct professor of intellectual property litigation, and prior to that an adjunct professor of patent law, at the University of Ottawa. In addition, Michael has served as the chair of the Ottawa chapter of the Licensing Executives Society, is a member of the IP Court Practice Committee for the Canadian Bar Association, and is a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. For several years, Michael also served as editor-in-chief of Gowling WLG's IP Report.
Michael Crichton is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office and former Canadian leader of Gowling WLG's Intellectual Property Litigation & Strategy Group.
With over two decades of experience as an intellectual property litigator and strategic adviser, Michael assists both domestic and international clients that engage in a wide range of technologies, including mechanical, electrical, computer hardware and software, manufacturing/fabrication, communications and related technologies.
Michael has conducted numerous trials as lead counsel, and particularly focuses on patent, complex trade secret and copyright litigation matters. Michael also has substantial experience with respect to Canada/U.S. cross-border intellectual property litigation and related matters.
In 2025, Michael was shortlisted for Practitioner of the Year (Patent Disputes) at the Managing IP Americas Awards. Also for 2025, Michael was named one of the IAM Global Leaders for Canada, and ranked in the gold band of the IAM Patent 1000. Michael is also regularly recognized for his IP litigation experience by Lexpert, Managing IP’s IP Stars, The Legal 500, Who’s Who Legal: Patents, and The Best Lawyers in Canada.
Outside of the courtroom, Michael regularly represents and advises clients with respect to licensing of intellectual property, mediation and settlement negotiations, and opinions regarding patent infringement, patent validity and related issues. In addition, as a registered patent agent for over a decade, Michael's practice includes patent drafting, prosecution and portfolio management.
Michael is a regular author on intellectual property matters, including articles published by IAM, Managing IP and the Financial Post, among others, as well as a chapter regarding patent litigation in Canada for the treatise Global Patent Litigation: How and where to win published by Bloomberg BNA.
In 2017, Michael was named a Lexpert "Rising Star - Leading Lawyer under 40" for being at the top of the legal profession in Canada—both in his law practice and in the community. In 2015, he was also recognized as a Forty under 40 winner by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce for both his business and community accomplishments.
Michael was previously an adjunct professor of intellectual property litigation, and prior to that an adjunct professor of patent law, at the University of Ottawa. In addition, Michael has served as the chair of the Ottawa chapter of the Licensing Executives Society, is a member of the IP Court Practice Committee for the Canadian Bar Association, and is a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. For several years, Michael also served as editor-in-chief of Gowling WLG's IP Report.
Michael has litigated dozens of patent and other complex IP-related cases. The following are some notable examples: