Kathryn Szymczyk Global Senior Business Development Manager, Intellectual Property


Speaks:  English

Year of Call: 1998 - Ontario


Primary office: 


Practice areas:



Kathryn Szymczyk

Kathryn is Senior Business Development Manager for our Global IP group. She is a member of the firm's Global IP Leadership team and works with members to devise business development strategies and drive international initiatives.

Kathryn brings her understanding of the global IP legal market place together with her coaching, training, facilitating, and business development skills to supporting the team. She is passionate about bringing a client-centric and big picture perspective to developing client relationships and cultivating new business.

Before joining Gowling WLG, Kathryn ran her own business development and leadership consulting firm. She provided group training, coaching, facilitation, and strategic advice to lawyers and law firms from around the world.

Before making the transition to business development, Kathryn practiced IP law herself for 12 years in the Ottawa, Toronto, and Moscow offices of Gowling WLG, as well as for another full service firm in Canada.

Practice areas

Career & Recognition

Filter timeline:
  • 2012

    • Career
       2012
      SC&C Igniting Your Practice, Director
  • 2011

    • Rankings & Awards
       2011
      WTR 1000: Recognized as a Leading Trademark Professional in Canada
  • 2008

    • Career
       2008
      Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Ottawa, Associate
  • 2006

    • Rankings & Awards
       2006
      2006 WORLD Leaders European Intellectual Property Awards: Member of Best Eastern European IP Practice Team
  • 2005

    • Career
       2005
      PETOSEVIC, Belgium and Serbia, Director of Legal Strategies and Client Services
  • 2003

    • Career
       2003
      Gowlings, Associate, Toronto
    • Rankings & Awards
       2003
      European Legal Experts: Recognized in Intellectual Property Law - Russia
    • Rankings & Awards
       2003
      Global Counsel 3000: Recognized as "Highly Recommended" in Intellectual Property Law in Russia
  • 2000

    • Career
       2000
      Gowling International Inc., Head of Representative Office, Moscow, Russia
  • 1998

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       1998
      Year of Call, Ontario
    • Career
       1998
      Gowling Lafleur Henderson: Associate, Ottawa
  • 1996

    • Career
       1996
      Gowling Lafleur Henderson: Articling Student
    • Education
       1996
      University of Ottawa, LLB
  • 1993

    • Education
       1993
      Queen's University, BA

Insights & Resources

Articles & presentations

  1. "A New Formula for Business Development Success: Developing a New Relationship with the Client", Opening Plenary Session, FICPI's 16th Open Forum, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2016
  2. Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) webinar, "Are You Ready for The Amazon Effect: The Skills and Mindset IP Professionals Need to Thrive", July 9, 2017
  3. Coaching Lawyers, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, July 2017
  4. "The New Conversation With Our Client: What In-House Counsel Want", Intellectual Property Institute of Canada's 91st Annual Meeting Oct. 11-13, 2017, Niagara Falls Canada
  5. "Developing A Legal Practice Today: What They Didn't Teach You in Law School", Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Section Young Lawyers event, 2017
  6. "Why Go To The Golf Course When You Can Connect At The Spa?", AIPLA"s Women in IP global networking event, 2017
  7. "Hope Is Not A Strategy: The Importance of A Business Development Strategy", internal event for GROW (Gowling WLG Realizing Opportunities for Women)
  8. Is Coaching The New Weapon of Choice for Business Development, The Trademark Lawyer, INTA Issue, May 2016
  9. Are You Ready For The Amazon Effect? Equipping ourselves to meet the changes in the legal marketplace," The Trademark Lawyer, July 2018