Sydney Young

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

  • 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

  • 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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    Canadian Federal Court issues dynamic website-blocking injunction  to combat unauthorized hockey webcasts
  • 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.

    Read more
  • 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...

    Read more

Awards and Recognition


Media Mentions

  • 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

speaker 11/11/2019
Intellectual Property 101 for Emerging and High Growth Companies
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speaker 17/9/2018
Banking Roundtable: IP Considerations in Secured Lending Transactions
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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).


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