William B. Vass – Founding Partner
B.A.Sc. (EE), LL.B., LL.M., P. Eng.
Bill has practiced exclusively in intellectual property and technology law since his call to the bar in 1991. Bill is a lawyer, a registered patent agent and a registered trademark agent. He has also been accredited as a Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property Law (Patents) by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
Bill’s practice focuses on the acquisition of intellectual property rights, opinion work and client counselling, principally in the areas of telecommunications, electronics, electrical and electro-mechanical systems, business methods, Internet-based technology, computer hardware and computer software-related technologies. His practice also encompasses intellectual property due diligence and strategic intellectual property asset management and licensing. Bill works with clients ranging from early stage companies to multi-national corporations and enterprises.
Before pursuing his legal career, Bill was a member of scientific staff at Bell Northern Research working in both the Ottawa and the Palo Alto labs on projects relating to microprocessor-based hardware design, integrated circuit design and computer software for integrated voice-data telecommunication products and development.
Bill brings his passion for technology and innovation into his practice, and approaches the interplay of business, technology and the law as a creative process with his clients.
Prior to founding Cognitive Intellectual Property Law, Bill was a partner and senior lawyer in the intellectual property department of a prominent national law firm. Previously, he was a partner and patent lawyer with one of Canada’s preeminent intellectual property law boutique firms.
Bill is a fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and serves on the Patent Legislation Committee and has been a member of Information Technology Committee since 1994. Bill served on the Canadian Patent Agent Examination Board, and was also appointed to the Intellectual Property Certification Board of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He is also a member of several industry specific professional associations.
Away from the office, Bill enjoys spending time with his family, chasing a little white ball around a golf course, teaching scuba diving, diving in warm blue Caribbean waters, sailing, training and completing triathlons, and just relaxing with a good book.