Biography
Paul is the head of Gilbert’s corporate and commercial law practice and is also an experienced litigator. Paul has particular expertise in dealing with high-tech IP litigation, emerging technologies and music & entertainment law.
Paul co-founded Slingshot, a service aimed at start-ups and small businesses providing cost-effective legal work using an innovative client-centric platform. Slingshot has since been recognized and awarded by the media, including receiving the 2020 Precedent Innovation Award by Precedent Magazine.
Paul has spoken on law and emerging technologies for IPIC, AIPLA, AMPPI, INTA, and the USPTO. Before rejoining Gilbert’s LLP, Paul served as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of the 3D scanning start-up Matter and Form Inc.
Paul has also had a successful career as a musician. Paul’s band, The Rural Alberta Advantage, has received two Juno nominations, a CBC Music Award, the Galaxie Rising Star Award, played at the Coachella Music Festival, and continues to appear on Billboard sales and radio charts. Paul’s music has been featured in numerous publications including Spin, NME, Playboy Magazine, and The New York Times.
Paul is currently the author of the music law blog, The Music Lawyer. Paul’s previous 3D technology law blog, Law in the Making, was featured in Landslide, the intellectual property magazine of the American Bar Association.
Selected Presentations and Publications
Publications
- “Canada: SEPs and FRAND – Litigation, Policy and Latest Developments” IAM Media, (8 Dec 2023)
- Paul Banwatt and John Durland, “IP STRATEGY VOLUME 2: SHARING THE INTANGIBLES”, Gilbert’s LLP (Summer 2020)
- Paul Banwatt and John Durland, “IP STRATEGY VOLUME 1: GROUNDING IP COLLABORATION”, Gilbert’s LLP (Spring 2020)
- Paul Banwatt and Laura Robinson, “Dispatches from the Front Lines of 3D Copyright”, Intellectual Property Journal (Osgoode) 28 (2015)
- Paul Banwatt, “The 3D Printing Law Blog”, 6 LANDSLIDE 46 (2014)
Presentations
- “Contracting in the New Normal”, Music Managers Forum, Webinar (September 2, 2020)
- “Copyright and Useful Articles”, 2018 Michael Best Law and Technology Symposium, Raleigh N.C. (Oct. 25, 2018)
- “Use it and Lose it? Views from the U.S. and Canada on 3D Shapes, Usefulness and IP Protection”, IPIC, Webinar, Toronto ON (Mar. 29, 2018)
- “The Intersection of Trademark Law and 3D Printing” (Panel), USPTO, IP and 3D Printing Conference, Washington D.C. (June 28, 2016)
- “New Frontiers for International Intellectual Property Law in the Fourth Industrial Revolution” (Panel), CIGI, Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Toronto ON (Mar. 22, 2016)
- “Intellectual Property and 3D Technology”, AMPPI, 5°Evento Internacional AMPPI 2016, AMPPI, Guadalajara MX (Mar. 3, 2016)
- “Users and Abusers – Features of Winning and Losing Strategies to Balance Public Interest with Respect for 3D IP Rights”, AIPLA, Annual Meeting 2015, Washington D.C. (Oct. 22, 2015)
- “3D Printing and IP: Novel Issues and Massive Opportunities”, IPIC, 89th Annual Meeting, Banff AB (Oct. 16, 2015)
- “Copies, Counterfeits and Progress: How Tools for 3D Creation and Duplication Create New Legal Challenges for Trademark Rights-Holders and Technological Pioneers”, INTA, 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing: Cutting-Edge IP and Business Implications, New York NY (Mar. 11, 2015)
- “The Future is Here – An In-Depth Examination of 3D Printing and Scanning”, Toronto Intellectual Property Group, Toronto ON (Apr. 23, 2014)
Committees
- Committee Member, City of Toronto Music Advisory Committee
- Board Member, Long Winter Music and Arts Festival