Overview

Christopher Zelyas is a partner in Dentons' Litigation and Dispute Resolution group and maintains a broad commercial litigation practice, in which he addresses conflicts at all levels of his clients' businesses. He counsels his clients in advancing their intellectual property portfolios through patent and trademark litigation, and in handling claims involving misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets. His varied IP litigation practice encompasses disputes concerning products and brands in the agricultural sector, dietary supplements, food products, construction innovations and oil field technologies, amongst others.
Chris serves as head of Dentons' trademark prosecution team in Canada, and provides strategic guidance to the Firm's clients with respect to management and expansion of their trademark portfolios. He skillfully manages all steps in the trademark process, from pre-application trademark clearance searches, through registration and renewal, and is a strong advocate for his clients in contentious opposition and expungement proceedings.
Chris' practice also includes a strong focus on construction and infrastructure litigation, and trade agreement disputes.
Since graduating from Harvard Law School in 2006, Chris has advocated for his clients at all levels of the Alberta and federal courts. He has enjoyed repeated success in pursuing and defending against applications for immediate injunctive relief in intellectual property and commercial litigation matters. In 2015, Chris served as lead counsel in the Reckitt Benckiser v. Jamieson Laboratories decision, in which he successfully obtained a rare pre-trial order forcing the defendant to cease use of a brand name pending trial, which was upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal.
In addition to his busy litigation practice, Chris is an active community volunteer and serves on the Board of Directors of Tennis Alberta, where he has also dedicated time to investigating and addressing disciplinary matters.

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Intellectual Property

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 2008 (AB)