About James H. Buchan

James H. Buchan is an intellectual property lawyer and a partner at Gowling WLG in Toronto, with more than 30 years in the firm's IP group. James argues patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret disputes at trial and on appeal, and also gives strategic advice outside the courtroom. That advice regularly goes to innovative, technology-focused companies, among them businesses in the space and nuclear sectors, on how to protect their IP, put it to commercial use and enforce it.

After the 1994 call to the Ontario bar, James joined Gowlings as an associate that year and became a partner in 2000. Leadership roles followed: head of the Toronto IP department and national leader of the trademarks group from 2006, national leader of IP litigation from 2008, a seat on the board of trustees in 2013, and Firm Managing Partner (External) in 2016. These days James sits on Gowling WLG's China Management Team and leads the firm's Canadian country desk for Australia and New Zealand.

James has acted as counsel of record in over 25 reported decisions, some of them at the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2024 James and Anita Nador led Gowling's global trade secrets department, a team of about 45 partners and lawyers.

Clients can work with James in English or French. James also once led the firm's national pro bono program.

Practice areas

Intellectual Property

IP litigation at trial and on appeal

James litigates IP disputes over patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets, taking them through trial and, where needed, appeal.

Trademark oppositions and expungements

Before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, James has acted in hundreds of quasi-judicial proceedings to oppose or expunge trademarks.

Education & credentials

  • LLB, University of British Columbia (1992)
  • BSc (Specialist) in Microbiology, Trinity College at the University of Toronto (1988)
  • Called to the bar of Ontario (1994)

Notable cases

  • Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma v. Maple Leaf Meats Inc., 2001 CanLII 22030 (FC), [2001] 2 F.C. 536

    With A. Kelly Gill of Gowling Lafleur Henderson, James acted for the respondent, Maple Leaf Meats, which had acquired the "Parma" trademark for meat products in 1997. The Italian prosciutto consortium applied to have the respondent's "Parma" trademark expunged, and the court dismissed the application.

Decisions where James H. Buchan appeared as counsel, from public court records. Past cases don't predict future results.

Awards & recognition

Publications & speaking

Memberships & affiliations

In the community

  • In 2005 James was involved with Pro Bono Law Ontario's work with Aboriginal Legal Services.
  • In 2022 James hosted the Legal Leaders for Diversity Trust Fund's virtual scholarship ceremony, telling recipients the fund hoped to help them pursue their goals.

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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm James H. Buchan’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗

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