 Bennett Jones Kees de RidderAssociate, Patent Agent, Trademark Agent Calgary deridderk@bennettjones.com Education University of Calgary, JD, 2017 Bar Admissions Alberta, 2018 Kees de Ridder brings a client-centred approach to his broad intellectual property, privacy and commercial practice. As a registered patent agent and former computer programmer, Kees combines technical experience with legal acumen in the practical advice he regularly provides to clients in a wide range of industries, including artificial intelligence, life sciences, utilities, natural resources, banking, fintech and social media. Overview With discerning judgment, Kees most often guides clients in the commercialization and patenting of their technology. He advises Canadian and foreign clients on a broad range of matters, including privacy, cybersecurity, licensing, branding and IP-related transactions. Specifically, Kees has extensive experience in:
Kees regularly lectures and publishes papers on IP and privacy law, and is a member of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the Calgary Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Active in the community, Kees serves on several boards, including as a director of STEM Innovation Academy, a public charter school in Calgary specializing in science and technology. Kees is also chair of the Canadian Bar Association’s Sexual and Gender Diversity Alliance (SAGDA) federal section, and past chair of SAGDA's section for Alberta. Kees began his legal career as a paralegal at an international law firm in Paris. Experience • Plains All American Pipeline in its C$5.15-billion sale of its NGL business to Keyera • Verillium Health in its acquisition of Wellwise by Shoppers from Shoppers Drug Mart • Employment Hero Holdings, as Canadian counsel, in its acquisition of Humi Holdings, valued at over C$100 million • TriWest in its indirect investment through its affiliates of a majority equity interest in Alta West Mortgage Capital • ECI Software Solutions, a global provider of cloud-based business management software and services, in its acquisition of Avid Ratings • G2S2 Capital, under its banner Armco Alberta, in its acquisition of Bow Valley Square, an iconic four-tower, LEED Platinum-certified office complex in the heart of downtown Calgary • Recognize Partners, as Canadian counsel, in its acquisition of Blue Mantis and its subsidiaries in the US, Canada, and India, from ABRY Partners • HASSLACHER Group, as Canadian Counsel in its significant investment in Element5. • Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation IV, a SPAC sponsored by Riverstone Holdings LLC, in its $1.39-billion business combination with Hammerhead Resources Inc., to form a publicly-traded upstream oil and gas company with a path toward achieving net zero emissions. • TriWest Capital Partners in its partnership with and equity investment in Northern Lite Truck Campers and Off Grid Trailers, forming Outdoor Adventure Group, a leading recreational vehicle manufacturer and distributor. • Omega Morgan Holdings, Inc. in its acquisition of Donald Rigging Ltd. • Anthem Properties Group, in its acquisition of The Cedarglen Group Inc. and the formation of Anthem Cedarglen Developments Limited Partnership. • Capvest Partners in its acquisition of Recochem, a Quebec based manufacturer of aftermarket transportation and household fluids. • Bow River Capital, a Denver-based alternative asset manager, in a majority recapitalization of Vitruvi ("Company"), a geospatial-based Construction Management software platform. • TriWest Capital Partners, in connection with its partnership with Northern Lite Truck Campers and Off Grid Trailers, forming Outdoor Adventure Group, a leading recreational vehicle manufacturer and distributor. • A leading Canadian enterprise with the rollout of an EV charging solution, coupled with 5G infrastructure and battery generators. • Calgary Police Service, with their Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) Act matters, including before the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta. • Jeneration Capital as lead investor in Avidbots US$70-million Series C financing. • GeoMetrix Rail Logistics, a Calgary-based railcar fleet management software company, in the sale of its assets to Amsted Digital Solutions. • URUS Group LP and affiliates (formerly Alta Genetics), on a significant dispute relating to continued operation of a multi-generational genetic improvement program. • URUS Group LP and affiliates, in researching current market trends and legal frameworks for constraining uses of improved genetics in the dairy industry. • Calgary Exhibition and Stampede Limited, with numerous corporate commercial matters, including advice on its sponsorship agreements. • Waste Connections, Inc., as Canadian counsel, in its US$600-million cross-border offering of aggregate principal amount of 2.60% senior notes due 2030 pursuant to a U.S. shelf registration statement. • Schlumberger Production Management, on the purchase of the Palliser Block assets in Alberta from Cenovus Energy Inc. for cash consideration of $1.3 billion. • A Canadian utilities company, in an LCIA arbitration seated in Mexico City against a Mexican state-owned entity regarding the engineering, construction, operation, and maintenance of a natural gas pipeline in Mexico. |