It’s not every day that a law firm grows out of a patent agency. It’s usually the other way around.

But that’s exactly what has happened at Gastle & Associates of Lakefield, Ontario.

In late 2011, the Law Society of Upper Canada approved a new multidisciplinary intellectual property law firm fronted by registered patent agent James Gastle.

“This is the first time in Canada that I know of that a law firm has been spawned from a patent agency,” Gastle said at a Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corp. event.

While the head office will remain in Lakefield, a branch will open in downtown Toronto, staffed by an intellectual property litigator.

“My greatest thrill is to tell my colleagues and my clients that our head office is in a place called Lakefield, 20 minutes north of Peterborough, and that we have satellite offices in Toronto and Ottawa,” Gastle said to applause.

He estimated that Canada employs about 400 patent agents and said it’s. Unusual for them to live and work in rural communities. Nonetheless, many of his clients are investors outside of Canada who want to register patents here.

He said it’s a “great thrill” to be able to bring those clients to Lakefield.

A mechanical engineer and registered patent agent in both the U.S. and Canada, Gastle (gastle.com) has spent 25 years representing corporate, academic and independent clients in a variety of scientific fields.

Renato Romanin, Director of Business Development at the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corp., says Gastle & Associates is a jewel in the crown of Peterborough County business.

“Gastle & Associates is one of an increasing number of businesses in the region that are focusing the eyes of the world on the Greater Peterborough area,” Romanin says. “They’re definitely one company to watch.”