A first-mover in Canada’s cannabis space, Bennett Jones LLP has established a full-service offering spanning regulatory compliance and licensing through to corporate finance, M&A and restructuring matters. The team’s extensive client list includes operators, investors and underwriters, among other stakeholders, and it acts for major market players such as Canopy Growth Corporation and Cresco Labs. From Toronto, Aaron Sonshine spearheads the transactional side of the practice and recently advised US-headquartered Cresco Labs on amendments to its $400m term loan facility and on a new $25m construction mortgage financing facility. Also recommended for cannabis deals in Toronto are Kim Lawton and next-generation partner Corey Yermus. Toronto-based firm Chief Executive Officer Dominique Hussey is the key contact for regulatory work, including IP issues.

Widely recognized as a go-to firm for cannabis companies looking to raise capital, Cassels additionally excels in M&A transactions, branding issues and regulatory matters. The cannabis group maintains close relationships with some of the sector’s largest players, including Canopy Growth Corporation, which it recently advised on its $250m at-the-market program. High-profile sector specialist Jonathan Sherman heads the department; he co-led the Canopy Growth work together with Tayyaba Khan, who also specializes in cannabis transactions. The deep bench further draws on Jamie Litchen, whose broad capital markets practice focuses on cannabis and mining deals; Daniel Cipollone, who sits in the private equity, restructuring and cannabis teams; and Chandimal Nicholas, who is recommended for cannabis regulation. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.

Led from Toronto, and drawing on specialists from across its national and global platform, McCarthy Tétrault’s cannabis offering is among the most comprehensive in the market. The group advises a growing roster of producers, marketing and branding companies, retailers, investors and banks — among others — on the full life cycle of matters, from regulatory issues through to financings, M&A and restructurings. In Toronto, department co-head Ranjeev Dhillon is widely recognized as a leader for cannabis deals; he recently advised SNDL on its C$100m share repurchase. Toronto’s Rami Chalabi co-leads the practice and also focuses on transactional work. Other key lawyers in Toronto include associate Matthew Sanders, whose experience spans commercial, transactional and regulatory issues, and litigator Shane D’Souza.

Toronto-based Aird & Berlis LLP houses a robust cannabis practice, which is well versed in representing clients in both the medicinal and recreational markets. Routinely advising producers, processors, packagers, distributors, investors and healthcare organizations, among others, the team handles a broad mix of corporate finance, M&A and regulatory matters. Department co-chair Sherri Altshuler is equipped to advise on transactional and regulatory work and recently advised Northern Green Canada on its sale to Curaleaf Holdings. Other key contacts include fellow co-chair and M&A specialist Richard Kimel; capital markets co-head Adria Leung Lim; and Melanie Cole, who focuses on corporate and securities law.

A leader in cannabis work since the inception of the industry in Canada, Dentons is widely recognized for its longstanding client relationships and for its ability to provide advice that is ‘oriented to the specificities of the industry’. Covering the full range of regulatory, transactional and contentious work, the group is primarily noted for its strength in corporate finance matters. Toronto-based Andreas Kloppenborg co-heads the national practice and recently acted alongside the securities team to advise major US-headquartered producer, Green Thumb Industries, on its $50m share repurchase program. Vancouver-based Kimberly Burns co-leads the department and ‘helps to solve issues in an efficient manner’.

Lawyers in Gowling WLG’s cannabis team demonstrate ‘deep subject-matter expertise combined with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach’. The firm’s signature intellectual property offering is a key driver of work in this sphere, and it routinely represents life sciences entities — among other clients — in both regulatory and transactional matters. Toronto-based Peter Simeon fronts the transactional side of the practice and recently advised Akanda Corp on the sale of RPK, its Portuguese subsidiary, to SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals. Ottawa-based Lewis Retik leads the regulatory side and brings ‘exceptional ability to translate complex regulatory language’. Also in Toronto, Natalie Rizkalla-Kamel and Jason Saltzman are noted for IP and transactional work respectively.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s interdisciplinary cannabis practice stands out for its broad scope of regulatory and transactional expertise, as well as for its national platform, which draws on industry specialists across the country. Key figures in Montreal are regulation and litigation partner Patrick Lapierre and corporate and commercial associate Renée Tousignant. In Toronto, regulatory specialist Pei Li and IP-focused counsel Henry Bian are key contacts. In October 2025, former department head Tricia Kuhl left the firm.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP acts for a strong roster of Canada- and US-based cannabis companies, as demonstrated by its recent work for Acreage Holdings and Tilray Brands. Heavily weighted towards corporate and finance transactions, the group also brings experience in compliance, restructuring, litigation and IP-related matters. Corporate and securities specialist Robert Fonn heads a national practice that also draws on Canadian capital markets co-chair Derek Sigel and corporate and private equity partner Russel Drew — all of whom are based in Toronto.

Valued for its ‘broad range of capabilities while staying relatively nimble’, MLT Aikins LLP’s cannabis practice continues to grow and it added five new clients during 2024/25, despite the challenging industry environment. The group is particularly strong on the regulatory side, where it supports several of Canada’s leading licensed producers on regulatory and commercial matters. Calgary-based department head Chris Nyberg is an ‘invaluable sounding board and trusted partner’ and focuses on advising companies in heavily regulated industries on commercial and regulatory issues.

Stikeman Elliott LLP’s multidisciplinary cannabis practice strikes a balance between regulatory and transactional work. In terms of the former, Toronto-based department co-head Sara Zborovski is recommended for her expertise in providing regulatory and commercial advice to companies regulated by Health Canada, including life sciences and cannabis entities. Toronto-based corporate, M&A and capital markets specialist Donald Belovich steers the transactional side, where he has recently advised cannabis companies and underwriters on securities offerings. Montreal-based corporate partner Vanessa Coiteux is also noted.

Torys is distinguished by its niche expertise in medical cannabis, where it advises key industry participants on regulatory, IP and commercial matters. The multidisciplinary practice is anchored by regulatory specialist Eileen McMahon, who chairs the IP, agriculture and food and drug regulatory teams. The Toronto-based group also includes Teresa Reguly, who specializes in IP and regulatory issues in the chemical, biochemical and pharmaceutical fields; counsel Yolande Dufresne, who focuses on IP and regulatory law concerning life sciences; and senior associate Melanie Sharman Rowand.

Goodmans LLP’s premier restructuring and corporate expertise combines with its robust cannabis practice to position it as a key contender for distressed M&A and restructuring mandates, among other industry matters. M&A and corporate finance partner Victor Liu leads the cannabis group and has recently undertaken work for Relm Cannabis. Corporate and M&A specialist Neil Sheehy is also a key contact.

Leveraging its firm-wide strengths in IP and life sciences, Smart & Biggar’s cannabis practice is recognized for its regulatory focus. The interdisciplinary team draws on lawyers specializing in regulatory compliance, marketing and advertising law, IP prosecution and strategy and IP litigation to support both licensed producers and other market participants on a broad range of regulatory and marketing matters. Toronto-based regulatory expert Alice Tseng leads the department.