Toronto-based boutique Fineberg Ramamoorthy LLP specializes in representing major drug companies in complex litigation in the life sciences sector, with a focus on IP disputes.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP fields a leading life sciences practice which advises global and domestic clients on major corporate transactions, IP issues, litigation and regulatory matters. The firm has expertise across life sciences regulations and laws, advising clients on the entire life cycle of businesses and products from commercialization to product marketing, IPOs and potential IP and patent litigation. The practice is spearheaded by Cheryl Satin who is a life sciences sector specialist with a wealth of expertise and experience advising on corporate matters in the sector. She sits in Toronto and advising early stage and mid-market biotech companies with multijurisdictional M&A, cross-border licensing and supply and distribution arrangements. Working alongside Satin in Toronto, Pei Li is the go-to for regulatory issues, advising on promotional restrictions, import and export issues and product recalls. Joseph Garcia sits in Vancouver and excels in domestic and cross-border transactions such as public offerings, takeover and issuer bids and financings. Emma Costante also resides in Vancouver and advises on complex life sciences transactions for growing companies. The firm aids a wide array of clients in the life sciences sector including pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, diagnostic product and consumer product companies, advising both start-ups and established clients.

Fasken has a premier life sciences practice that excels in commercial and regulatory work for multinational and domestic life sciences clients. The firm also excels in corporate M&A and IP litigation, enabling it to full advise clients on the full gamut of life sciences issues. The team has been key to introducing new cutting-edge medical technologies and drugs into the Canadian market and led on complex drug pricing cases and drug listing challenges. Timothy Squire co-leads the practice from Toronto and is a regulatory life sciences expert who advises on health product regulation and market access. Co-head Mathieu Gagné resides in Montréal and is the go-to specialist for drug and health products, advising on legal issues from their creation to consumption. He also advises international pharmaceutical companies on drug insurance plans, clinical trails and drug pricing. Also in Montréal, Jean-Raphael Champagne advises on regulatory compliance issues and clinical trials, while Dara Jospé advises on launching new health products and food regulations. Ingrid VanderElst assists clients with a mix of regulatory and IP issues from Toronto. Roger A.C. Kuypers is based in Vancouver and handles IP-related issues as well as supply agreements for pharmaceutical clients.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong nationwide life sciences practice that excels in corporate and commercial matters as well as regulatory issues and litigation. The firm has experience advising life sciences clients on licensing and collaboration agreements, M&A, fundraising and international transactions involving the US. The team also assists with a range of litigation from class actions to product liability, product recalls and patent-related issues. Over the last year, the practice has assisted life sciences companies with creating innovative partnerships, advising on agreements and regulatory compliance issues. The team is spearheaded from Vancouver by life sciences specialist Janet Grove who is ‘the trusted go-to counsel for all commercial matters’. She is well-versed in cross-border M&A, financing and licensing agreements. In Toronto, Vanessa Grant is well-known for her transactional prowess in the life sciences space, while Kristin Wall stands out for her IP and regulatory expertise. Randy Sutton splits his time between Toronto and Vancouver and leads pharmaceutical companies in defending against product liability class actions. Lastly, Toronto-based counsel Manpreet Singh is noted for her work advising clients on clinical trials, patient support programs and digital health.

Torys is a force in the life sciences sector, advising on complex and novel matters across Canada, the US and globally. The firm excels in handling a wide array of issues for life sciences clients from large transactions and licensing agreements to commercial issues, product recalls, drug pricing and IP litigation. The team is sought out to aid clients with emergency regulatory approvals, compulsory licensing and import and export matters. On the IP side, it advises on patent matters involving drugs, vaccines and personal protective equipment. The litigation team regularly assists with government investigations of drug companies, suppliers and retailers. It also advises companies on its interactions with governmental authorities and represents them in product liability cases, class actions and patent impeachments. Eileen McMahon chairs the Toronto team alongside corporate specialist Konata Lake. McMahon is an expert in IP and life sciences regulatory issues, advising on regulatory clearance, life sciences licensing agreements and transactions. Teresa Reguly utilizes her PhD in molecular and medical genetics to advise on patent and regulatory matters for pharmaceutical, biotech and health product clients.

Gowling WLG's life sciences practice is led out of Ottawa by Marc Richard who has long standing expertise in IP litigation, representing clients in the Federal Court, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, the Supreme Court of Canada and various appeal courts. He is well-versed in acting as counsel to international and multinational pharmaceutical companies as well as non-pharma clients for life sciences-related litigation. He is also sought out for his experience as appellate counsel in multi-million dollar claims. The team advises clients on patent litigation, regulatory issues as well as corporate and commercial matters. It has assisted life sciences clients with joint ventures and corporate transactions as well as restructurings and insolvencies. The firm covers a range of life sciences sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biotechnology, life systems, Ag-bio and supplements. Christopher Van Barr advises pharmaceutical companies and technology enterprises on patent litigation.

McCarthy Tétrault is well-versed in advising on life sciences and biotech issues, advising on a mix of corporate, IP and commercial matters. The team handling major transactions in the life sciences sector, advising private and public biotech, chemical and pharmaceutical companies. The Montréal and Québec City practice is led by Philippe Leclerc, who represents life sciences clients in commercial, corporate and securities law issues. He excels in IPOs, acquisitions, takeovers, public and private financing. David Frost leads the Vancouver group and advises international and domestic life sciences companies on corporate governance, financings and M&As. Lisa Melanson sits in Toronto and is the go-to for regulatory compliance issues and IP matters. She focuses on drug regulation issues and cross-border regulatory advise involving the US and Canada.

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is a Montréal-based life sciences practice which leverages its corporate expertise to advise on complex transactions. The firm advises a range of clientele such as life sciences start-ups, pharmaceuticals companies, biopharmaceuticals, medtech companies and speciality pharma. It assists clients with M&A transactions, business and commercialization strategies as well as licensing and distribution across Canada.  The team is led by Hillel Rosen, who guides life sciences clients through corporate and commercial transactions, as well as Elliot Greenstone, whose background in business and science gives him a strong foundation to advise on corporate life sciences issues. Sumeet Dang sits in Toronto is well-versed in regulatory and compliance issues affecting the life sciences sector.

Goodmans LLP's intellectual property group has a strong foundation in patent litigation allowing it to advise on complex patent proceedings for the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. The firm has aided clients with patent proceedings involving Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations in front of the Federal Court since its founding and boasts a wealth of expertise in Canadian and international pharmaceutical issues. Typical issues the team advises on includes pricing regulations and best practices as well as assisting clients with gaining regulatory approval. Harry Radomski and Andrew Brodkin co-lead the Toronto team and are both well-versed in handling patent litigation for life sciences clients. Jordan Scopa excels at patent litigation and has dedicated specialized appellate practice.

Lenczner Slaght is a specialized litigation firm that utilizes its experience in IP litigation to advise on life sciences disputes. The team is adept at handling patent trials, representing clients in proceedings before the Federal Courts, the courts of Ontario and the Supreme Court of Canada. The team also handles cross-border IP litigation involving the US, advising American companies on Canadian laws and regulations. The firm advises domestic and international clients from pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, IT, software, internet and manufacturing sectors. Sana Halwani leads the Toronto-based team and is an expert in cross-border IP disputes, while co-head Jordana Sanft focuses on patent impeachment and infringement actions under the Patented Medicine (Notice of Compliance) Regulations.

Stikeman Elliott LLP advises pharmaceutical, biotech, medical devices, biomedical technologies and other life sciences sectors on business issues and corporate transactions. It has assisted clients with product and establishment licensing, pricing and reimbursement strategies, market access and clinical trials. On the corporate side is represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and growth capital transactions as well as research and development grants. Dee Rajpal and Sara Zborovski co-lead the Toronto team, Rajpal assists with a slew of corporate transactions, while Zborovski is experienced in handling regulatory and compliance matters related to the Food and Drugs Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

BCF Business Law is praised for its expertise in ‘navigating complex matters related to mergers and acquisitions’ for the life sciences sector. The life sciences and healthcare practice is comprised of corporate and commercial specialists as well as patent agents. Clientele of the firm consists of pharmaceutical companies, biotech entites, medical device and digital health companies as well as investors, manufacturers and distributors. Gino Martel leads the Montréal-based team alongside Annie Gauthier. Martel is known for his expertise in private and public financings, M&A and licensing for pharmaceutical, biotech companies and venture capital firms. Gauthier handles corporate transactions for pharmaceutical clients.

Marks & Clerk, an IP boutique with offices in Ottawa and Toronto, brings significant expertise to matters involving life sciences patent prosecution and litigation. Patent agent and prosecution specialist James Baker leads the practice from the Ottawa office. The team advises domestic and international clients on patent litigation and regulatory matters related to the pharmaceutical industry. The team, which is comprised of lawyers and patent agents with backgrounds in biochemistry and chemistry, handles matters across Canada and often collaborates with its UK and Asia locations on cross-border issues. Patent enforcement is another key focus of the firm.

Tyr LLP's newly founded IP, life sciences and pharmaceutical litigation group is led by Melanie Baird, an IP litigation specialist with a wealth of expertise acting for life sciences and technology companies in complex litigation. She is sought out for her knowledge on emerging fields, she often litigates on novel issues such as the first biologic and first biosimilar drug patent cases in Canada. She regularly represents clients in actions under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations. Another area of expertise of the firm is biotech and cannabis. The team also assists clients with regulatory and product liability disputes alongside licensing and patent cases. Amy Grenon handles multi-jurisdictional IP litigation such as patent infringement and impeachment actions and has a background in biochemistry. The team is based in Toronto.