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Find Lawyers in Canada for Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
Practice Area Overview
Biotechnology Law encompasses areas of corporate and commercial law common to other commercial enterprises, operating within the unique context of the biotechnology fields, including the legal areas of corporate, securities, financing, employment, regulatory, intellectual property, international trade, product liability, commercial litigation, competition, and mergers and acquisitions. The unique demands of the biotechnology business put a particular importance on regulatory law, intellectual property law, and commercial agreements specific to pharmaceutical or other biotechnology fields. The regulatory aspect of Biotechnology Law involves navigating the regulatory approval processes and ongoing compliance for pharmaceutical, health care, and agricultural products. Biotechnology also relies heavily on collaboration, which involves drafting comprehensive agreements for research, development, testing, and manufacturing of product candidates, along with licensing, outsourcing, and commercialization. Finally, as intellectual property is developed, it becomes integral to the success of a biotechnology company to establish and maintain ownership of it, through patent protection and trade secrets as well as robust confidentiality and contractual ownership provisions.
Regardless of whether your company is a biotechnology start-up in the initial stages of development, or in late-stage development or commercialization, to succeed, you need a legal partner with a working knowledge of all major areas of corporate and commercial law, along with firsthand experience representing clients in the biotechnology fields. Whether it is helping you with establishing the corporation, raising money in public and private markets, effectively structuring the transactions, navigating the regulatory web, or protecting your intellectual property, your legal counsel should provide you with the cross-disciplinary insight and practical legal advice you need to realize your business objectives.
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Paul Armitage is a partner in the firm's Vancouver office practising in the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Groups. His practice focuses on procurement, technology licensing, outsourcing, commercial contracts, privacy law, data security, cloud computing, e-commerce, and anti-spam and anti-spyware (CASL) compliance. Paul has extensive experience in the information technology, financial services, telecommunications, life sciences and health industries, as well as infrastructure and fac...
Dominique Babin is a partner in our Business Law group. She focuses her practice on business transactions, international trade and compliance matters, mainly in the life sciences sector and for innovative global manufacturing companies. Her broad experience and versatility have led her to develop a keen interest in structuring and implementing complex industrial projects and partnerships, often in a cross-cultural environment. She also acts as a trusted legal advisor to long-term clients in v...
Véronique Barry's practice covers all aspects of commercial and corporate law, with a particular focus on drafting commercial contracts and on matters relating to life sciences and healthcare. Véronique has gained valuable experience in personalized medicine, clinical trials and other research projects, artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies, and the use of technology in healthcare. She has also developed a keen interest in access to information and protection...
Michel Boislard has leading expertise in commercial law, primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, investment funds and securities. He also advises clients from the high technology and biotechnology sectors. Numerous public and private corporations trust Michel to represent them during complex domestic and international cross-border transactions. Michel familiarized himself with the challenges involved in cross-border transactions while working as resident partn...
Sylvie Bourdeau specializes in business and mergers and acquisition law. Over the years she has been involved in numerous mandates involving the financial products and services and life sciences/pharmaceuticals industries. In addition to the numerous mergers and acquisitions and private financings mandates in which she has been involved in her practice, Sylvie’s also represented many clients in matters involving the drafting of complex commercial agreements, including for joint ventures...
Jeilah Chan is a partner in the Corporate Group. With over 20 years of experience, her practice includes all aspects of intellectual property, and litigation involving patent, trademark, contract/licensing, trade secret and copyright issues. Jeilah advises clients on IP issues arising out of M&A transactions, joint ventures, and licensing matters. She also advises clients on advertising and labelling, and IP protection, enforcement, commercialization, and brand-building strategies. Jeilah...
Junyi practices intellectual property law with an emphasis on patent litigation and general IP matters in the areas of pharmaceuticals and other health sciences. She has appeared frequently before the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal. Junyi is a Registered Patent Agent and Registered Trademark Agent in Canada, and has extensive experience in patent and trademark prosecution matters and licensing. Junyi is fluent in Mandarin and has frequently represented Chinese clients in patent...
Jung-Kay Chiu is an intellectual property lawyer based in Toronto and the Canadian national chair of our intellectual property group. He has over 20 years of experience practicing in all areas of intellectual property law, with a focus on intellectual property acquisition, protection and exploitation in the field of biotechnology and medical devices. He has particularly deep expertise in drug delivery, stem cells, precision medicine, diagnostic biomarkers and surgical equipment. He has worked...
Joanne Chriqui is an attorney with over 27 years of experience in intellectual property law. Specializing in litigation, she has pleaded before the federal and Québec courts, both at trial and on appeal. She regularly leads complex cross-border lawsuits involving multiple jurisdictions. Over the course of her career, Joanne has represented major clients and has developed extensive expertise in the medical device, technology, mechanical, pharmaceutical and computer fields, both locally ...
Louis Clément works primarily in areas relating to the acquisition and sale of businesses, the establishment of consortiums, and the drafting and negotiation of various commercial agreements. Louis specializes in corporate and commercial law, as well as investment management and health law. Louis is also involved in matters relating to mergers and acquisitions, and his professional practice has enabled him to acquire an in-depth knowledge of various industries, including food processin...
Brian Daley practises intellectual property law, with a focus on patents, trademarks and litigation at the trial, appellate and Supreme Court levels. He has particular experience in regulatory matters and litigation involving mechanical, medical device and pharmaceutical patents. He worked as an engineer for four years before studying law. Mr. Daley is often retained to act as lead counsel on complex patent litigation and has been recognized as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in this ar...
Julie Desrosiers is Chair of the firm's Technology and Intellectual Property Practice Group. Ms. Desrosiers regularly acts on behalf of high technology businesses in connection with injunctions, seizures and procedures seeking to protect elements of their intellectual property or their trade secrets and strategic information. Currently, Ms. Desrosiers’ practice is almost exclusively in IP litigation, primarily in the field of patent litigation with an emphasis on pharmaceutical patents,...
With over 30 years’ experience in business law, Mireille Fontaine practices mainly in private equity, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, securities Law and fund formation. She is a seasoned business advisor, recognised for her legal and business acumen, her availability, and her efficiency. She helps her clients achieve and exceed their most ambitious objectives. In addition, Mireille specialized in cross-border transactions namely between Canada and the United States, as well a...
Author of “Drug and Health Products Law in Canada” with a Doctor of Law degree, Mathieu Gagné is specialized in drug and other health products (medical devices, cosmetics, natural health products, etc.) related laws. He advises and represents various stakeholders in the health and life sciences sector. Mathieu has a unique knowledge of the legal framework governing drugs and other health products, from their inception in the lab to their consumption. Well within his area of...
Gunars Gaikis is one of Canada’s premier and most experienced life sciences intellectual property litigators. He holds the role of Of Counsel in Smart & Biggar’s Toronto office, and has more than 25 years of experience in the highly specialized field of pharmaceutical patent, trademark and related litigation. He has been described by independent IP lawyers’ reviewers as a “seasoned gladiator”, praised as a “a skilled fighter and lifecycle strategist for...
Julie Gauvreau is a partner, lawyer, patent agent and trade-mark agent in Lavery’s intellectual property group. She holds a degree in microbiology from Université de Montréal and began her practice in 1998. She is a lawyer, a registered patent agent in Canada and in the United States, and a trade-mark agent. Julie Gauvreau has developed a successful patent practice with a full range of clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical fields. Her specialty resides in helping...
Janet Grove is the Canadian head of our life sciences and healthcare sector. Building on her experience and knowledge from years spent in corporate development and legal roles within industry, Janet helps clients in the technology and health sciences sectors – IT, health sciences, telecommunications and clean-tech. She is sought out for her expertise and business approach to structuring and negotiating both merger and acquisition transactions and complex commercial relationships to deve...
James Hatton is a commercial solicitor with more than 30 years experience assisting companies to exploit the value of their intellectual property assets. He is the Partner responsible for the Technology Group at Farris LLP, the law firm frequently identified by Lexpert as the top corporate firm in Vancouver, British Columbia. James is frequently listed as a leading practitioner in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, repeatedly recommended in the fields of life sciences & health, and tec...
Paul Jorgensen is an intellectual property and life sciences lawyer, with extensive experience in pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent litigation. Dr. Jorgensen has been involved in many complex patent proceedings, including multiple trials before the Federal Court, actions under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations, damages actions, and appeals. He also provides strategic advice on patent infringement and validity. Dr. Jorgensen brings deep scientific understanding to...
For over 20 years, Brian Kingwell has been engaged in patent prosecution and strategic patent portfolio counseling in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering and medical devices. He has wide-ranging experience in obtaining patents for products such as a novel family of heterocyclic antibiotics, the InsectSelect™ protein expression vector, high oleic acid brassica juncea plants, in situ combustion processes for recovery of hydrocarbons, heavy metal w...
Roger Kuypers practices in the areas of life sciences, emerging technologies and intellectual property law in Fasken’s Vancouver office. He is the Chair of the region’s Life Sciences industry group and the Intellectual Property practice group. Roger advises businesses and institutions on the development, acquisition and commercialization of technologies. He also assists with corporate matters, finance and acquisitions.
Kevin Kyte is a partner in the Corporate Group. His practice focuses primarily on domestic and international cross-border private and public mergers & acquisitions, securities, governmental requests for proposals and contracts, foreign investment and regulatory issues in business and financing transactions, including joint ventures, outsourcing, private placements, privatizations, reorganizations, corporate governance and corporate support on insolvencies. Kevin has over 30 years of exten...
Martin Langlois is a partner practising corporate and securities law, and a former Co-Head of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity Groups. He focuses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (including leveraged buyouts), securities and corporate finance transactions, as well as corporate governance and other commercial matters. Martin has over 20 years of experience in a broad range of industries including technology, fintech, life sciences, financial services, mini...
Joanie is a partner within the Intellectual Property (IP), Agribusiness, Food and Beverage, and Life Sciences groups. She specializes in high-stakes IP litigation, and in the efficient elaboration and protection of IP portfolios. Joanie has an extensive knowledge of the IP legislative and regulatory landscape. She sees IP as more than obtaining, registering or using patents, industrial designs, trademarks or copyrights; for her, IP a way to advance knowledge, obtain return on investment, fina...
Christian Leblanc specializes in intellectual property with a focus on patents, particularly pharmaceutical patents. His practice also encompasses media, communications, and defamation law. Christian has been recognized in numerous legal directories for his exceptional understanding of the business world. Christian represents many clients from various industries who want to protect their intellectual property and high technology rights. A seasoned litigator, Christian has acted on behalf of c...
Jean Lee focuses on prosecuting intellectual property applications and managing IP portfolios, primarily in the field of life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and chemical arts. Her patent practice includes originating drafting, legal opinions, and patent office proceedings for a broad range of clients, including large multinational corporations, start-up companies, academic institutions, and medical and healthcare professionals. She has also obtained patent rights o...
Jay Lefton practices corporate and securities law. Jay advises clients on public and private mergers & acquisitions transactions, private equity matters and public and private financings, as well as assisting with strategic alliances, technology transfer and licensing. He works predominantly in the technology and life sciences sector. Assisting acquirers and target companies and their boards of directors, Jay advises on negotiated transactions and unsolicited takeover bids, most of which ...
Hector has over 30 years of practice experience providing legal advice to high growth public and private companies, many of which achieving valuations exceeding $1 billion over a broad range of industry sectors, including technology, life sciences, health and new media, mining, and clean energy advising on corporate domestic and cross-border public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions and international partnering and licensing transactions, and boards of directors and in...
Amelie Metivier is a partner in the Corporate Group in Montréal. Her practice focuses on securities, capital markets and public mergers and acquisitions. With over 15 years of extensive corporate experience, Amelie has represented clients in high-profile transactions and is vastly regarded for her corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions expertise. She regularly acts for industry-leading listed companies, underwriters and investors in connection with public offerings, bought-deal...
Anita Nador is a partner in the firm’s Toronto office and a member of the Firm's National Life Sciences Practice Group. She is a lawyer and registered patent agent in Canada and the United States, and a registered Canadian trade-mark agent. Anita’s practice focuses on strategic intellectual property, regulatory and commercialization planning, primarily in the life sciences and chemical areas, including pharmaceuticals, biologics, natural health products, agriculture, foods and med...
Wesley Ng is Head of the Technology Group and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee in the Toronto office. His practice focuses on information technology, e-commerce, and biotechnology transactions, as well as privacy related matters including compliance with Canada’s new anti-spam legislation (CASL). Wesley regularly advises on business process outsourcings, service arrangements, technology exploitation (including development, commercialization and licensing), transformation...
Dr. John Norman is a partner in the Ottawa office of the firm, practising in the Intellectual Property Group. He helps Canadian and foreign clients manage their patent and intellectual property portfolios and develop litigation strategies. Working primarily with leading national and international pharmaceutical, biotechnology and technology companies, John appears on behalf of clients before the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. John advises...
François Painchaud specializes in business law applied to key technology sectors such as Life Sciences and Information Technology. He is frequently involved in the drafting and negotiation of complex transactions related to technology transfers and joint ventures, as well as in commercial and corporate law, including creation of consortiums, venture capital, and mergers and acquisitions. He was named Lawyer of the Year in 2014 and 2018 – Information Technology in Montréa l...
Peter Pliszka, a senior partner in Fasken’s Litigation Group, is regarded as one of Canada’s leading litigation lawyers. Peter’s practice is focused primarily on product liability, class action, commercial and insurance litigation matters, and it is national in scope. Peter manages litigation proceedings across Canada and has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and other Canadian provinces as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. Peter is Co-Leader of Fasken’s Li...
Nikki is a partner in the Saskatoon office where she assists numerous clients with finance, commercial land transactions and general business matters. Nikki has assisted numerous clients with finance, commercial (non-First Nations and First Nations) land transactions and general business matters. This work includes: commercial lending and financing arrangements, including private placements and public offerings; purchase, sale, leasing and development of real property including that which inv...
Bob H. Sotiriadis specializes in litigation in all areas of industrial and intellectual property law. He has also developed a widely-recognized practice in licensing and transactional intellectual property, including strategic IP management, due diligence and auditing as well as the management and commercialization of intellectual property rights. For many years, Bob H. Sotiriadis taught intellectual property law and transactional intellectual property law at McGill University’s Faculty...
Jason practices corporate and securities law with a primary focus on mergers and acquisitions, complex commercial arrangements, including joint ventures, corporate finance and corporate law. Jason has extensive experience advising boards of directors and special committees on mergers and acquisitions (hostile and negotiated), corporate governance and shareholder activism. As a senior partner, Jason focuses on providing strategic advice on complex, high-impact transactions. Jason advises entre...
Randy Sutton practises dispute resolution and regulatory law. Mr. Sutton has represented clients in the provincial and federal courts across Canada, in arbitrations (both domestic and international) and in a variety of administrative proceedings. He is a member of the British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Ontario bars. His litigation practice includes the representation of clients in commercial, class action, competition, environmental, product liability, product recall, insurance, defamation an...
David Turgeon is the leader of the Global Intellectual Property group, a lawyer and a patent agent. He represents clients before different courts, protects their inventions through patents and provides strategic advice. David represents clients operating in a variety of industries, more particularly the life sciences (namely biologics), biomedical devices and manufacturing sectors. David specializes in high-stakes patent litigation involving clients’ flagship products. As lead counsel o...
Lead patent trial counsel and appeal counsel, appearing in courts across Canada. Considerable expertise in patent, PM(NOC), trade-mark, copyright and trade secret litigation. Acts on behalf of leading national and international pharmaceutical, software, manufacturing, and information technology clients. Registered Patent Agent since 2000. Skilled in advising clients on strategic management of intellectual property including patent life cycle management. Member of the Intellectual Property Ins...
Ingrid VanderElst is co-chair of the Ontario region’s Life Sciences group. Regularly assisting clients in the health products and related service industries, Ingrid advises on regulatory and intellectual property issues. Clients include pharmaceutical, natural health product, medical device, cosmetic and food manufacturers, as well as pharmacy and laboratory services providers and agri-business operators. On the regulatory side, Ingrid has assisted clients with product licensing, establ...
Jennifer Wilkie is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, and an active member of the firm’s Patents, Intellectual Property Litigation & Strategy and Life Sciences groups. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in the intellectual property field, including over 15 years as a registered patent agent. Her practice has focused primarily on patents, especially patent litigation and patent prosecution, with an emphasis on pharmaceutical and chemical patents. Jennifer regularly acts ...
As an intellectual property lawyer and a qualified patent and trademark agent, Anna Wilkinson practises in all areas of intellectual property law, with a focus on the procurement of intellectual property rights. Ms. Wilkinson both manages the Canadian portfolios of global filers and acts for Canadian innovative companies and research institutions. She drafts and prosecutes patent applications for medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and biologics, materials and nanomaterials, packagi...
Nick’s legal practice combines extensive experience in strategic intellectual property (“IP”) portfolio development and IP litigation. Nick regularly advises early stage and established businesses in building their IP portfolios and monetizing these assets, with an expertise in business development (drug development, product acquisition and life-cycle management) and negotiating commercial contracts (licensing, manufacturing, development, supply, distribution and marketing a...
Sara Zborovski is a partner in the Corporate Group. Her practice focuses on providing regulatory and commercial counsel to companies regulated by Health Canada. She helps clients to navigate the regulatory landscape implemented by the Food and Drugs Act, the Cannabis Act and other legislation and associated regulations overseen by Health Canada and provincial regulators. Sara provides strategic counsel to pharmaceutical, cannabis, food and beverage, natural health product, medical device, cos...
Chelsea Nimmo is a strategic litigator with a focus on practical, business-minded outcomes in intellectual property disputes. She advises clients across a broad range of industries, including those in the pharmaceutical, life science, food and agriculture and energy sectors. While her practice touches on all facets of intellectual property, she has a particular focus on patents and industrial design issues. Her in-depth knowledge extends to both liability and damages issues, including remedie...
Ian Trimble is an associate in the Corporate Group. His practice focuses on providing regulatory and commercial counsel to companies regulated by Health Canada, including drug manufacturers and wholesalers, cannabis companies, and companies involved in the marketing and sales of natural health products, food and beverage, cosmetics, and medical devices. He provides strategic counsel on market access and compliance strategies, and helps clients deal with regulatory and pre-clearance agencies. ...
Mark Vanderveken advises clients on regulatory compliance and intellectual property matters, with a particular focus on the life sciences industry. Mark provides strategic guidance on the production and sale of regulated products, including pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, natural health products, and medical devices. He also assists clients with the protection and commercialization of intellectual property assets.
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