Best Lawyers in Canada for Biotechnology Law

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...

Jay Zakaïb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice. Jay, who practices law in Ottawa, Ontario, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jay is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

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...

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...

Julie Desrosiers practices intellectual property litigation. Julie regularly acts on behalf of high-tech corporations and advises clients on injunctions, seizures and proceedings to protect their intellectual property, trade secrets and strategic information. Julie’s practice is currently focused almost exclusively on patent litigation. A seasoned litigator, she has been involved in several important patent infringement cases in the pharmaceutical sector. She appeared before the Supreme...

Alex Gloor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice and Intellectual Property Law. Alex, who practices law in Ottawa, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alex is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...