Best Lawyers in Canada for Biotechnology Law

Michael Shortt is a partner at Fasken’s Montreal office, where he practices as a lawyer and trademark agent. His practice focuses on both litigation and transactional work, with an emphasis on the videogame and life science industries. A member of the Québec and Ontario bars, he advises clients on common-law, civil-law, and federal matters. As a litigator, Michael represents clients in intellectual property, commercial, and public law disputes. He has represented clients before t...

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 ...

Timothy Squire is one of Canada's leading life sciences industry practitioners. With his extensive regulatory and commercialization experience, Tim has become a trusted advisor to stakeholders in the drug, medical device, natural health product, cosmetic and food industries in Canada and from around the world. Tim’s practice is devoted to the Life Sciences industry, and he is the Co-Leader of the firm's International Life Sciences Industry Group. He adds substantial bench strength given...

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...

Jay Zakaïb is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice. Jay practices law in Ottawa, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Jay Zakaïb since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jay Zakaïb is held by other lawyers.

Vanessa Grant practises business law in our Toronto office. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate governance for public and private corporations, including private equity and venture capital. She also provides ongoing general corporate and commercial legal advice to a number of clients.She has worked with several national and international clients in various industries, with a particular focus on technology companies, life sciences companies, and RE...

Author of “Drug and Health Products Law in Canada” with a Doctor of Law degree, Mathieu Gagné is recognized as a leading lawyer 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...

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...

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...

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 ...

Brian Kingwell is a partner in the Vancouver office, practising in the firm's global Intellectual Property and Life Sciences groups. For over 25 years, his practice has focused on patent prosecution, strategic patent portfolio counselling and due diligence in the areas of molecular biology, genomics, biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering and medical devices. Brian advises innovative clients across a range of sectors and industries, including health care, biotechnology, agriculture and...

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...

Christopher Van Barr is among Canada's most experienced and sought-after intellectual property litigators. He has represented some of the world's largest and most innovative companies, such as Bayer, Regeneron, OpenAI, Google, Takeda, as well as institutions such as Canada's National Research Council, in the most complex of high-stakes IP litigation cases. Chris is recognized for his first-chair trial and appeal expertise and strategic foresight. In numerous independent surveys, Chris' client...

James Hatton is a Partner at Farris LLP in Vancouver, British Columbia, with more than 30 years of experience advising companies on the development, commercialization, protection and strategic use of intellectual property assets. He is the partner responsible for the Technology Group at Farris LLP and advises clients across the biotechnology and life sciences, technology, corporate and intellectual property sectors. James practises in the areas of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Cor...

Sébastien Roy practices in intellectual property and commercial law. He advises and represents clients in litigation and in contractual matters in the different areas of intellectual property law, such as trademarks, copyrights, industrial designs, patents and trade secrets. Sébastien represents clients in judicial or administrative proceedings before the federal and provincial courts in infringement or unfair competition matters involving injunctions and monetary claims. He pro...

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...