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Life Sciences


From biotech startups to big pharma, we follow the science.
Our team speaks the same language as our clients do, and helps them navigate the product life cycle – from M&A to patent and product liability proceedings. Working together, at every stage, to bring new products to market and protect your assets.
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Overview

The lawyers at Fasken work with clients throughout the product life cycle and at every level of involvement. We have the scientific backgrounds and respected experience to provide strategic advice in almost any situation where it is needed.

By collaborating with colleagues who know the specific regulatory, marketing, intellectual property, competition, tax, litigation and business law matters unique to life sciences, we create multi-disciplinary solutions that protect client interests as their products move from conception to consumer or clinical use.

Our clients range from start-up biotech companies to the biggest pharmaceutical. We also work with clients from the  medical devices, natural health product (NHP), cosmetic, cannabis, veterinary, and human tissues. We help all life sciences industry stakeholders, including manufacturers, distributors, hospitals, pharmacies, retailers, academic and financial institutions and third-party research organizations.

Your team at Fasken includes lawyers with advance degrees in pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacology, toxicology and genetics with a strong network of life sciences experts in 47 countries across the globe. We are committed to leadership in life sciences law; we write the leading guide to legal and regulatory regimes governing the manufacture and sale of drugs, medical devices and cosmetics in Canada and give frequent presentations to client organizations and associations. We’ve also been honored by respected organizations including Chambers, LMG Life Sciences, Who’s Who Legal, among others for innovative work year after year.

Read our publications, browse some of our recent life sciences work we’ve assisted with or contact any of our lawyers to learn more.

Areas of Expertise

  • Agreements and Outsourcing, Fasken’s life science team creates the right contractual and pre-contractual documentation to protect your position and specify requirements. We do this for every type of agreement, whether you’re establishing preferred suppliers, tendering, drafting confidentiality agreements or negotiating final terms.
  • Biomedical Technologies, From rapid technological advancements to complex regulatory requirements, we know the impact you’re making doesn’t come without challenges. We’ll help clear the obstacles to build a better tomorrow.
  • Capital Raising and M&A in Life Sciences, Fasken combines respected securities law experience with life sciences acumen to bring unique value to our clients who want to cost-effectively raise capital and complete deals that advance their goals.
  • Litigation in Life Sciences, Our litigation group works with our life sciences clients to identify, reduce and manage their legal risks, and when litigation occurs, to help achieve successful and cost-efficient solutions.
  • Regulatory Affairs in Life Sciences, Fasken delivers practical solutions and strategic advice to meet the unique regulatory considerations that our life sciences clients must contend with at every stage of the product lifecycle.

Achievements

  • Ranked nationwide as top tier (Tier 1) in Life Sciences, Legal 500 2026
  • Ranked nationwide in Healthcare & Life Sciences, The Globe and Mail 2022 to 2026
  • Ranked nationwide (Band 1) in Life Sciences , Chambers Canada 2017 to 2026
  • Named Healthcare and Life Sciences Firm of the Year at the 2025 Lexology North America Awards, Lexology North America Awards 2025
  • Recommended in Product Liability Defence, Lexology Index 2018 to 2024
  • Recognized for expertise in Biotechnology and Life Sciences, The Best Lawyers in Canada 2020 to 2024
  • Named Intellectual Property & Life Sciences Law Firm of the Year, Chambers Canada 2024
  • Tier 1 Global Elite Thought Leader in Life Sciences, Lexology Index 2018 to 2024
  • Winner of Canadian Patent Litigation Firm of the Year, LMG Life Sciences Awards 2022
  • Winner of Canadian Impact Deal of the Year, LMG Life Sciences Awards 2019 to 2022

Team

Primary Contacts
  • Timothy M. Squire, Partner | CO-LEADER, LIFE SCIENCES, Toronto, ON, +1 416 868 3462, [email protected]
  • Mathieu Gagné, Partner | Co-Leader, Life Sciences, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 7657, [email protected]
  • Peter J. Pliszka, Partner | CHAIR, LIFE SCIENCES LITIGATION | CHAIR, PRODUCT LIABILITY & INSURANCE GROUP, Toronto, ON, +1 416 868 3336, [email protected]
  • Sylvie Bourdeau, Partner | Corporate/Commercial, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 4388, [email protected]
  • Ludwig Frahm-Arp, Partner | Labour, Employment & Human Rights, Johannesburg, +27 11 586 6060, [email protected]
  • Tracy L. Hooey, Partner | Mergers & Acquisitions, Toronto, ON, +1 416 868 3439, [email protected]
  • Ingrid E. VanderElst, PhD, Partner | Trademark Agent | Intellectual Property, Toronto, ON, +1 416 865 4519, [email protected]
  • Roger A.C. Kuypers, Partner | Trademark Agent | Life Sciences, Vancouver, BC, +1 604 631 4880, [email protected]
  • Dara Jospé, Partner | Intellectual Property, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 7649, [email protected]
  • Jean-Raphaël Champagne, Partner | Life Sciences, Emerging Technology & Venture Capital, Québec, QC, +1 418 640 2084, [email protected]
Timothy Squire Toronto Lawyer Timothy M. Squire Partner | CO-LEADER, LIFE SCIENCES Toronto, ON +1 416 868 3462
Mathieu Gagné, Partner | Co-Leader, Life Sciences Mathieu Gagné Partner | Co-Leader, Life Sciences Montréal, QC +1 514 397 7657
Peter J Pliszka Toronto Lawyer Peter J. Pliszka Partner | CHAIR, LIFE SCIENCES LITIGATION | CHAIR, PRODUCT LIABILITY & INSURANCE GROUP Toronto, ON +1 416 868 3336
Sylvie Bourdeau associée/partner Montréal Sylvie Bourdeau Partner | Corporate/Commercial Montréal, QC +1 514 397 4388
Ludwig Frahm-Arp, Partner | Labour, Employment & Human Rights Ludwig Frahm-Arp Partner | Labour, Employment & Human Rights Johannesburg +27 11 586 6060
Tracey L Hooey Toronto Lawyer Tracy L. Hooey Partner | Mergers & Acquisitions Toronto, ON +1 416 868 3439
Ingrid Vanderelst Toronto Lawyer Ingrid E. VanderElst, PhD Partner | Trademark Agent | Intellectual Property Toronto, ON +1 416 865 4519
Roger A.C. Kuypers, Partner | Trademark Agent | Life Sciences Roger A.C. Kuypers Partner | Trademark Agent | Life Sciences Vancouver, BC +1 604 631 4880
Dara Jospé, Partner | Intellectual Property Dara Jospé Partner | Intellectual Property Montréal, QC +1 514 397 7649
Jean-Raphaël Champagne Avocat/Associate Québec Jean-Raphaël Champagne Partner | Life Sciences, Emerging Technology & Venture Capital Québec, QC +1 418 640 2084
Camille Marceau, Associate | Life Sciences Camille Marceau Associate | Life Sciences Montréal, QC +1 514 397 5275

Experience

  • Sandoz Inc. defeats certification of proposed competition class action, [Case - Sandoz Canada Inc.], Sandoz defeats certification in major competition class action.
  • Tanabe Pharma Corporation sells global ALS Therapy business rights to Shionogi in a US$2.5 billion strategic transaction, [Deal - Tanabe Pharma Corporation], Japanese pharmaceutical company completes sale of business rights.
  • Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc. defeats certification of proposed competition class action, [Case - Lupin Pharmaceuticals Inc and Lupin Pharma Canada Inc], Lupin defeats certification in major competition class action
  • Femtum Inc. completes a C$16 million Series A financing round, [Deal - Femtum Inc.], Series A financing (C$16 million) for a photonics technology company.
  • Hims & Hers completed the acquisition of Livewell, [Deal - Hims&Hers], Acquisition Livewell by Hims & Hers.
  • Eli Health closed CAD $17 million Series A funding, [Case - Eli Science Inc.], Series A funding for Eli Health.
  • Hoya Vision Care completes acquisition of Centennial Optical Limited, [Deal - Hoya Lens Canada Inc.], A global vision care company acquired a Canadian distributor of ophthalmic frames, lenses, and optical accessories.
  • Jane Software valuation hits approximately C$1.8 billion after a C$500+ million TCV-led secondary financing round, [Deal - Jane Software Inc.], Canadian healthtech company completes C$500 million secondary financing
  • Streamex Exchange Corp. merges with BioSig Technologies, Inc., [Deal - Streamforge Inc.], Merger in the FinTech industry

Knowledge

  • Dormant DINs Revisited: MFN Pricing and the Evolving Impacts on Canada’s Patent Linkage Regime, 5/20/2026
  • Could Artificial Intelligence Soon Prescribe Drugs in Canada? Lessons from Utah's Landmark Program, 3/12/2026
  • 2026 ESG Disclosure Study, 3/3/2026
  • Key Product Liability Cases and Developments – 2025 Overview, 2/12/2026
  • Final Changes to Quebec’s Exceptional Patient Measure to Come Into Effect, 12/9/2025
  • Ontario Moves to Regulate Preferred Pharmacy Networks (PPNs), 11/11/2025
  • Class Actions in Canada: At the Forefront of Pharma Litigation, 10/1/2025
  • Important Changes To The Exception Patient Measure In Quebec, 7/24/2025
  • At Long Last: The New PMPRB Guidelines Are Here, 7/21/2025
  • CDA Opens Public Consultation on Pharmacare National Formulary – Deadline July 18, 2025, 6/25/2025

Events

  • Artificial Intelligence in Health & Life Sciences, 6/11/2026
  • Life Sciences Patent Strategies, 5/27/2026
  • Global Antitrust Challenges Shaping the Pharmaceutical Industry, 4/16/2026
  • Europe in Motion: What Canadian Businesses Need to Know About Trends in Intellectual Property, 4/14/2026
  • Protecting AI Investment – Leveraging Patent Protection for your Innovations, 3/11/2026
  • Drug Pricing in Canada: Navigating Potential U.S. MFN Implications, 2/6/2026
  • LSO Knowledge and Networking Breakfast: Canada’s Moment to Lead – Brain Gain & Talent Access in Canada’s Life Sciences Sector, 6/5/2025
  • LSO Knowledge and Networking Breakfast: Member Marathon Breakfast, 5/20/2025
  • LSO Knowledge and Networking Breakfast, 2/12/2025
  • Fasken Leaders in Medtech Cocktail Reception, 10/15/2024

News

  • Fasken to Attend the 13th Annual Summit for Women in Life Sciences Law, 6/29/2026
  • Manpreet Singh Joins Fasken as Partner in the Life Sciences Group, 6/16/2026
  • Fasken Will Be at the BIO International Convention in San Diego, 6/8/2026
  • Fasken Will Be at the Pharma & MedTech Compliance Conference in Toronto, 5/25/2026
  • Fasken to Attend the IBA World Life Sciences Conference, 5/25/2026
  • Fasken Joins Industry Leaders at CHFA NOW 2026, 2/10/2026
  • Johan Coertze Joins Fasken's Partnership in Corporate and Commercial Practice, 1/16/2026
  • Fasken in San Francisco for the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference Week, 1/12/2026
  • Fasken Partner Noah Boudreau Named Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, 11/10/2025
  • Fasken Partners with the Québec Center for Innovation in Biotechnology, 10/6/2025

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