Life Sciences

Our lawyers and patent agents understand the intersection of science and business. We use that knowledge to help our clients capitalize on innovations and advances in science and technology to grow their businesses. Whether you are a startup driving innovation, a growth-stage company seeking capital or an established player guiding the future of the industry, Aird & Berlis can provide the comprehensive legal services you need to succeed in the life sciences sector.

We provide targeted, scalable Canadian legal advice on the issues facing life sciences businesses, including regulatory, M&A, financing, capital markets, licencing, commercial agreements, intellectual property, labour and employment, privacy, litigation and dispute resolution and tax counsel. The knowledge and experience of the members of our Life Sciences Group ensures a deep understanding of the legal considerations unique to clients operating in this space. Many of our intellectual property professionals and patent and trademark agents hold a PhD, MSc or BEng degree in relevant fields of study, including pharmacology, chemistry and medical sciences, infection and immunity.

Aird & Berlis represents a variety of life science, pharmaceutical, health science, veterinary, agricultural, food and beverage, technology and biotechnology companies, as well as medical device manufacturers, hospitals, universities and research institutions. We act for early-stage, emerging and mature businesses.

Our extensive capital markets expertise helps clients take their business to the next level by assisting with financing and go-public transactions, including initial public offerings, reverse takeovers and qualifying transactions, as well as resulting listings on the Canadian Securities Exchange, TSX, TSXV and NEO Exchange.

Aird & Berlis has the domestic and cross-border legal and regulatory expertise to advise companies, investors, lenders and other market participants who are pursuing opportunities in this space, including in the following specialized areas:

Psychedelics – Aird & Berlis is a recognized leader in the psychedelics industry. We advise private and public psychedelics companies, including companies with a focus on pharmaceutical developments, nutraceutical products and clinics. The legal, regulatory and investment landscape of the psychedelics industry continues to rapidly evolve in Canada, the United States and around the world. Aird & Berlis is at the forefront of this change, just as we were with Canada’s cannabis industry. We advise clients on the complex international and Canadian domestic regulations associated with psychedelics, including compliance with the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Criminal Code, Health Canada Act and the Food and Drugs Act. As a full-service law firm, we can draw on the expertise of professionals across all our practice areas to serve the entire suite of legal and patent needs of our psychedelics clients.

Pharmaceuticals – Our team is dedicated to helping clients succeed in Canada’s highly regulated, rapidly evolving pharmaceutical sector. We act for pharmaceutical developers, hospitals, universities, research institutions and Fortune 100 pharmaceutical companies. Our lawyers and patent agents have extensive experience advising on pharmaceutical patent litigation, including infringement and validity actions, as well as proceedings under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations.

Medical Devices – We support medical device companies throughout each stage of the product lifecycle. Our lawyers and patent agents support inventors, manufacturers, developers, licensors, distributors, hospitals, investors and other stakeholders. Our work covers diagnostic devices, targeted drug delivery, surgical instruments, assays, wound dressings and prosthetics. We regularly provide support with respect to Health Canada product regulations and licencing requirements in connection with the manufacturing of medical devices.

Food and Beverage Products – Aird & Berlis has experience advising food and beverage companies on all aspects of their businesses. We advise on regulatory compliance, including with respect to food safety legislation, such as the Canadian Food and Drugs Act, and dealing with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency from the perspective of imports and exports, as well as licences, inspections and product recalls.

Other notable areas of our life sciences expertise include agriculture, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, diagnostics, genomics, green technologies, immunology, nanotechnology, therapeutics, veterinary and virology.