Blake Cassels & Graydon

Blake Cassels & Graydon has a deep offering in product liability, corporate and IP matters. LMG Life Sciences awarded the firm Canadian Life Cycle Firm of the Year for its broad-based practice serving clients in this industry.

Gordon McKee is a "leading lawyer" in life sciences product liability litigation, according to a peer. He offers more than 25 years of experience in law, and continues to be active in multijurisdictional class actions involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices and over-the-counter products. McKee was awarded Canadian Product Liability Attorney of the Year by LMG Life Sciences in 2019. Jill Lawrie, who co-leads the firm's consumer protection group, further bolsters the firm's expertise in product class actions.

Joseph Garcia is the firm's standard-bearer for financial and corporate matters in the life sciences area. He was recently involved in the combination of Canada's life sciences venture CDRD and NEOMED to form a joint entity adMare BioInnovations. LMG Life Sciences recognized the matter as an Impact Deal of the Year in 2019.

Heading the IP department is Anthony Prenol, who specializes in prosecution and litigation for clients in a number of industry areas, including life sciences. The group recently grew with the addition of two notable partners from Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin, Melanie Baird and Andrew Skodyn. The two specialize in patent litigation for companies in the pharmaceutical and biologics sectors. "They are very well respected," a peer says. "It was a good move by Blakes if they want to be in that field."