Fasken Martineau DuMoulin offers a full-service practice for life sciences clients, with capabilities in product liability litigation, patent disputes, financial and corporate matters, and regulatory advice. For the firm's outstanding activity across practice areas, Fasken was named the 2020 Canadian Life Cycle Firm of the Year by LMG Life Sciences.
“Fasken's has provided strategic and insightful guidance in the face of considerable uncertainty,” a recent client for patent strategy says. “The opinions we have obtained have been concise, organized and practicable, and have been of tremendous assistance in shaping the organization's strategy regarding these new launches.”
Peter Pliszka is co-leader of the life sciences industry group, and one of leading attorneys in Canada for product liability litigation. He is currently representing Sandoz and Novartis in class action matters related to slow-release opioid pharmaceutical products. He is also acting for Sandoz and other drug makers being sued in class actions related to blood pressure product valsartan. The firm was awarded Canadian Product Liability Firm of the Year in 2020, the second year in a row the group earned the honor.
Also co-leading the life sciences group is Sylvie Bourdeau, who is one of the firm's top advisors for all matters financial and corporate. Her specialties include mergers and acquisitions, commercial agreements, joint ventures and licensing. She recently assisted GenePOC in its sale to Meridian Bioscience, a transaction which earned an award as one of the 2020 Impact Deals of the Year.
For intellectual property, Julie Desrosiers offers significant experience in life sciences patent litigation. She recently acted for Lupin in its challenge of a recent decision refusing to codify zaxine, a patented medicine used to treat hepatic encephalopathy. In lateral news, the firm made a high-profile hire with Jason Markwell joining the firm’s IP group, bolstering its capabilities in life sciences patent litigation. “He is a flexible thinker and is willing to talk through issues, particularly where the law is not well settled,” a client says, adding that his opinions are “very well-organized and can be readily implemented because he has a good understanding of the industry.”
Ingrid VanderElst continues to be an authority on IP and regulatory matters. She currently advises a number of life sciences clients, including a biomedical research client on device development matters. “Ingrid is a very knowledgeable practitioner, but what I appreciate most about her is her practicality,” a client says. “She understands that businesses move in real time and have to be able to quickly separate the real risks from the theoretical risks.” Standout partner Timothy Squire was named the 2020 Regulatory Attorney of the Year in Canada for his leading position in the market and notable representations.
