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in its US$770 million business combination with Streamex Exchange, a commodities tokenization

in the C$8.1-million bought-deal public offering of units of Ventripoint Diagnostics

in a US$30-million public offering of units pursuant to a prospectus supplement with Cybin

in a US$150-million private placement of common shares of Cybin

in its proposed listing on NASDAQ and the TSX

in its public offering of common shares for gross proceeds of USD$3,050,000

in its securities law matters, including corporate finance, corporate governance, continuous disclosure, equity compensation and stock exchange requirements

in its acquisition by Functionalab Group and Dermapure

in an up to US$35-million at-the-market equity program for the sale of common shares pursuant to an equity distribution agreement with Cybin

one of North America’s largest orthodontic partner networks, in various corporate matters

in its agreement to sell its retirement living operations comprised of 1,048 retirement living suites across eleven retirement communities in Ontario and Saskatchewan, to SiennaSabra for an aggregate purchase price of C$307.5-million

one of Canada's leading medical aesthetics clinics, in its acquisition by MedSpa Partners

in the C$35-million acquisition and related financing through its portfolio company, Clearpoint Health Network, of the surgical and medical centres business of Centric Health and subsequent reorganization of Clearpoint

in its recent Canadian listing, establishment of a US$50-million shelf prospectus with the Ontario Securities Commission, and proposed US listing

in its C$30-million acquisition by FitLife Brands by way of plan of arrangement as well as ongoing corporate, M&A, securities, real estate and governance advice

in connection with the filing of a base shelf prospectus relating to the offering for sale, from time to time, of common shares, warrants, units, debt securities, subscription receipts or any combination thereof for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$40 million

in a joint venture with Bayer to develop sustainable organic biologicals in Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa

in its non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of C$7.1 million

in the Mills Memorial Hospital Redevelopment Project

in the Stuart Lake Hospital Redevelopment Project serving Fort St. James and surrounding First Nations communities

in the establishment of a shelf prospectus for proceeds of C$150 million

in its acquisition and take-private transaction with MPM BioImpact

as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner in term loan facilities totalling C$385 million and C$125 million revolving credit facility made to a corporation in the medical technology industry

as lead investor with Cambrian Biopharma in Vita Therapeutics' US$31-million Series B equity financing

in the C$2.8-million overnight marketed offering of Mydecine Innovations Group

in matters related to ownership and operations of assisting living housing projects

in its $50 million all-equity business combination with MediPharm Labs

Corporate and Transactional Law

A consortium of six provincial and three territorial governments in a C$32.5-billion resolution with the tobacco industry to recover the healthcare costs associated with smoking

in two class actions in British Columbia concerning alleged nitrosamine impurities in pharmaceutical products, including losartan and amitriptyline

in the defence of multiple class actions and more than 200 individual mass tort product liability actions relating to hernia mesh

in a proposed class action in the Federal Court alleging industry-wide price fixing and market allocation of generic drugs

in the defence of an individual hernia mesh matter

in proposed class proceedings in BC and Qu&eacute;bec alleging that chemical hair straightening products cause or increase the risk of uterine, ovarian and breast cancer, and fibroids, due to the alleged presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals

in the defence of a class action related to its glucosamine products

in successfully defending nine class actions in four jurisdictions across Canada related to alleged impurities in pharmaceutical products

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

in patent litigation brought by Alexion Pharmaceuticals, and in related patent impeachment proceedings, relating to SOLIRIS (eculizumab)

in five patent infringement actions involving six different patents initiated by plaintiffs Bayer and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals relating to the drug EYLEA

in a judicial review proceeding initiated by Bayer relating to the timing of listing patents on the patent register

on the intellectual property aspects of its sale to an affiliate of Mars

Intellectual property strategy, prosecution and portfolio management for life sciences clients such as 48Hour Discovery, Alberta Glycomics Centre, Alberta Research Chemicals, Amgen, ANDE Corporation, Biological E Limited, Carmot Therapeutics, Curza Global, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Exelixis, Insilico Medicine IP Limited, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, Liven Proteins, Mirati Therapeutics, Rapid Infection Diagnostics, Sinoveda Canada, SolAeroMed, University of Alberta and Vitalixir (Beijing)

Intellectual Property and IP Litigation

A biotechnology company in its product liability matters in Canada

A global fashion and lifestyle retailer in providing regulatory advice related to the approval, sale and advertisement of cosmetics and medical devices consistent with the client's commercial goals

A multinational specialty biopharmaceutical company in providing regulatory advice related to its drug and medical device products

in its US$5.3-billion acquisition by Abbott Laboratories

regarding all competition law matters and filings in its acquisition by AbbVie for US$63 billion, named the Deal Awards 2020 Healthcare, Pharma & Biotech Deal of the Year

as Canadian competition counsel, in its US$43-billion acquisition by Pfizer

regarding all competition law matters and filings in its acquisition by Abbott Laboratories for US$25 billion

Product Regulation, Competition and Trade

New Call To Action Accordion Folder

Infrastructure

Private Equity & Investment Funds

Property Development & Real Estate

Food & Agribusiness

Energy

All Industries

Mining

Ranked in Life Sciences, Intellectual Property Litigation, International Trade/WTO, Competition/Antitrust, Corporate/M&A and Product Liability

Industry Recognition

Named Class Action Law Firm of the Year

Most Frequently Recommended, Class Actions (Toronto); Corporate Commercial Law (Calgary); Corporate Finance & Securities (Calgary); Mergers & Acquisitions (Calgary); Litigation - Product Liability (Toronto) 
Consistently Recommended, Class Actions (Calgary); Corporate Commercial Law (Toronto, Vancouver); Competition Law (Calgary, Toronto); Corporate Finance & Securities (Toronto); Intellectual Property (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto); Mergers & Acquisitions (Toronto) 
Repeatedly Recommended, Mergers & Acquisitions (Vancouver); Litigation - Product Liability (Calgary)

Band 1, International Trade/WTO 
Band 2, Corporate/M&A; Competition/Antitrust 
Band 4, Capital Markets 
Band 5, Intellectual Property

Recognition

Ranked in Corporate/M&A, International Trade/WTO, Competition/Antitrust, Capital Markets and Intellectual Property

Thomas Feore

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Associate

Ana Nizharadze

In 2024, Ontario’s highest court affirmed the principle that a certifiable tort claim requires a plaintiff to provide some basis in fact for a present, materialized injury that is “sufficiently serious.” A legally compensable injury is required—a mere risk of harm will simply not suffice.

Court of Appeal Cuts Off Speculative Product Liability Claims

Emrys Davis

Commercial Litigation, Competition and Class Action Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner

Michael A. Eizenga L.S.M.

Leading Canadian Class Action Litigator at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner 

Gannon Beaulne

Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

In our 2025 edition of Looking Forward, we review notable class action developments from the past year and consider what recent trends in the law might tell us about what to expect in the years ahead.

Class Actions Looking Forward 2025

Class Actions: Looking Forward 2025

Edward W. Hulshof

Commercial Litigation Lawyer at Bennett Jones Vancouver

The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has endorsed the constitutionality of British Columbia (BC) legislation empowering the province to seek recovery of opioid epidemic healthcare costs in a proposed class action brought on behalf of multiple Canadian governments.
In Sanis Health Inc v British Columbia, <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2024/2024scc40/2024scc40.html" target="_blank">2024 SCC 40</a>, a majority of the SCC held that constitutional territorial limits on provincial legislative competence did not prevent BC from creating a direct statutory cause of action that it can pursue in a proposed class action on behalf of the federal and other provincial governments, subject to the right to opt out of the proceeding.

Supreme Court Approves Constitutionality of Multi-Crown Class Action

Aaron E. Sonshine

Corporate Finance, Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Governance Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Kim Lawton

Corporate Commercial Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

The Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference (BBHIC), held in Toronto this week, drew over 1,500 global participants to one of Canada's leading events for healthcare investment and innovation. The conference brought together leading Canadian healthcare companies, institutional investors and international industry leaders for in-depth discussions on emerging trends and strategic opportunities in the sector.
As both a participant and sponsor at this year’s BBHIC, we had the opportunity to engage with thought leaders across both R&D and commercial healthcare sectors. The conference offered valuable insights into capital deployment strategies, innovation trends and the evolving investor landscape in Canada.

BBHIC 2025 Key Insights

BBHIC 2025: Key Insights From Canada's Leading Healthcare Investment Conference

Michael Eizenga speaks to Law.com about the resolution of a decades-long Canadian class action dispute, culminating in a C$32.5 billion agreement with the tobacco industry.

Tobacco Industry Settles for C325 Billion in Landmark Canadian Class Action

Tobacco Industry Settles for C$32.5 Billion in Landmark Canadian Class Action

Emily P. Kettel

Intellectual Property Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

Partner, Trademark Agent

Christina Skinner

Competition and Antitrust Lawyer at Bennett Jones Toronto

On December 17, 2024, the Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal) issued reasons for its decision to dismiss an application for leave to bring a private abuse of dominance action against a major pharmaceutical manufacturer. JAMP had applied for leave to bring a claim against Janssen Inc. alleging abuse of dominance under section 79 of the Competition Act (the Act) in relation to STELARA, Janssen’s drug containing the active ingredient ustekinumab. The Tribunal dismissed JAMP’s application. Among other things, its decision confirms that the Tribunal will carefully probe the parties’ evidence in performing its important screening role on leave applications.

Life Sciences

Overview

Key Contacts


Bennett Jones Life Sciences We guide life sciences companies through capital, IP, regulatory, commercialization, and litigation challenges with practical, business-focused legal solutions. Key Contacts Aaron E. SonshinePartner Dominique T. HusseyChief Executive Officer Ian C. MichaelPartner Vincent M. de GrandpréPartner Cheryl M. WoodinPartner Overview We understand the unique challenges of the life sciences industry and the sophisticated needs of our innovative clients. Clients trust us to provide practical advice at every stage: from securing capital and leveraging intellectual property to obtaining regulatory approvals, commercializing products, and defending against product liability and intellectual property claims. We also assist with executing strategic transactions and accessing public markets. Key Contacts Aaron E. Sonshine, Partner Toronto • 416.777.6448 • sonshinea@bennettjones.com Dominique T. Hussey, Chief Executive Officer • Co-Head of Innovation, Technology & Branding Practice Toronto • 416.777.6230 • husseyd@bennettjones.com Ian C. Michael, Partner Toronto • 416.777.5778 • michaeli@bennettjones.com Vincent M. de Grandpré, Partner Toronto • 416.777.4802 • degrandprev@bennettjones.com Cheryl M. Woodin, Partner • Co-Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department Toronto • 416.777.6550 • woodinc@bennettjones.com