Few cannabis practices are as well balanced as Bennett Jones LLP’s team, which brings to bear strong capability in both the corporate and regulatory areas. In terms of the former sphere, high-profile department co-head Aaron Sonshine (Toronto) demonstrated the team’s transactional firepower with his advice to Cresco Labs on the $2bn acquisition of Columbia Care and the concurrent disposition of $185m of assets. Other transaction-focused names in this field include Angela Blake, who operates from Toronto and Vancouver, as well as Toronto-based partners Kim Lawton and Corey Yermus. Firm Chief Executive Officer Dominique Hussey fronts the regulatory and IP sides of the group from Toronto.

Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP’s cannabis practice is weighted towards corporate finance matters, where it has an emphasis on handling private and public debt and equity offerings for key market players. The group also advises major industry participants on corporate and M&A transactions, restructuring and insolvencies, and regulatory issues, among other matters. Jonathan Sherman spearheads the practice and recently teamed up with the financial services group to advise trophy client Canopy Growth on its $150m registered direct offering. Other key names are corporate and securities specialist Jamie Litchen; up-and-coming finance partner Daniel Cipollone; Tayyaba Khan, who has a focus on cannabis-related corporate and securities deals; and Chandimal Nicholas, who is noted for IP and regulatory work. All lawyers mentioned work in Toronto.

A longstanding adviser to cannabis clients, Aird & Berlis LLP’s extensive sector experience ensures it is a popular choice for the full chain of industry participants, from producers and processors, through to investors and healthcare organizations. The group is well weighted between transactional and regulatory work, with particularly strong showings in financings and M&A matters. As co-chair of the cannabis and capital markets areas, Sherri Altshuler is well positioned to handle complex, heavily regulated cannabis transactions. Other key contacts include fellow department co-chair Richard Kimel as well as corporate and capital markets partners Adria Leung Lim and Melanie Cole. All lawyers mentioned work in Toronto.

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP’s comprehensive cannabis offering maintains an interdisciplinary approach, with the ability to draw on specialists from its corporate, dispute resolution, IP and insolvency groups, among others. Montreal-based Tricia Kuhl anchors the team and stands out for her broad practice focus, which spans corporate, technology, regulatory and compliance; she recently advised Rose LifeScience on various commercial law issues. Rounding out the key partners are Toronto-based Pei Li, who specializes in regulatory matters, and Montreal-based litigator Patrick Lapierre. A robust second line of non-partners includes IP-focused counsel Henry Bian (Toronto) and corporate and commercial associate Renée Tousignant (Montreal).

Gowling WLG’s cannabis practice impresses with its ‘unparalleled ability to navigate complex legal landscapes’. The multidisciplinary group combines strength in transactional and regulatory work, with the wider firm’s intellectual property prowess reflected in a client list that is dominated by life sciences companies. Alongside its work for producers, it also acts for investors and retailers, among others. Key highlights included corporate and securities partner Peter Simeon advising Khiron Life Sciences on the $3m sale of its European subsidiaries to 2518542 Alberta. Toronto-based Simeon jointly leads the team together with Ottawa-based regulatory and commercial law specialist Lewis Retik. IP-focused Natalie Rizkalla-Kamel is also recommended in Toronto.

The cannabis law group at McCarthy Tétrault draws on lawyers sitting in the corporate, litigation, regulatory, capital markets and life sciences teams, among other areas, to provide full-service coverage of cannabis matters. Department co-head Ranjeev Dhillon is regarded by many as a leading light in the sector and specializes in corporate and capital markets-related work; he recently advised key client SNDL on a C$100m share repurchase transaction. The practice additionally includes fellow co-head Rami Chalabi, who is also noted for transactions; Shane D’Souza, who focuses on litigation and regulation; and talented associate Matthew Sanders. Named lawyers are based in Toronto.

US-headquartered Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. has made significant inroads into the cannabis market in Canada following its Toronto launch in early 2023. During the past year alone, the team added nine clients to its roster including Cannaray and investment dealer Paradigm Capital. The department is led by go-to partner Eric Foster, who joined from Dentons in April 2023; he recently advised SLANG Worldwide on various matters including on amendments to its $17.3m credit facility. Other key contacts include life sciences expert Cheryl Reicin, who is recommended for regulatory work; of counsel Matthew Imrie, who is noted for cannabis-related transactions; and banking and finance partner Alex North, who joined from Dentons in September 2023.

Lawyers at Torys ‘take time to understand the commercial objectives’, according to clients. A strong performer in the medical cannabis field, the team is well versed in regulatory, IP and commercial work, while it additionally leverages its New York office to provide significant cross-border firepower. Life sciences expert Eileen McMahon chairs the IP, agribusiness and food and drug practices and is sought after for her mastery of regulatory issues. Teresa Reguly also specializes in life sciences regulation and IP, with a focus on cannabis, food and controlled drug products. Counsel Yolande Dufresne and senior associate Melanie Sharman Rowand provide support.

Dentons’ full-spectrum cannabis practice encompasses a broad spread of commercial and regulatory work, with its recent experience covering M&A, securities, IP and real estate, among other areas. The wider firm’s enviable international platform is a significant draw for multinational clients and the team is routinely involved in cross-border transactions, particularly US-related matters. The department is led jointly by Toronto-based Andreas Kloppenborg and Vancouver-based Kimberly Burns, both of whom handle a mix of corporate, capital markets and M&A.

DLA Piper (Canada) LLP possesses a strong track record in advising cannabis companies on corporate and capital markets transactions, with Acreage Holdings, Trulieve Cannabis Corp and Tilray among its representative clients. Alongside its work for licenced producers, the team also acts for investors, dealers and lenders, among other stakeholders. The department is driven out of Toronto by Robert Fonn, who specializes in corporate finance and M&A. The group also includes Canadian capital markets co-chair Derek Sigel and corporate finance and M&A partner Russel Drew.

Stikeman Elliott LLP’s cannabis practice consistently acts in conjunction with its life sciences and healthcare group to advise on licensing matters, product packaging and labelling, and marketing and advertising issues, among other work. The team also frequently interacts with the wider firm’s dominant corporate offering to handle M&A and capital markets transactions. Corporate head Jonah Mann and cannabis lead Donald Belovich oversee a department that also includes Sara Zborovski, who is distinguished by her focus on providing regulatory and commercial advice to companies regulated by Health Canada.

An early mover in the cannabis law space in Canada, Goodmans LLP enjoys close relationships with licensed producers, such as Organigram Holdings, and also with retailers, including Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation — among other industry participants. The multidisciplinary team draws on the senior expertise of corporate and securities specialist Neil Sheehy as well as M&A and corporate finance partner Victor Liu, who leads the cannabis practice group.

Scoring highly for its ‘comprehensive and informed guidance’, MLT Aikins LLP’s increasingly prominent cannabis practice added seven new clients to its books during 2023/24, including Sugarbud Craft Growers Corp and Seven Leaf Med. The team is predominantly active in commercial transactions and regulatory issues, while it also demonstrates complementary strength in Indigenous law, IP and litigation. Calgary-based department head Chris Nyberg ‘sets the standard for client support’ and specializes in advising cannabis, healthcare and agribusiness companies on M&A and regulatory strategies.

As an intellectual property specialist, Smart & Biggar is perfectly positioned to advise on IP-related cannabis matters, including IP strategy and transactions, patent and trademark prosecution and IP litigation. The firm’s robust life sciences offering further marks it as a key contender for mandates concerning life sciences regulation and marketing and advertising law. Toronto-based group head Alice Tseng — who is additionally a qualified pharmacist and patent agent — is recommended for regulatory work, while Toronto’s Graham Hood is noted for IP issues.