Healthcare: Contentious
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 1
Contact number
+1 416-367-6000About
Provided by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
The health care industry is marked by unprecedented opportunity, innovation and change—all of which create unique patient care, compliance, transactional and litigation issues. It’s essential to have a specialized legal team that understands the industry’s complexity and has substantial strategic and practical experience—from the waiting room to the boardroom to the court room.
Our multidisciplinary team of over 100 specialists is Canada’s undisputed leader in health care law. We are the only firm serving health care institutions to achieve a Band 1 rating in Chambers Canada for Health Care. We provide innovative and effective legal services through our integrated, sector-wide approach.
With an unmatched understanding of what’s required to thrive in this increasingly complex and changing industry, our health care team crafts legal strategies that are tailored to our clients’ unique needs and objectives.
Our clients include:
• hospitals, including academic health sciences centres, specialty children’s and psychiatric hospitals, and community and rural hospitals
• community care networks and agencies
• seniors’ housing and long-term care facilities
• private health care companies
• pharmacies
• laboratories
We monitor the legal issues and trends that can impact health care, and constantly remain at the forefront of shaping new law. We embrace technology and innovation to improve efficiency and to create value.
Chambers Review
The healthcare practice at Borden Ladner Gervais is renowned for its unparalleled bench strength across Canada, as well as its ability to provide high-quality legal advice and representation across the entire health sector. Its diverse client base includes long-term care facilities, hospitals and pharmacies. The health law group has proven skill across a broad array of healthcare matters including privacy and IT, governance, medical malpractice litigation and corporate transactions, with additional expertise in specialist areas such as child and adolescent health.
Work Highlights
- Borden Ladner Gervais successfully represented St. Michaels' Hospital and two nurses in a medical malpractice trial relating to the cause of a brain injury to an infant and the care provided to his mother during pregnancy and birth.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They intentionally stay aware of what is happening and it is reflected in their advice."
"Seasoned team members with years of experience."
"They have broad expertise and are timely, effective and communicate well."
"The health law group, who we work with the most, has 20-plus lawyers of varying experience, which ensures an appropriate level of lawyer for each litigation matter."
"The partners are always among the most responsive lawyers in the industry. We can reach them typically on first call and get a very strong email response."
"They intentionally stay aware of what is happening and it is reflected in their advice."
"Seasoned team members with years of experience."
"They have broad expertise and are timely, effective and communicate well."
"The health law group, who we work with the most, has 20-plus lawyers of varying experience, which ensures an appropriate level of lawyer for each litigation matter."
"The partners are always among the most responsive lawyers in the industry. We can reach them typically on first call and get a very strong email response."
Notable Practitioners
Cindy Clarke is the managing partner of Borden Ladner Gervais's Toronto office and is noted for her extensive experience representing pharmaceutical clients, hospitals and other institutions in a range of disputes. Her recent practice includes medical negligence and product liability class actions.
"Cindy is very responsive, strategic, current and excellent with people/teams."
"I'm always happy to have Cindy on my files due to her experience and wealth of knowledge."
"The most responsive and talented lawyer I’ve ever, through wide experience, had the pleasure of working with."
Nick Pasquino is noted for his skilled handling of corporate transactions and governance mandates for a range of care providers and non-profits in the healthcare sector. He is based in Toronto, from where he leads BLG's health sector services group.
"Very strong and responsive corporate counsel"
"Nick brings a wealth of experience to the work and knows the healthcare sector/players very well. This helped in building trust quickly with the stakeholders involved."
"Very responsive and very knowledgeable."
"I appreciate Nick's approach to every situation - he's thoughtful, articulate and a pleasure to work with."
Toronto-based Patrick Hawkins acts for hospitals and other healthcare providers in a range of lawsuits, including class action proceedings relating to privacy issues.
"Pat has always been a pleasure to work with. He continues to provide timely, thoughtful and expert advice as needed."
"Patrick provides great direction and clearly explains the implication of decisions."
"Strong defence counsel."
"Pat is an expert in his field."
Kate Crawford is an experienced Toronto-based healthcare disputes lawyer with a solid reputation for defending healthcare institutions in class action proceedings.
"Kate is a fantastic presenter and knows the law in her areas. She is a pleasure to work with."
"Kate is a pleasure to work with - always kind and a safe person with our staff."
"Kate brings good energy to her files and is easy to work with."
"Kate is good counsel. Reasonable, bright and experienced."
Anna Marrison is based in Borden Ladner Gervais's Toronto office and advocates for healthcare clients and their staff in civil claims and administrative matters. Clients include hospitals, public and private healthcare clinics, pharmaceutical clients, municipalities and healthcare professionals.
"A very responsive and well-informed lawyer who provides excellent service."
"Anna is a solid lawyer with an excellent knowledge of the area."
"Anna is very patient with our staff and always has insight and is able to learn from other claims."
Mary Lynn Gleason is based in Borden Ladner Gervais's Toronto office and focuses her practice on the defence of hospitals and their staff in medical malpractice claims, with particular experience in obstetric brain injury medical malpractice cases.
"Very strong insurance defence and health law counsel"
Ranked Lawyers at
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Nationwide - Canada
Members
Provided by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP