E-TIPS® | MORE

Canadian Government Proposes Major Changes to Food and Drugs Act

On April 8, 2008, the government introduced a new Bill, C-51, which proposes to make extensive changes to the Food and Drugs Act and other corresponding legislation. The changes would include a complete repeal of all schedules to the Food and Drugs Act (including Schedule “A”, which prohibits all claims to certain serious conditions and diseases), increased recall powers and higher penalties, a tremendous increase in regulation making authority, an apparent removal of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising ban, and, less controversially, the wholesale modernization of the drug, device and food approval regime. Given the minority status of the Conservative government, the fact that this bill has only received first reading and has not yet been studied by committees, it is difficult to know whether the changes proposed in Bill C-51 will become law.

Announcements | MORE

IT Can - 8th Annual IT Law Spring Training Program
May 1-2, 2008

Partner Amy-Lynne Williams will moderate a panel speaking about the topic “Understanding the Importance of IP Rights on an IT Deal” at the 8th Annual IT Law Spring Training Program in Toronto, Ontario. For more information, or a copy of the conference brochure, please visit www.it-can.ca.

Insight - Drug Patent Law and Patent Litigation
February 27-28, 2008

Partner Doug Deeth spoke at an Insight conference entitled “Drug Patent Law and Patent Litigation” at the St. Andrew’s Club and Conference Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Doug gave a presentation entitled “Data Protection - A Form of Exclusivity”.

Regulatory Affairs Focus - User Fees in Canada
February 2008

Associate Sue Diaz published an article entitled “User Fees in Canada: A Review of Current and Proposed Fees” in the February 2008 edition of Regulatory Affairs Focus magazine.

National Magazine - The New Drug Wars
January-February, 2008

Partner Heather Watts was featured in an article entitled “The New Drug Wars” recently published in the Canadian Bar Association’s National magazine. The article discusses the issue of access to affordable anti-retroviral medicines by Africa’s HIV-positive population in the context of Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime.

New Partner at Deeth Williams Wall LLP
January 1, 2008

On January 1, 2008, Associate Heather Watts was made a partner in the firm. 

Deeth Williams Wall LLP “Highly Recommended”
November, 2007

PLC Cross-border Handbooks recently named Deeth Williams Wall LLP as “Highly Recommended” for patent litigation in Canada in its recent publication of “Intellectual Property: The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide”. The publisher also named Deeth Williams Wall LLP as “Recommended” for non-patent litigation in Canada. For more information, please go to www.practicallaw.com/iphandbook.

Douglas Deeth Recommended for Patent Litigation
November, 2007

PLC Cross-border Handbooks recently named partner Doug Deeth as a top choice for patent litigation in Canada in its recent publication of “Intellectual Property: The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide” and stated that Doug “boasts all-around IP litigation expertise, with particular niches in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors”.

Marijo Coates Recommended for Non-Patent Litigation
November, 2007

PLC Cross-border Handbooks recently named partner Marijo Coates as a top choice for non-patent litigation in Canada in its recent publication of “Intellectual Property: The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide” and stated that Marijo is “acknowledged for her all-around trade mark expertise, including contentious and non-contentious matters”.

Gervas Wall Recommended for Patent Litigation
November, 2007

PLC Cross-border Handbooks recently named partner Gervas Wall as a top choice for patent litigation in Canada in its recent publication of “Intellectual Property: The Law and Leading Lawyers Worldwide” and stated that Gervas is “well-versed on all issues surrounding patents, including both contentious and non-contentious matters”.

Canadian Institute
October 30-31, 2007

Partner Jennifer Jannuska spoke at a Canadian Institute conference entitled “Protecting Intellectual Property Rights in the Energy Sector” in Calgary, Alberta. Jennifer spoke about protecting non-traditional intellectual property.

IT Can
October 18-19, 2007

Partner Amy-Lynne Williams spoke at a Roundtable Session at the Eleventh Annual Canadian IT Law Association conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. The session, which was held on Thursday, October 18, 2007, was entitled “Fighting it Out: International IT Arbitration and Litigation” and dealt with new developments in the resolution of international disputes in the IT sector.

Regulatory Affairs Focus
August, 2007

Partner Gord Jepson’s article, “Government Regulation in Canada by Agencies Other than Health Canada” appears in the August 2007 issue of Regulatory Affairs Focus, the Journal of the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (www.raps.org). Gord was also co-editor for the August issue.

National Post – Best Lawyers in Canada
June 13, 2007

Partners Doug Deeth, Gervas Wall and Marijo Coates were recently named among the Best Lawyers in Canada for Intellectual Property Law in the National Post. Partner Doug Deeth was specially noted for his litigation skills. Partners Amy-Lynne Williams and Michael Erdle were also named among the Best Lawyers in Canada in Information Technology Law.