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This is a photo of Lisa Melanson

Lisa
Melanson

Partner

Toronto

Contact by email at [email protected]

t. +1 416-601-7595

2926

Law School

Dalhousie University
University of Cambridge

Bar Admission

Nova Scotia, 1997
New York, USA, 2001
Ontario, 2005

Lisa Melanson is a partner in our Intellectual Property Group in Toronto. Her interdisciplinary practice encompasses the areas of intellectual property and product regulation.

Lisa's intellectual property work focuses on the global acquisition, exploitation, enforcement, and defence of patent and other intellectual property rights. She provides clients with strategic, common-sense advice concerning all phases of patent procurement and protection, from conception to commercialization. She has considerable experience conducting large-scale patentability, infringement, validity, and freedom-to-operate analyses and preparing IP and regulatory landscapes. She also provides IP support on patent litigation matters and IP and regulatory assistance on corporate and commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions.  She has particular expertise advising pharma clients at the complex interface of drug regulation, patent prosecution, and litigation under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations.

In her regulatory practice, Lisa advises importers, retailers, manufacturers, and other clients on the regulation of a broad range of products. As a scientist and patent lawyer, Lisa offers a one-stop shop for innovative clients who wish to patent new products and bring them to market. She has considerable experience obtaining patent protection for, and advising on regulatory matters relating to, food and drugs, natural health products, cosmetics, medical devices, electrical equipment, and veterinary products.  While cannabis practice is new to many, it is not new to Lisa: she has two decades of experience in the regulation of drugs and controlled substances.  She and her team rely on their legal and technical expertise to guide clients through the new cannabis regulatory framework with confidence. 

" Lisa’s technical expertise makes it a pleasure to work with her. I find her work product to be of the highest quality. "
CLIENT, CHAMBERS CANADA

Currently, Lisa is ranked as a Patent Star and named by Managing IP as one of the IP STARS' Top 250 Women in IP. She is also listed as a leading lawyer in the area of patents in Who’s Who Legal and IAM Patent 1000.

Lisa graduated from Dalhousie University with her B.Sc. Hons. (Biology / Neuroscience) in 1992 and her LLB in 1995. She received her LLM from the University of Cambridge in 1998. Lisa was the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards throughout university, including the University Medal in biology and the Governor General's Academic Medal for highest overall standing. After law school, she clerked for Mr. Justice Wetston at the Federal Court of Canada.

Lisa was recognized for practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office in 2002 and the Canadian Patent Office in 2006. Prior to joining McCarthy Tétrault, she worked as an associate in New York, advising US clients on patent prosecution, litigation, and regulatory matters in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical fields. She is licensed in Ontario as a Foreign Legal Consultant with respect to the laws of the State of New York and the United States of America (Federal Jurisdiction).