Working with entrepreneurs and innovators for over 30 years, Eileen is Chair of Torys’ Intellectual Property and Food and Drug Regulatory practices. She advises Fortune 500 companies, leading manufacturers and innovators, as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises, on complex intellectual property and regulatory issues. She is recognized as Canada’s leading life sciences lawyer, with deep market insight and a practical, business-minded approach.
Eileen is a co-founder of the intellectual property and food and drug regulatory practices at Torys. She represents the entire spectrum of companies on regulatory clearance and intellectual property protection of products. Across sectors—including life sciences (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, natural health products), agribusiness, consumer products and more—Eileen helps clients identify, protect and leverage IP and regulatory assets, obtain and maintain market exclusivity, handle high-risk situations (corrective actions, recalls, regulatory orders), and navigate the impact of current and proposed laws on clients’ ability to sell products. Eileen also has market-leading experience with patented medicines and oversight of Canada’s Patented Medicines Prices Review Board (PMPRB). Eileen also represents investors and companies looking to finance or invest in companies with intellectual property and regulatory assets, as well as companies looking to acquire or divest such assets.
Eileen’s unique experience and strong market presence are well recognized: in addition to her Band 1 ranking in Intellectual Property by Chambers & Partners, Eileen is the only Canadian lawyer to be recognized as a Star Individual in Life Sciences. Managing IP regards her as one of the world’s top 250 women in IP, and The Legal 500 recognizes her as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in intellectual property. Eileen was recently recognized as a “Hall of Fame Lawyer” for receiving “constant praise from her clients for continued excellence” and identified as being “at the pinnacle of the profession”, in the 2024 edition of The Legal 500 Canada. Best Lawyers in Canada also recognized Eileen as Lawyer of the Year in Biotechnology and Life Science for 2024.
Eileen is a registered patent and trademark agent in the United States and Canada. She is also a Certified Licensing Professional of the Licensing Executive Society (LES).
Eileen is a former member of Torys’ Executive Committee.
Eileen is very knowledgeable and comes informed to every discussion with a strategy in mind.’
—Chambers Canada, 2023
2016-2025 | Chambers Canada—Star individual in life sciences: regulatory/compliance (the only lawyer ranked in the highest category in Canada in life sciences); leading lawyer in agribusiness: agriculture and food products, cannabis law, intellectual property |
2008-2024 | Chambers Global—Leading lawyer in intellectual property |
2015-2024 | The Legal 500—Hall of Fame in intellectual property; leading lawyer in cannabis |
2024 | LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards—Regulatory Attorney of the Year—Canada |
2022-2024 | LMG Life Sciences—Leading life sciences lawyer in intellectual property and regulatory |
2021-2022 | LMG Life Sciences—Hall of Fame |
2022-2025 | IAM Global Leaders Guide—Canada |
2012-2024 | IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners—Highly recommended in transactions and prosecution |
2019-2024 | Managing IP’s IP Stars—Patent star, Trademark star |
2017-2024 | Managing IP’s IP Stars—Top 250 Women in intellectual property |
2012-2020 | LMG Life Sciences—Life Sciences Star in intellectual property and regulatory |
2006-2025 | Best Lawyers in Canada—Leading lawyer in biotechnology law, cannabis law, intellectual property law and life sciences |
2020, 2024 | Best Lawyers in Canada—Lawyer of the Year for Cannabis Law, Biotechnology and Life Sciences (Toronto) |
2008-2023 | The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory—Leading lawyer in biotechnology, intellectual property and technology transactions. Eileen is the only lawyer ranked as “Most Frequently Recommended” (Lexpert’s highest category) in Biotechnology. |
2008-2024 | Who’s Who Legal—Global Elite Thought Leader in life sciences regulatory (a recognition given to fewer than 5% of all lawyers ranked by Who’s Who Legal), Global and National leading lawyer in intellectual property, patents and life sciences |
2019-2022 | Expert Guides’ Women in Business Law—Leading lawyer in life sciences |
2007-2019 | Lexpert/American Lawyer’s Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada—Leading practitioner in biotechnology law |
2018-2019 | Lexpert’s Guide to US/Canada Cross-Border Lawyers in Canada—Most frequently recommended lawyer in IP and media and business issues |
2019 | LMG Americas Women in Business Law—Best in Life Sciences |
2018 | LMG Life Sciences Canadian Patent Non-Contentious Attorney of the Year |
2010-2017 | IAM Licensing 250: The World’s Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers—Leading lawyer globally |
2016-2017 | Lexpert/Thomson Canada’s Guide to the Top 100 Industry Specialists in Canada—Leading lawyer in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology law |
2016, 2010 | Best Lawyers in Canada—Lawyer of the Year for Biotechnology Law in Toronto |
2011-2013 | Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers—Highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards from her peers (Martindale-Hubbell recognizes fewer than 5% of women lawyers with this preeminent rating) |
2005 | Women’s Executive Network—One of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women |
Eileen is on the Advisory Board of the Food and Drug Law Institute’s 2022 Food and Drug Law Journal Editorial and the Advisory Board of Canadian Women in Life Sciences. She is also a member of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada and the Intellectual Property Owners Association (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Issues Committee).
In terms of community and volunteer involvement, Eileen is a Trustee of the Board of The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and Chairs its Research Committee. Previously, Eileen was a director of the National Cycling Institute of Milton (Milton Velodrome), The Credit Valley Hospital and a founding officer and director of TOHealth and of the Canadian Healthcare Licensing Association.
As one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (Women's Executive Network), Eileen participates in various mentoring programs for women.