Cheryl V. Reicin
Partner / International Chair, Life Sciences
+1.647.499.2440 Toronto
+1.212.692.6855 New York
+1.617.348.3015 Boston
Cheryl is an internationally recognized advisor to life sciences companies and some of the industry’s largest investors. She assists clients in developing innovative strategies for domestic and international growth and advises on highly complex transactions around the globe. She represents biotechnology, medical device, and health technology companies at all stages of their development, from inventors and start-ups to major public corporations, as well as venture capitalists, investment banks, and academic medical centers.
By leveraging her deep knowledge of the market and solutions-oriented and practical approach to addressing business issues, Cheryl provides guidance on all aspects of transactions and works with clients to implement optimal corporate and tax structures. She has extensive experience in all aspects of seed, venture, and later-stage financings, IPOs, mergers and acquisitions, licensing transactions, joint ventures, and strategic alliances as well as corporate governance.
Cheryl has worked both in the US and Canada and has deep experience in cross-border issues and planning for US, Canadian, and other foreign clients. Outside of North America, she represents Israeli, European, Australian, Chinese, and Japanese clients.
Cheryl regularly receives recognition and accolades for her work both in the US and Canada. Cheryl was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women four times by the Women’s Executive Network and inducted into its Hall of Fame. Cheryl has also been repeatedly recognized as the Canadian Finance & Corporate Attorney of the Year by LMG Life Sciences and shortlisted by LMG Life Sciences for US Venture Capital Lawyer of the Year. In addition, she is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers Canada for life sciences corporate/commercial.
Prior to joining Mintz, Cheryl led the Life Sciences Practice of a major Canadian law firm, overseeing a cross-border group of Canadian and US practitioners. Earlier, she directed the 85-attorney life sciences group of a US law firm.
Cheryl is an internationally recognized advisor to life sciences companies and some of the industry’s largest investors. She assists clients in developing innovative strategies for domestic and international growth and advises on highly complex transactions around the globe. She represents biotechnology, medical device, and health technology companies at all stages of their development, from inventors and start-ups to major public corporations, as well as venture capitalists, investment banks, and academic medical centers.
Experience
Featured Experience:
- OmniaBio in connection with its launch, including its spinout from the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), its C$30 million sale of a 39% interest to Medipost Co., C$40 million in government funding by the Government of Ontario, and up to C$100 million convertible note financing and the negotiation of its new C$580 million cell and gene therapy facility.
- Acted as strategic advisor to the Government of Canada in its agreement with Moderna, Inc. to establish a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Québec, supporting the development and production of vaccines for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases in Canada.
- Entos Pharmaceuticals in its research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company and an associated equity investment in Entos by Eli Lilly that includes $50 million in upfront payments and investment, as well as potential royalties and up to $400 million in milestone payments per program for multiple therapeutic programs.
Financings:
- OmniaBio in connection with its launch, including its spinout from the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine (CCRM), its C$30 million sale of a 39% interest to Medipost Co., C$40 million in government funding by the Government of Ontario, and up to C$100 million convertible note financing and the negotiation of its new C$580 million cell and gene therapy facility.
- Adela, a DNA liquid biopsy technology company, in its US$60 million Series A financing by F-Prime Capital, OrbiMed, Deerfield Management, Decheng Capital, and RA Capital Management.
- iGan Partners as the lead investor in the $100 million Series A financing of Segmed, Inc.
- CPP Investments (CCPIB) as lead investor in the US$312 million Series D financing of Kry International AS, a European telemedicine provider.
- Triumvira Immunologics, a biotechnology company developing and commercializing novel cell therapies to treat cancer
- in its US$55 million Series A financing led by Northpond Ventures and Leaps by Bayer, the impact investment unit of Bayer AG.
- in its US$100 million Series A financing led by Leaps by Bayer and Northpond Ventures.
- OrbiMed as lead investor
- in a series seed financing for a US developer of biologic therapeutics.
- in the US$42 million Series C financing of Turnstone Biologics.
- in the US$41 million Series B financing of Turnstone Biologics.
- in the US$68 million Series A financing of Repare Therapeutics.
- in Clementia Pharmaceuticals’ US$60 million mezzanine financing.
- in Clementia Pharmaceuticals' US$32.5 million Series A financing.
- in Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s US$28 million Series B financing.
- in a US $135 million multi-series investment in Enobia Pharma Inc. (now Alexion Montréal Corp.).
- Morgan Stanley, Jeffries, Cowen, and the syndicate of underwriters in Fusion Pharmaceuticals' US$230 million initial public offering on Nasdaq.
- QV Global Health Sciences Fund in connection with Alpha-9 Theranostics Inc.’s US$75 million Series B financing to advance Alpha-9’s radiopharmaceuticals focused on cancer treatments.
- Profound Medical
- in its SEC filing and application to commence trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
- in its US$46 million cross-border public offering of common shares.
- in its US$40 million cross-border public offering of common shares.
- in its C$34.5 million public offering of units.
- in its C$11.5 million public offering of units in Canada and concurrent Rule 144A private placement in the United States.
- in its C$10 million public offering of units.
- Versant Ventures
- in Bayer AG’s investment in BlueRock Therapeutics in the amount of US$225 million.
- as a lead investor in the US$68 million Series A financing of precision oncology company Repare Therapeutics.
- as lead investor in the US$11 million Series A financing of Turnstone Biologics.
- as lead investor in Quentis’s seed financing round.
- in structuring Blueline Therapeutics’ (Toronto) incubator and spinoffs.
- in structuring Highline Therapeutics’ (NY) incubator and spinoffs, including multiple licensing agreements with Columbia University, Weill Cornell Medical College and NYU.
- Versant Ventures, OrbiMed, F-Prime Capital, and Sixty Degree Capital in the US$80 million Series D financing of Turnstone Biologics Corp, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing cancer immunotherapies.
- Clairvest in its US$25 million private equity investment in Boca Biolistics, a clinical research and biomaterials company.
- Sixty Degree Capital as an investor
- in the US$145 million Series E financing of FogPharma.
- in the US$164 million growth equity financing of Everside Heath Holdings.
- in the US$115 million Series C financing of Arcellx, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing adaptive and controllable cell therapies to treat patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases.
- in the US$110 million Series B financing of T-knife Therapeutic Inc., a next-generation T-cell receptor (TCR) company developing therapeutics for solid tumors.
- in the US$523 million pre-IPO financing of Neutron Holdings.
- in its investment in the US$96 million Series B financing of Antios Therapeutics, a clinical-stage company for the treatment of viral diseases.
- in the US$80 million financing of Reflexion Medical.
- in the US$50 million Series D financing of Inspirna.
- in the US$33 million Series D financing of Tact.ai Technologies, creator of an AI-powered customer engagement platform for life science organizations.
- in the US$29 million Series A financing of Libra Therapeutics.
- Canaccord Genuity and the syndicate of underwriters in Antibe Therapeutics’ C$40.37 million public offering of units.
- Cowen and Company
- as the US placement agent in AVITA Medical Limited's AUD$40 million institutional private placement.
- and the syndicate of underwriters in Transition Therapeutics’ US$23 million cross-border public offering.
- Cyclica, an AI drug discovery company, in its C$23 million Series B financing led by Drive Capital LLC, which included participation from Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
- Amplitude Ventures as lead investor
- in a US$20 million Series A financing of Gandeeva Therapeutics.
- in the US$19 million Series A financing of LQT Therapeutics., a developer of precision therapies for genetic heart diseases.
- Swift Medical, a leader in digital wound care
- in its US $35 million Series B financing led by Virgo Investment Group LLC.
- in C$19 million of Series A financings.
- in its US$12 million Series A financing led by Data Collective.
- Flexpoint Ford in its strategic private equity investment in Canadian Hospital Specialties Ltd., a medical device manufacturer and distributor, from Cortec Group.
- Bloom Burton and the underwriters’ syndicate in Antibe Therapeutics' public offerings for an aggregate of C$43 million.
- Global Health Sciences Fund (Quark Venture LP and GF Securities)
- in its US$19 million Series A financing in ATRMS.
- in US$14 million of venture financing in PHEMI Health Systems.
- BDC Capital in its Series A investment in Imagia, which applies artificial intelligence to medical image analysis.
- Synaptive Medical
- in its US$25 million preferred share financing and simultaneous C$50 million debt-to-equity conversion.
- in its US$17 million preferred share investment by Sensegain Group.
- in a strategic investment from General Atlantic LLC.
- Syqe Medical, an Israeli medical device company, in its cross-border US$40 million Series B financing.
- Cantor Fitzgerald and the syndicate of underwriters in Prometic Life Sciences Inc.'s C$53 million public offering of common shares in Canada and the concurrent Rule 144A private placement in the United States.
- RBC Capital Markets and the syndicate of underwriters
- in Concordia Healthcare Corp.'s C$368 million public offering of subscription receipts and the related Rule 144A private placement.
- in Lorus Therapeutics’ C$28 million public offering.
- in a C$46 million public offering of common shares issued by Trimel Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
- Brainsway, an Israeli medical device company, in its US$30 million initial public offering of shares on Nasdaq.
- Nomura Securities International, Roth Capital Partners, and the underwriters’ syndicate in the US$44.5 million public offering of American Depositary Shares of Redhill Biopharma, an Israeli company.
- Wells Fargo Securities, RBC Capital Markets, and JMP Securities as the underwriters in the US$40 million initial public offering of ordinary shares of SteadyMed Therapeutics, an Israeli drug-device combination company, on Nasdaq.
- Raymond James and the syndicate of underwriters in Cardiol Therapeutics Inc.’s C$22 million public offering of units.
- Longitude Capital as the lead investor in the US$11 million Series A-financing of Alpha-9 Theranostics Inc., a clinical-stage radiopharmaceutical company
- Boondoc Technologies (dba The Rounds) in a Series A preferred share from Panoramic Ventures and follow-on secondary financing.
- AmacaThera, a biotechnology company developing an injectable hydrogel platform technology, in its C$10.3 million Series A financing led by Lumira Ventures.
- Wells Fargo Securities, Roth Capital Partners, and the syndicate of underwriters, as US counsel in a US$14.4 million public offering of American Depositary Shares by Israeli biopharmaceutical company RedHill Biopharma Ltd.
- GMP Securities, Canaccord Genuity and the syndicate of agents in Trimel Pharmaceuticals Corporation's US$30 million private placement of units.
- Merrill Lynch, BMO Capital Markets, and the syndicate of underwriters in Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corporation's $91 million initial public offering of common shares in the United States and Canada, as well as its listing on Nasdaq and the TSX.
- Kalytera Therapeutics
- in its C$15 million multi-tranche private placement of common shares.
- in its brokered private placement of convertible debenture units.
- 7D Surgical, a developer of advanced optical and machine-vision technologies for surgical navigation, in multiple private placements to fund the commercial launch of its Machine-vision Image Guided Surgery (MvIGS) system.
- Thornhill Medical in a Series A financing by Yong Hua Capital.
- H.I.G. Bioventures as lead investor in the US$15 million Series C financing of Foresight VISIONS.
- Kyras Therapeutics in its Series A financing from Versant Ventures.
- Moleculight in seed, venture, venture debt, and bank financings.
- Damona Pharmaceuticals in its US$5.5 million seed financing.
- Segmed, an AI imaging company, in its US$5.2 million seed financing led by Nina Capital.
- TIAP (formerly MaRS innovation) in several spinouts and related financings.
- Exact Imaging in its C$5 million convertible note financing led by BDC Capital and Export Development Canada
Mergers and Acquisitions:
- WELL Health Technologies
- in its US$372.9 million acquisition of commercial health care products and services company CRH Medical Corporation.
- in its C$266.3 million acquisition of MyHealth Partners, a specialty care, telehealth, and diagnostic services provider.
- in its C$8 million tuck-in acquisition of Aware MD Inc., which owns Cerebrum™, an enterprise-class EMR.
- 7D Surgical in its US$110 million sale to global medical technology company SeaSpine Holdings Corporation, which offers surgical solutions for the treatment of spinal disorders.
- Emcure Pharmaceuticals in the acquisition of International Pharmaceutical Generics Ltd. and its marketing arm, Marcan Pharmaceuticals.
- SteriMax
- in the acquisition of Vancomycin and Baclofen from Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
- as the stalking horse in a bid to acquire the Canadian assets of Teligent out of US bankruptcy.
- Apollo Pharmaceuticals in the sale of its US-based sterile injectable products business to Provepharm Life Solutions S.A. of France.
- Piper Sandler in its role as financial advisor to Correvio Pharma Corp. in Correvio’s US$76 million sale to ADVANZ PHARMA Corp. Limited.
- Pfizer in its US$3.6 billion acquisition of King Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Profound Medical in its acquisition of the Sonalleve MR-HIFU business from Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Merus Labs
- in its C$342 million sale to Norgine B.V.
- in its €92 million acquisition of rights in Europe to three cardiovascular products Elantan®, Isoket®, and Deponit® — from UCB Pharma GmbH.
- in its acquisition of Sinitrom from Novartis for US$28 million.
- in its acquisition of rights to Surgestone, Provames, Tredemine, and Speciafoidine from Sanofi for E22 million.
- Endo Health Solutions, as Canadian counsel, in its C$2.7 billion acquisition of Paladin Labs Inc. and its subsequent reorganization of both companies to form Endo International plc.
- Nordion in the US$200 million sale of its targeted therapies division TheraSphere® to BTG plc.
- Trichome Financial in the C$16 million acquisition by its Trichome JWC Acquisition Corp. subsidiary of substantially all the assets of James E. Wagner Cultivation Corporation.
- Northern Biologics
- in the global sale of its primary asset, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology antibody, to an AstraZeneca plc subsidiary.
- in a "build to buy" agreement with Celgene Corporation.
- in a sale of two immune-oncology programs to Boehringer Ingleheim International GmbH.
- in its merger with Mosaic Biomedicals.
- Sentinelle Medical in its US$335 million sale to Hologic Inc.
Licensing and Joint Ventures:
- Acted as strategic advisor to the Government of Canada in its agreement with Moderna, Inc. to establish a state-of-the-art mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Québec, supporting the development and production of vaccines for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases in Canada.
- Canadian Nuclear Labs(CNL) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) in its strategic partnership with ITM Isotope Technologies Munich SE for the development and production of Actinium-225, a rate alpha-emitting radioisotope for precision oncology treatments.
- Entos Pharmaceuticals
- in its research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company and an associated equity investment in Entos by Eli Lilly that includes $50 million in upfront payments and investment, as well as potential royalties and up to $400 million in milestone payments per program for multiple therapeutic programs.
- in a licensing and research agreement with BioMarin Pharmaceutical for Entos' Fusogenix nucleic acid delivery system on specially formulated BioMarin gene therapy products.
- in its research collaboration and licensing agreement with Eli Lilly and Company and an associated equity investment in Entos by Eli Lilly that includes $50 million in upfront payments and investment, as well as potential royalties and up to $400 million in milestone payments per program for multiple therapeutic programs.
- Triumvira Immunologics on its clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck to evaluate the use of Triumvira’s novel autologous cell therapy TAC01-HER2 as a monotherapy and in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of HER2-positive solid tumors.
- RNA Disease Diagnostics in its license with the University of Maryland and related cross-border financings.
- Tonix Pharmaceuticals in its research collaboration and exclusive license agreements with the University of Alberta in connection with the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs against future variants of SARS-CoV-2 and other emerging viruses.
- Evotec in its exclusive global strategic partnership with Sernova Corp. for the research, development, and commercialization of an implantable Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC)–based beta cell replacement therapy for the treatment of insulin-dependent diabetes, including supporting the negotiation of the investor rights agreement and its equity investment in Sernova.
- Hospital for Sick Children
- in its out-license and spinout of Radiant Biotherapeutics, a next generation multi-specific antibody company.
- in its license agreement with Myraid Pharmaceuticals for the BRCA gene.
- Profound in its multi-site imaging center agreement with Akumin for TULSA-PRO, its customizable incision-free prostate disease treatment system.
- atai Life Sciences on its strategic partnership with IntelGenx Technologies Corp. to develop and commercialize compounds focused on the prevention and treatment of mental health disorders, including atai’s initial acquisition of a 25% interest in IntelGenx.
- Adela (formerly DNAMx Inc.), a DNA liquid biopsy technology company, in its spinout and licensing agreement with University Health Network (UHN) on behalf of UHN and Sinai Heath Systems.
- Thornhill Medical in its manufacturing and supply agreements for the production and delivery of mobile compact ventilator systems in connection with the Canadian government's response to fight COVID-19.
- Fibrocor Therapeutics
- in a global collaboration with Galapagos NV for the development of novel targets for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as well as concurrent equity financing.
- in a joint venture with Evotec AG to create a drug delivery platform for fibrosis.
- Innovere Medical in its exclusive global distribution agreement with Siemens. Healthcare GmbH for the Innovision™ system for MRI scanners.
- Tilray, a global pioneer in cannabis production and distribution, on its 50/50 joint venture with beverage and brewing giant AB InBev.
- SmileDirectClub in its expansion into Canada.
- Cronos Group
- in the formation of NatuEra S.à r.l., a 50/50 joint venture partnership with an Agroidea SAS affiliate for developing and manufacturing cannabis-based medicinal and consumer products for Latin America and global markets.
- in its joint venture with a group of investors led greenhouse developer, Mucci Farms.
- Conavi
- in its distribution agreement with an affiliate of China Grand Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Holdings Ltd.
- in its distribution agreement with Japan Lifeline for distribution in Japan.
- 7D Surgical
- in a strategic alliance with SeaSpine Holdings for the distribution and marketing of 7D’s Machine-vision Image Guided Surgery (MvIGS) platform for spinal and cranial surgeries.
- Moleculight
- in its exclusive global distribution agreement with Smith & Nephews.
- in the sale of its clinical oncology business to Photonamic GmbH.
- Vasomune Therapeutics in its global development agreement with AnGes SA.
Read less
viewpoints
Doing Life Sciences Deals in 2024
April 22, 2024 | Blog | By Cheryl V. Reicin
Top 5 Takeaways from JPM 2024
January 12, 2024 | Blog | By Cheryl V. Reicin
J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM) is one of the industry’s most important life science investment conferences of the year. Learn more about Cheryl Reicin's top five takeaways from the event.
News & Press
Dealmaking Dormant No More
December 17, 2024
International Chair of Life Sciences Cheryl Reicin recently participated in a Q&A with Pharmaceutical Executive in which she discusses the ongoing effects of the pandemic on dealmaking trends in the pharmaceutical industry. Cheryl specifically mentions how M&A activity began to rise again in 2024 after slowing in 2023, and that she expects acquisitions to continue picking up in 2025.
Mintz Recognized in 2025 Edition of The Legal 500 Canada
December 09, 2024
The Legal 500 Canada has recognized Mintz in its 2025 guide of the best Canadian firms and lawyers practicing within the Canadian market, based on extensive research conducted by the directory over the course of the year, including in-depth submissions and thousands of interviews with client and industry leaders.
Structuring Your Company for Cross-Border Opportunities in Life Sciences
November 14, 2024
An article written by International Life Sciences Chair Cheryl Reicin and Associate Luke Jeagal was published in BIOTECanada's Insights Magazine focusing on how life sciences companies should structure themselves so that they have cross-border opportunities.
Mintz has been recognized by The Globe and Mail as one of Canada’s Best Law Firms for 2025, gaining distinction in the “Private Equity and Investments” category specifically. This is the second consecutive year the firm has been included on this list.
Mintz Ranked in 2025 Edition of Chambers Canada
September 26, 2024
Mintz announced that it has been ranked in the 2025 edition of Chambers Canada. The firm was rankedin both the Life Sciences and Cannabis Law categories. Six attorneys were also ranked in individual categories including Life Sciences, Private Equity, Investment Funds, Cannabis, and Pensions & Benefits.
Venture Mega-Rounds Return to Biotech
September 26, 2024
Member Cheryl Reicin was quoted in WSJ Pro Venture Capital in an article about how venture mega rounds are becoming more frequent in the biotech industry. Specifically, Cheryl discusses the need for startups to be aware of the pressures and implications that may come from larger funding rounds.
Mintz Celebrates One Year Anniversary in Toronto
September 23, 2024
Mintz celebrated the one-year anniversary of its Toronto office with an event held at Aera Restaurant including over 300 clients, partners, and local officials.
Understanding the Current State of M&A: Q&A with Cheryl Reicin
September 3, 2024
Member Cheryl Reicin participated in a Q&A with Pharmaceutical Executive focused how mergers and acquisitions are trending in the pharma industry.
Ten Mintz Attorneys Ranked as Leaders by Best Lawyers Canada 2025
September 03, 2024
Mintz is pleased to announce that ten Toronto Partners have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada©.
Mintz Shortlisted for LMG Life Sciences Awards 2024 Americas
August 22, 2024
Mintz’s cross-border Life Sciences practice has been shortlisted in multiple categories in the LMG Life Sciences Awards 2024 Americas. Winners will be announced on September 5th.
TORONTO- Mintz is pleased to announce the recognition of several attorneys in the Canadian Lawyer’s 2024 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
Mintz Announces Record Member Growth in 2023
December 22, 2023
Mintz proudly announced the election of 13 attorneys to Members and the addition of a record-setting 22 new lateral Members in 2023, with 11 Partners in the newly opened Toronto office. This diverse group strengthens Mintz’s core areas, spanning Commercial and IP Litigation, Life Sciences, Tech, Private Equity, and Energy & Sustainability. The elevated Members and new lateral additions bring invaluable expertise to help clients navigate complex legal landscapes.
High-Profile Toronto Real Estate Attorney Joins Mintz
December 18, 2023
TORONTO – Mintz continues its expansion in Toronto with the addition of Mervyn Allen who joins as a Partner and will launch the firm’s Real Estate practice in Canada.
Mintz Joins Canada’s 2024 Best Law Firms List For First Time
November 20, 2023
Mintz has been recognized by The Globe and Mail as one of Canada’s Best Law Firms for 2024, gaining particular distinction in Private Equity and Investments. This is the first time the firm has been included on this list.
Six Mintz Attorneys Ranked In Chambers Canada
September 28, 2023
TORONTO – Mintz announced today that six attorneys have been ranked in the 2024 edition of Chambers Canada, marking the first time the firm has been included in the guide.
Trio Of Attorneys Honored At 2023 LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards
September 08, 2023
Mintz is pleased to announce that life sciences practitioners from our US and Canada offices were honored at the 2023 LMG Life Sciences Americas Awards.
6 Mintz Attorneys Ranked as Leaders by Best Lawyers Canada 2024
August 25, 2023
Mintz is pleased to announce that six Toronto Partners have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada©.
Mintz Signs Sublease For Toronto Office
April 17, 2023
TORONTO – Mintz is pleased to announce that it has subleased the 28th floor at 200 Bay Street’s South Tower, an iconic pillar of Toronto's Financial District. The firm moved into the nearly 24,000 square feet of space on April 1, 2023.
Mintz Continues Bay Street Legal Talent Raid, Hiring Four Lawyers From Torys, Dentons
April 12, 2023
The Globe and Mail featured the arrival of Partners Matthew Atkey and Brad Tartick, Special Counsel Bernard Kwasniewski and Of Counsel Matthew Imrie who will join Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson in the firm's Toronto office.
Mintz Crosses The Border For Canadian Expansion
April 4, 2023
The Boston Globe covered the firm's expansion to Toronto and the arrival of the office's founding partners Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson.
BOSTON, TORONTO – Mintz is pleased to announce its expansion into Canada with the opening of a Toronto office, launched by a team of highly regarded and industry-leading attorneys. The new office will add depth and breadth to Mintz’s global Life Sciences practice and will further expand the firm’s strong Private Equity, Capital Markets, and Pensions and Employment practices.
The Deal profiled the firm's Toronto office founding members Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson who join Mintz to expand the firm's life sciences and private equity practices.
US Firm Mintz’s Toronto Entry About Expanding Cross-Border Opportunities: Mitch Frazer
March 22, 2023
The Canadian Lawyer featured the launch of Mintz's Toronto office and highlighted the arrival of founding partners Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson.
JD Journal covered the firm's new Toronto office and the arrival founding Partners Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson.
Mintz's expansion to Toronto and the office's founding Partners Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson was featured in an article published by The Global Legal Post.
The Globe and Mail featured Mintz's expansion into the Canadian legal market and the launch of the firm's Toronto office, with the arrival of Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson.
Mintz Launches 1st Non-US Office In Toronto With 5 Attys
March 20, 2023
Law360 covered the opening of Mintz's new Toronto office and profiled founding Partners Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson.
The American Lawyer spotlighted the opening of Mintz's Toronto office and the arrival of founding partners Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson.
US Law Firm Mintz Launches In Canada With Toronto Office
March 20, 2023
The firm's expansion into the Toronto market and the arrival of founding Partners, Michael Akkawi, Cheryl Reicin, Mitch Frazer, Eric Foster, and Lee Johnson was covered by Reuters.
Women in law - Cheryl Reicin doesn’t live by labels
November 6, 2019
Thinking like an entrepreneur: Cheryl Reicin
September 27, 2019
‘Investors smell opportunity’: Bermuda courts cannabis industry
January 4, 2019
Heightened stock market interest in cannabis persists
January 15, 2018
Events & Speaking
Strategic Insights: Legal Frameworks for Canadian Expansion in the U.S.
MaRS Discovery District
Toronto, ON
Impact Evidence: Critical Role of H2i and Industry Mentors
Health Innovation Hub (H2i) Fall Kick-off 2024
Toronto
How Not to Commercialize Your Innovations
2024 Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation (CNSF) Congress
Toronto
Doing Life Sciences Deals in 2024 - Licensing, M&A, and More
Hosted by Mintz and the Life Sciences Sector and the Boston Chapter of Licensing Executives Society USA and Canada
Boston
INOVAIT CEO Roundtable Discussions – Mitigation of risk in MedTech
Sunnybrook Research institute
Positioning your Company for US Investors: Pros and Cons of a US Parent Company
Invest in BC Conference, Life Sciences British Columbia
From the Ground Up: Building your Regenerative Medicine Company
The Business of Regenerative Medicine: Entrepreneurship One Stem Cell at a Time
Toronto
Structuring Your Company for Cross Border Opportunities in the Life Sciences: Digital Health Breakfast Session
Canadian Technology Accelerators
San Francisco, CA
Cracking the Global Code: Understanding Investment Criteria from Ex-Canada Investors
JLABS @ Toronto, 661 University Avenue Toronto
How NOT to Negotiate a License Agreement: Master License Class
Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization
Toronto
Identify, Accessing and Leveraging High Value Opportunities in the Life Science Sector
Canada in the Valley Life Science Showcase
San Francisco, CA
Structuring Your Company and Cross-Border Opportunities in the Life Sciences
Institute for Biomedical Entrepreneurship (IBE)
Toronto, Ontario
Demystifying Early Stage Drug, Device and Platform Development in Academic Settings
University of Toronto
Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England event: Establishing and developing your U.S. presence
Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England (CENE)
Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England event: Establishing a U.S. office
Canadian Entrepreneurs in New England (CENE)
Succeeding in the Virtual World: Access Funding to Succeed
Bioscience Association Manitoba, LifeSciences BC, and BioAlberta
Weeding out (Misinformation) — The Myths and Realities in Cannabis Investment
20th Annual Canadian Private Equity Summit
Toronto, Ontario
Sheriffs on The New Frontier – Cannabis, Gambling and Crypto
2018 Conduct, Compliance and Legal Advisory Section (CCLS) Conference
Toronto, Ontario
Best Practices in Forming a Syndicate
LifeSciences British Columbia Investor Summit 2018
Vancouver, British Columbia
Using Innovation for Better Access to Mental Healthcare
Elevate Tech Festival – Educate Health
Toronto, Ontario
Cheryl is an internationally recognized advisor to life sciences companies and some of the industry’s largest investors. She assists clients in developing innovative strategies for domestic and international growth and advises on highly complex transactions around the globe. She represents biotechnology, medical device, and health technology companies at all stages of their development, from inventors and start-ups to major public corporations, as well as venture capitalists, investment banks, and academic medical centers.
Recognition & Awards
Chambers Canada: Leading lawyer in life sciences: corporate/commercial (Band 1) (2017 – 2025)
LMG Life Sciences: Canadian Impact Deal of the Year (2022-2023)
LMG Life Sciences: Canadian Finance & Corporate Attorney of the Year (2019, 2021, 2023)
LMG Life Sciences: Leading life sciences lawyer in financial and corporate (2022)
LMG Life Sciences: Life Sciences Star in financial & corporate (2012 – 2020)
Best Lawyers in Canada: Leading lawyer in biotechnology law and life sciences practice (2010 – 2025)
Best Lawyers in Canada: Leading lawyer in cannabis law (2010 – 2022)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Repeatedly recommended in biotechnology, technology transactions, and corporate mid-market; consistently recommended in life sciences & health (2008 – 2024)
The Legal 500 United States for Healthcare: Life Sciences (2024)
Who’s Who Legal: Global and national leading lawyer in life sciences (2010 – 2022)
Expert Guides’ Women in Business Law: Leading practitioner in life sciences (2014 – 2022)
Expert Guides: Best of the Best: Leading lawyer in life sciences (2019 – 2020)
Women’s Executive Network (WXN): Hall of Fame inductee (2019)
Women’s Executive Network (WXN): Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award (2019, 2017, 2016, 2014)
IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading IP Transactions: Leading lawyer globally (2012 – 2016)
Best Lawyers in Canada: Biotechnology Law Lawyer of the Year in Toronto (2014)
International Who’s Who of Life Sciences Lawyers: Leading lawyer in transactional law (2010 – 2014)
Women of Influence: Canada’s Top 25 Women of Influence: No. 1 in Professional Services category (2013 – 2014)
LMG Life Sciences: Finance & Transactional Lawyer of the Year (2013)
Cheryl is an internationally recognized advisor to life sciences companies and some of the industry’s largest investors. She assists clients in developing innovative strategies for domestic and international growth and advises on highly complex transactions around the globe. She represents biotechnology, medical device, and health technology companies at all stages of their development, from inventors and start-ups to major public corporations, as well as venture capitalists, investment banks, and academic medical centers.
Involvement
- Director, Executive Board, EXCITE International
- Investment Review Committee, Life Science Innovation Fund
- Director, HarbourVest Canada Industry Board
- Founder, Canadian Women in Life Science (CWLS)
- Business Advisory Board, Institute for the Study of Aging
- Trustee Emeritus, The Hospital for Sick Children
- Commercialization Advisory Board, The Hospital for Sick Children
- Finance and Audit Committee, The Hospital for Sick Children
- Review Advisory Committee, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute
- Director Emeritus, SickKids Foundation
- Chair and Founder, Genesis, incubator for social entrepreneurship
- Member, W*I*T*H (Women Innovating Together in Health)
- Dean’s Special Advisory Board, York University Faculty of Science
- Steering Committee, Canada-Israeli Cardiovascular Innovation Forum
Recent Insights
International Chair of Life Sciences Cheryl Reicin recently participated in a Q&A with Pharmaceutical Executive in which she discusses the ongoing effects of the pandemic on dealmaking trends in the pharmaceutical industry. Cheryl specifically mentions how M&A activity began to rise again in 2024 after slowing in 2023, and that she expects acquisitions to continue picking up in 2025.
The Legal 500 Canada has recognized Mintz in its 2025 guide of the best Canadian firms and lawyers practicing within the Canadian market, based on extensive research conducted by the directory over the course of the year, including in-depth submissions and thousands of interviews with client and industry leaders.
An article written by International Life Sciences Chair Cheryl Reicin and Associate Luke Jeagal was published in BIOTECanada's Insights Magazine focusing on how life sciences companies should structure themselves so that they have cross-border opportunities.
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