John Norman PhD

Dr. John Norman is a partner in the Ottawa office of the firm, practising in the Intellectual Property Group. He helps Canadian and foreign clients manage their patent and intellectual property portfolios and develop litigation strategies.

Working primarily with leading national and international pharmaceutical, biotechnology and technology companies, John appears on behalf of clients before the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.

John advises on pharmaceutical regulation and patent litigation, including patent infringement actions, patent impeachment actions and proceedings under the Patented Medicine (Notice of Compliance) Regulations and Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.

John is an active member of the Canadian and international legal community. He is a member of the Board of Directors of BIOTECanada, and a member of the subsequent entry biologic committee. He also sits on the editorial board of the Canadian Intellectual Property Review. John is a member of the American Bar Association’s special committee on biotechnology, chemistry, medicine, and pharmacology. Within Gowlings, John is vice-chair of the firm’s Life Sciences Group and an executive with the firm’s United States Initiative.

He is a frequent speaker and writer on pharmaceutical and technology patent litigation matters and is a media spokesperson and recognized leading industry expert on patent issues. Prior to joining Gowlings, John obtained a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University, and an M.Sc. from Memorial University of Newfoundland.