At Gilbert’s LLP, we’re not your typical law firm. We’re a boutique firm with a bold vision—driven by creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a deep commitment to innovation. Founded in 2001, our journey began with the desire to break away from the traditional legal mold and create a firm that offers more than just traditional legal services. We solve problems, think outside the box, and act as strategic partners for clients who are pushing boundaries and driving change in their industries.
Our Origins
As our founder Tim Gilbert tells it, our firm began with nothing more than a cellphone and a briefcase—along with a solution to a problem. After an early career at a Bay Street firm working on pharmaceutical litigation, and a stint at a renowned civil litigation boutique, Tim realized that there was a gap in the legal market. He saw the need for a firm that approached legal challenges from a fresh perspective, one that was unafraid to explore new methods and strategies. And so, Gilbert’s LLP was born.
One of the first cases that Gilbert’s was retained for, was to develop a strategy that would allow Canadian pharmaceutical giant Apotex to launch a generic drug into the United States. One issue at the time was that innovator companies could deploy numerous patents against a single generic drug submission, resulting in successive and concurrent 30-month stays against FDA approval. Years of protracted litigation had not made any headway–instead, Tim worked the phones and spearheaded a campaign for legislative reform, speaking to members of US Congress and policymakers, eventually resulting in landmark legislative reforms to the Hatch-Waxman regime. From those efforts, our client was able to eventually launch in the US, and Tim was invited to the Rose Garden at the White House.
- Read More: Cross-border pharmaceutical advocacy and legislative change.
From the start, our firm has stood out—both in philosophy and location. We deliberately chose to establish our offices in Toronto’s iconic Flatiron Building, a move that symbolized our commitment to doing things differently. While other firms were situated in towering office buildings, we wanted to create a space that fostered creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Over the years, this approach has attracted top talent to our team—smart, creative, and driven individuals who share our vision of delivering exceptional results through unconventional solutions. Though we have since outgrown our humble beginnings, continuing in that spirit, we now call the Waterfront Innovation Center at Toronto’s Cherry Beach our home.
Our Mission
Our areas of expertise include intellectual property, regulatory law, and complex litigation, with a particular focus on representing innovators and idea-driven companies. We work with clients who are not only at the cutting edge of their fields but who also seek to protect and advance their innovations in an increasingly complex legal landscape. From patent disputes to market access strategies, we’ve built a reputation for handling some of the most challenging and high-profile legal matters in Canada, the U.S., and internationally.
A significant part of our practice has been working with both innovators and generics in the pharmaceutical industry, helping clients navigate the intricate regulatory frameworks that govern the development and sale of medicines. Tim’s groundbreaking work on regulatory pathways—including efforts that led to changes in U.S. law—demonstrated our firm’s ability to drive change, not just within courtrooms, but in legislative chambers as well. This experience, combined with our deep understanding of both government and private-sector dynamics, positions us as leaders in solving regulatory challenges for clients across industries.
At Gilbert’s LLP, we believe that innovation is the key to progress, and this belief is reflected in everything we do. Whether we’re assisting startups in securing their intellectual property or defending a global company’s right to bring its products to market, we approach each case with the same level of commitment, creativity, and determination. This is why we developed our Slingshot model, a subscription-based legal service tailored specifically to the needs of early-stage companies. Slingshot allows startups to access high-quality legal advice without the prohibitive upfront costs, providing them with the flexibility they need to grow while ensuring that they avoid costly legal pitfalls.
Our Culture
At Gilbert’s LLP, we are dedicated to creating a work culture that embraces flexibility and promotes professional growth. We understand the importance of mentorship, especially in a world where virtual communication is becoming the norm. Our goal is to ensure that young lawyers and professionals have the opportunity to learn through hands-on experience, side by side with industry leaders.
We recognize that the legal business is tough—while we take our work seriously, we also love to have fun. We foster a health work-life balance, recognizing that everyone needs to pursue outside interests to thrive at work. Our lawyers have participated in Ironman triathlons, played for Juno-nominated rock bands, competed in e-sports, and more.
Our commitment to professional development, personal growth, and creative problem-solving is what makes Gilbert’s LLP a dynamic and thriving firm.
As we look to the future, we see endless possibilities. We are poised to continue working with innovation-driven companies, from early-stage startups to industry leaders, helping them navigate the ever-evolving legal landscape. Our commitment to problem-solving, creativity, and client-centered advocacy remains at the heart of everything we do. We take pride in the relationships we’ve built and the success stories we’ve been a part of—and we’re just getting started.
At Gilbert’s LLP, we don’t just practice law. We shape the future of industries, protect innovators, and drive change—always with an eye toward what’s possible. Together with our clients, we’re ready to take on whatever challenges the future may hold.