Fasken is a leading full-service Canadian law firm with a fully integrated national team of lawyers, dedicated to working with emerging and growth-stage companies with end-to-end strategic legal advice and representation at every stage.
The law firm for emerging technology companies in Canada
As the first Canadian law firm to support startups, our team has been in market since the 1990s and has lived through many cycles in the technology landscape. We work closely with companies to understand their needs and provide bespoke solutions that fit each lifecycle stage, guiding clients forward as they scale.
We take a holistic and strategic approach to helping our clients achieve their goals and provide a full suite of services including corporate, venture capital (VC) financings, M&A, commercial, intellectual (IP), data and compliance, employment, tax and beyond.
Our team is deeply involved in the national and international technology ecosystem working closely with accelerators and incubators, investors and other key players in the ecosystem. We work closely with best-in-class VC funds in Canada, the United States and globally. Our team is a leading Canadian law firm for VC financings and tech M&A - in the current challenging market, we retained our position as one of Canada’s top legal deal-advisors including:
- #1 Canadian-based firm: Advisors to Company: Venture Capital Rounds, Based on Round Value in H1 2024 (LSEG)
- #1 Canadian-based firm: Advisors to Company: Venture Capital Rounds, Based on Number of Rounds in H1 2024 (LSEG)
- #1 Canadian-based firm: Advisors to Firm: Venture Capital Rounds, Based on Number of Rounds in H1 2024 (LSEG)
- #1 Canadian-based firm: VC deals, representing – Most active in rest of world: investors (tied) in Q2 2024 (Pitchbook)
- #1 Canadian-based firm: VC deals, sector – Most active in IT hardware in Q2 2024 (Pitchbook)
- #1 Canadian-based firm: VC deals, sector – Most active in pharma & biotech in Q2 2024 (Pitchbook)
The emerging technology ecosystem is in continuous flux as technology advances and new companies are formed almost every day. Our team strives to continue to innovate and advance with the evolving needs of founders, investors and the broader ecosystem. We are excited to assist the next generation of unicorns and will continue to lead in the emerging technology ecosystem.
Six key strategies from Ideation to Exit
Web accessibility: infographic transcript available here.
Fasken supports startups by providing complementary legal services (such as IP, Employment, Governance and Data). We take a holistic approach by supporting the different areas which are key to a company’s success.
Startup Program for Emerging Companies
Our startup clients include founders on the forefront of new and exciting technologies that are creating the world of tomorrow. We have helped thousands of startups commercialize their businesses and move on to even bigger successes. Each of our offices offers robust startup programs, allowing us to work with early-stage startup clients to assist them in corporate structuring, early-stage financings and scaling their company.
Early-stage entrepreneurs need cost-effective advice from advisors who know their goals and know their market. We understand the needs of these high growth companies and are always thinking about the next step in the journey.
We service each venture’s needs, including a pro-active approach to identifying legal risks, IP and patent strategy, a practical approach to commercial contract negotiations and growth strategy and exit strategy. Beyond this, we embed ourselves with these clients and frequently think of ourselves as our ‘outsourced in-house counsel,’ working with them on both legal matters and providing the proper guidance and resources early-stage companies require.
Our Clients: Emerging Technology
Some of the best-in-class technology startups and scale-ups in Canada seek out our assistance for all stages of their companies journey including corporate, commercial, VC financing and M&A. We are able to deploy our experience in acting on hundreds of completed financings every year to help our clients stay on top of market trends and deal terms to arrive at win-win outcomes.
Our local and international clients are active in many different sectors such as Enterprise SaaS, MedTech, Climate Tech, FinTech, AgTech, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Artificial Intelligence (AI), connected devices and 5G, quantum computing, CPG and other industries.
Our Clients: Venture Capital
We represent leading venture capital funds and investors investing in Canadian companies and as a result have a deep understanding of the requirements and needs of investors.
The trajectory of many venture capital funded technology companies is a successful M&A, and we advise buyers, sellers, founders, key shareholders and special committees through the M&A process. Our team has experience with large and complex cross-border transactions, and with varied deal structures, including equity rollovers, exchangeable shares, and hybrid asset/share sales.
We have a deep understanding of representation and warranty insurance, and advised and acted on the first-of-its-kind insured technology sale transaction in Canada.
Ecosystem Involvement
We’re deeply involved in the startup ecosystem partnering with some of the most prominent incubators, accelerators, universities and private/public research programs in North America. Our involvement allows for continued monitoring and positioning to aid next-generation entrepreneurs in Canada. We are active mentors and partners to many ecosystem players and are often recognized for our ‘in the weeds,’ approach with the ecosystem. In short, we show up and want to help build the next generation of Canadian tech.
As an industry leader, we partner with best-in-class organizations including: Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), Foresight Cleantech Accelerator, 2 Degrés, FounderFuel, Antler, PropTech Collective, FounderBoost, Upside Foundation of Canada, TiE Vancouver, UTEST, Entrepreneurship UBC (eUBC), Canadian Women in Venture Capital, New Ventures BC, Platform Calgary, Front Row Ventures, OSMO, BC Tech Association, Cycle Momentum, Centech, Vancouver Enterprise Forum, PILOT and many others.
We have close relationships with the top Emerging Technology law firms around the world and these collaborations and access to domestic and international networks can provide you with a competitive advantage.
