Overview
Sara Josselyn has a business law practice that focuses on private mergers and acquisitions, M&A insurance, corporate governance, and general corporate and commercial matters. She advises clients in a wide array of industries, with particular focus on the financial services, technology, transportation, and pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Sara has considerable experience in both domestic and cross-border transactions, and has advised clients at all stages of development, from start-ups to international private and public companies.
Sara was the recipient of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Training Fellowship in Health Law & Policy and took a year-long leave of absence from practice to study the legal, ethical and policy challenges presented by rapidly evolving changes in healthcare. Sara was previously an instructor of healthcare law to master’s students at the Department of Health Administration at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Professional achievements & leadership
- Vice-Chair, Canadian Bar Association, Health Law Section, Nova Scotia Branch, 2009 – 2010
- Recipient of Canadian Institutes of Health Research Training Fellowship in Health Law & Policy, 2007
Notable matters
- Acted for a large Canadian retail business on insurance matters in connection with its acquisition of a leading global brand in sportswear and workwear for $C985
- Acted as international counsel to a global batteries manufacturer in its US$2 billion acquisition of a global battery business
- Acted for various global insurance companies with respect to the issuance of M&A insurance policies
- Acted for a global specialist HIV company in connection with its $1.45+ billion strategic acquisition of certain worldwide development and discovery stage HIV assets
- Acted for a major pharmaceutical company in Canada in connection with its parent’s global strategic divestment of its $16 billion oncology business
- Acted for a major pharmaceutical company in Canada in connection with its parent’s global strategic acquisition of $4.25 billion vaccine assets
- Acted for a global steel and mining company in its agreement to sell to a consortium of investors a 15% interest in its wholly-owned subsidiary for $1.1 billion
Thought leadership
- Co-instructor, “Contractual Risk Transfer in Canada”, Risk and Insurance Management Society, November 17 – 18, 2020
- Presenter, “Representation and Warranty Insurance Policies in M&A Transactions”, LSO 10th Annual Business Law Summit, November 16, 2020
Community involvement
- Admissions Committee Alumni member, Schulich Law School, Dalhousie University, 2007 – present
- Bide Awhile Animal Shelter, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2009 – 2010
Professional memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
- Law Society of Ontario
- Nova Scotia Barristers Society
Bar admissions & education
- Ontario Bar, 2011
- Nova Scotia Bar, 2008
- LL.M., Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, 2007
- LL.B., Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, 2006
- B.A. (Hons.), Trinity College, University of Toronto, 2002
- Canadian Securities Course, Canadian Securities Institute, 2000
