Adam Heckman

About Adam Heckman

Adam Heckman litigates patents for the life sciences industry. A partner and patent agent in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, Adam represents innovative drug and biotechnology companies in the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal, whether they're asserting their patents or defending them. Trademarks and copyright are part of the mix too, but patent disputes are the heart of it, and Adam sits in the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation and Life Sciences groups.

Adam holds an honours science degree from the University of Toronto, with a specialist in pharmaceutical chemistry, and a graduate certificate from Seneca College in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs and quality operations. Before joining Gowling WLG, Adam worked as a scientist at a global provider of drug development and manufacturing services and as a quality assurance associate at an innovative pharmaceutical company. Adam earned a JD at Osgoode Hall in 2013, picking up a number of academic awards, and was called to the Ontario bar in 2014.

Adam acted for Takeda at the Federal Court of Appeal when two Apotex appeals challenging claims in the Canadian patent behind the ADHD drug VYVANSE were dismissed, a matter Managing IP counted among its 2022 Impact Cases of the Year. More recently, Adam has been among counsel for the Responsible Plastic Use Coalition on the leave application it filed with the Supreme Court of Canada in 2026.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch listed Adam for intellectual property law in 2021 and 2022, and Managing IP named Adam a Rising Star in both 2023 and 2024. Adam also writes for Gowling WLG on questions in Canadian patent law, including patent term adjustment and whether methods of medical treatment can be patented.