Véronique Barry

Partner Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Québec +1 418 640 5170

Véronique Barry

Véronique Barry's practice covers all aspects of commercial and corporate law, with a particular focus on drafting commercial contracts and on matters relating to life sciences and healthcare. Véronique has gained valuable experience in personalized medicine, clinical trials and other research projects, artificial intelligence and other innovative technologies, and the use of technology in healthcare. She has also developed a keen interest in access to information and protection of personal information, intellectual property matters, as well as French language and Canada's anti-spam legislation requirements. Over the last few years, Véronique has given several presentations and has published various articles and taken part in drafting law books on these topics.

While pursuing her bachelor of laws – international profile at Laval University, Véronique studied at Birmingham University in England where she furthered her knowledge of international commercial law, among other topics. Véronique also studied at Queen's University and subsequently became a member of the Ontario Bar.

Professional experience

Representative experience

Véronique has acted in the following matters:

Life sciences and healthcare

advising on the conduct of fundamental research activities and multicentric clinical trials, and developing, drafting, reviewing and negotiating tailored agreements;
advising on the development, launch, funding and use of innovative solutions, such as telemedicine, e-pharmacy, smart devices, artificial intelligence and other forms of emerging technologies, and elaborating strategies taking into account the relevant legal implications, including with respect to privacy, big data, cybersecurity, healthcare professionals' duties and the use of devices (qualifying as "medical devices" or "software as a medical device");
providing advice regarding the design, operation and governance of innovative projects, such as longitudinal biobanks and databanks, genomic initiatives, personalized medicine and virtual clinics and the drafting of specific agreements in this regard;
assisting clients in the organization or reorganization of research/clinical activities, including as to the intricacies of securing the required regulatory approvals, and the elaboration of organizational structures suited to research activities (such as centres of excellence and research consortiums), the creation of separate legal entities for the valorization of intellectual property and the provision of advice regarding private/public funding;
drafting and negotiating highly specialized agreements, such as cell lines/technology/ biological materials license agreements, agreements for the transfer of technologies, GMP manufacturing contracts, agreements for the provision of contract research organization services, compassionate agreements, quality agreements and contracts for the supply/procurement of blood products;
reviewing and drafting of speaker agreements and agreements for advisory boards, ethics committees and consultant panels;
providing assistance on the supply of products/services to public bodies in compliance with public procurement rules and developing and drafting agreements; and
assisting clients regarding their conformity with ministerial directives and circulars, such as those regarding indirect costs, and drafting or reviewing policies and internal procedures in this regard

Organizational structure

developing organizational structures suited to research activities, creating separate legal entities for valuing intellectual property rights or the hiring of researchers and research assistants and organizing research activities within health institutions and other corporate entities
drafting by-laws, policies and internal directives in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory frameworks for research activities and intellectual property policies

Best Lawyers in Canada: Privacy and Data Security Law, 2024-2025; Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, 2025
Chambers Canada, Nationwide: Healthcare: Corporate/Commercial, Chambers and Partners, 2021-2025
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2023-2025: recommended in Life Sciences & Health; 2025: recommended in Technology Transactions; 2024: recommended in Data Protection & Privacy
Finalist of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers Ranking, 2021
Dean's Honour List, Queen's University, 2012
Senator Frank Carrel Scholarship, Queen's University, 2012
GBV-Englobe environmental law essay competition, GBV-Englobe, 2008
Lieutenant Governor's Award, Merici College, 2007
Toyota Earth Day Scholarship, Toyota Foundation/Earth Day Canada, 2007
Millennium Scholarship, Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation, 2007
Desjardins Scholarship, social sector, Jeunes Boursiers des Grands Québécois, 2007

Education

Civil Law-Common Law Combined Program, Queen's University, 2012
Bachelor of Laws – International Profile, Laval University, 2010
Certificate of Higher Education in English Law, University of Birmingham, 2009

Admissions

Ontario 2013
Quebec 2012

Publications

"Quebec government launches its digital identity project: Impacts for public bodies," March 27, 2025.
"Quebec government launches its digital identity project: An overview," March 6, 2025
"Digitization of the health and social services network and the personal information it contains: How will your organization be affected?," August 6, 2024.
"Anonymizing personal information - how to comply," June 12, 2024.
"Non-compliance with legal obligations regarding managing personal information: the penalties become clearer," May 27, 2024.
"Act respecting health and social services information: Publication of two draft regulations," May 9, 2024.
"Digital Health 2024, April 11, 2024.
"Managing AI risks and legal implications, effective cybersecurity, ensuring privacy and the integrity of organizational records," December 21, 2023.
"Managing AI risks and legal implications, effective cybersecurity, ensuring privacy and the integrity of organizational records," December 6, 2023.
"Act 25 – Demystifying privacy impact assessments with the CAI’s new tools," September 29, 2023.

Speaking engagements

2024 Technology, Privacy and Cybersecurity Summit, November 28, 2024.
2023 Technology privacy and cybersecurity summit, November 1, 2023.
Webinar - Protection des données personnelles Québec, June 14, 2021.
Raining workshop on the development and use of technologies (CIUSSS HMR training), November 12, 2020.
"Decoding New Legal Realities in the Era of Technological Innovation in Healthcare," Quebec City Healthcare Industry Forum (FISQ), December 4, 2019.
"Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing," March 28, 2019.
"Points à considérer lors de l'examen de contrats de recherche," March 18, 2019.
"L'impact du Règlement Général sur la Protection des Données en matière de recherche clinique" - 12th Forum de l'industrie de la santé de Québec, December 5, 2018.
"Conduct of clinical trials in a digital era," Montreal, September 21, 2017.
"New trends with respect to clinical trials," Montreal, June 12, 2017.

Memberships and activities

Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec / Cercle 179, deputy chair of Cercle 179 since 2015
Board of directors – Carnaval de Québec, director since 2019
Graduate committee of Collège Mérici since 2019
Ambassador – Fondation Cervo – D'un chic fou, since 2017
Ambassador – Centre hospitalier universitaire (CHU) de Québec – "Escapade au sommet du massif," 2015
Ambassador – Le Grand Défi Pierre-Lavoie / Équipe Henry Schein, 2015-2016
Ambassador – JDRF Canada – Révolution FRDJ Roulons pour vaincre le diabète, 2013 to 2015
Master of ceremonies for the 25^th anniversary gala of Croissance Travail, 2017
Relay for Life – Canadian Cancer Society, 2016