2026 BLG STEPHEN SIGURDSON LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT

Across three decades at Bayer, Jacqueline De Gagné aligned legal strategy with business outcomes to deliver lasting impact. A bilingual leader and General Counsel, she built a career defined by cross‑functional leadership across litigation, intellectual property, governance, compliance and regulated commercial operations.

Called to the Bar in 1989, Jacqueline began her career at Scott & Aylen (now Borden Ladner Gervais LLP), where she practised intellectual property law, including patent and trademark counselling, prosecution and litigation. This grounding in technically complex matters established the expertise that would underpin her success as a leader at Bayer.

In 1995, Jacqueline joined Bayer Inc., a global life sciences organization known for its scientific innovation and impact across health care and agriculture. Her early years in Kenya and her first degree in zoology fostered an interest in the life sciences, making Bayer a natural fit for the next stage of her career. She remained with Bayer until her retirement in 2025, supporting senior leadership across increasingly complex mandates.

From 2001 to 2005, Jacqueline completed an expat assignment at headquarters in Germany — the first lawyer in the organization to do so — working within Bayer’s patent and global litigation functions. Through this, she gained perspective that strengthened her ability to anticipate global implications while leading the Canadian legal function.

Jacqueline progressed through a series of senior leadership roles, culminating as Chief Legal Officer for Canada (2014–2025), with responsibility for all Canadian Bayer legal entities across pharmaceuticals, radiology, consumer health, and crop science. She advised the Board and C‑suite on corporate law, enterprise risk, governance, and strategic market positioning.

She also oversaw high‑stakes product liability, class action defence, and patent enforcement matters under the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) Regulations.

In 2017, Jacqueline undertook a one‑year assignment as Head of Compliance for Bayer China. Leading a large compliance organization in a new environment enhanced her people leader skills and deepened her understanding of global operations. She returned to Canada with an expanded perspective that informed her leadership for the remainder of her tenure.

Jacqueline’s professional qualifications — Barrister & Solicitor (Law Society of Ontario), Chartered Director, Canadian Patent Agent, and Canadian Trademark Agent — combined with her executive presence, sound judgment, and leadership style made her a trusted advisor in matters involving local and global legal, regulatory and enterprise risk.

Jacqueline retired December 2025, after a more than 30 year career at Bayer where her impact was indelible.