Lexpert reveals the best technology transactions lawyers in Toronto based on the results of our comprehensive annual peer survey. The complete list of the Ontario’s most recommended tech lawyers and law firms can be accessed via our practice area rankings.
In our survey, the practice of technology law involves working with investors, start-up or later stage enterprises, venture capital investors, technology lenders and technology-oriented investment dealers in matters such as private and public financings, stockholder and employment matters, strategic alliances, partnerships and joint ventures, stock exchange listings and mergers and acquisitions. The practice often necessitates working closely over a long period with a technology business at all stages, from initial business and financial start-up plans to an IPO and extends beyond high-end matters, including corporate governance.
Most frequently recommended technology transactions lawyers
Chad Bayne
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2002
Chad Bayne is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. He considered one of Canada’s best technology transactions lawyers. Bayne practises corporate and securities law, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance in the technology sector. As a founder and co-chair of his firm’s emerging and high growth companies practice group, Bayne advises some of the most notable Canadian emerging and later-stage tech companies and venture capital investors that finance them. He also advises several leading multinational technology companies in connection with their Canadian M&A activities. Bayne plays a central role in Osler’s efforts in Creative Destruction Lab, Next 36/Next AI, Peerscale, C100 and League of Innovators.
Wendy J. Gross
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1993
Wendy J. Gross is a partner and the chair of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s technology group. She specializes in outsourcing and other complex corporate and commercial transactions relating to technology products and services and business processes, and related regulatory and other legal issues. These areas include payment systems and networks, cloud computing, OSFI B-10 compliance, open banking, artificial intelligence, fintech transactions, blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies, public and private procurement e-commerce, privacy and data protection, consumer protection, intellectual property protection and licensing. Gross has extensive experience advising financial services, retail, e-commerce, transportation and energy companies in these areas. She is a registered trademark agent and recognized as one of Canada’s top technology transactions lawyers.
Barry B. Sookman
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1982
Barry B. Sookman is a senior partner McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s technology law group. He is also the past leader of its intellectual property group. Recognized as one of Canada’s best tech transactions lawyers, Sookman boasts expertise in information copyright, internet, privacy and anti-spam law. He acts in connection with complex IT and IP transactions such as outsourcings, cloud computing, military defense procurements and in IT and IP litigation. Sookman has argued numerous precedent-setting intellectual property and Internet cases at all levels of courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. He has also authored numerous books on computer and IT law.
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George S. Takach
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1985
George S. Takach is a senior partner in McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s Toronto office. He advises clients on tech company mergers and acquisitions and financing deals, sophisticated tech licensing and tech procurement transactions and challenging e-commerce activities, including work on cloud, SaaS and big data deals. Takach represents a wide range of software, hardware and other technology companies on commercial and financing and M&A matters. He has a national tech procurement practice and regularly assists companies in all sectors of the Canadian economy. Takach is one of the country’s top tech transactions lawyers. He has authored the second edition of Computer Law.
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Consistently recommended technology transactions lawyers
Andrew C. Alleyne
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2003
Andrew C. Alleyne is a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He specializes in corporate and commercial transactions, particularly technology and mergers and acquisitions matters. Alleyne serves on the Steering Committee of the firm’s technology practice group and frequently works in the IT and outsourcing space. He advises clients on the challenges and complexities of commercializing, acquiring and implementing technology solutions and works with private companies on M&A transactions, frequently across borders. Alleyne also regularly advises on IT and business process outsourcings, bancassurance outsourcings, cloud and SaaS arrangements, software licensing and commercial due diligence and the technology aspects of M&A transactions, including transition services arrangements. His experience also extends to a variety of internet and e-commerce matters and to the legal and regulatory aspects of online gambling in Canada. Alleyne is considered among the country’s leading technology transactions lawyers.
Adam S. Armstrong
Law firm: Torys LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1998
Adam S. Armstrong is a partner at Torys LLP. He also serves as coordinator of the firm's corporate department, head of the technology contracting practice and co-head of the payments and cards practice. Armstrong specializes in technology licensing and outsourcing, and corporate and securities law. On the technology aspect of his practice, he advises clients on outsourcing transactions and licensing and conveyancing of hardware, software and other intellectual property. On the corporate and securities side, Armstrong focuses on public and private financing, including initial public offerings, shareholder arrangements, and mergers and acquisitions. He is considered one of the best technology transactions lawyers in Canada.
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Richard Austin
Law firm: Deeth Williams Wall LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1985
Richard Austin is a partner at Deeth Williams Wall LLP. He devotes his practice to privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, IT and business process outsourcing, applications development and licensing, software audits and Canada’s anti-spam legislation (CASL). Austin represents technology users in the public and private sectors as well as domestic and international service providers. Before joining the firm, Austin spent 18 years as general counsel of EDS Canada, one of the country’s largest technology service providers. He is a sought-after speaker on technology law issues, including on privacy and security, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, social media, identity management and professionalism in the digital age. Austin is recognized as one of the country’s top technology transactions lawyers.
Michael G. Beairsto
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1989
Michael G. Beairsto is a partner at Dentons Canada LLP, where he heads the firm’s technology law group in Toronto. Beairsto specializes in corporate and commercial law, with a focus on technology, e-commerce and internet matters. He has extensive experience in technology and corporate transactions, including software licensing and development, technology acquisition, service agreements and outsourcing arrangements. Beairsto advises on intellectual property licensing matters and protection of intellectual property and information. He regularly advises clients on e-commerce matters and internet-based channels of business, including privacy-related issues and internet law matters. Beairsto represents clients on technology acquisitions, financing and corporate mergers and acquisitions in the technology field. He is considered among the Canada’s leading technology transactions lawyers.
Eric Boehm
Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the Bar: 1998
Eric Boehm is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s corporate commercial group. He focuses on technology law and is considered among the best tech transactions lawyers in Canada. Boehm has extensive international experience in Toronto and Paris, France advising on complex commercial transactions, including technology and business process outsourcings, joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and other strategic relationships. He also boasts significant expertise in financial services, intellectual property, e-commerce, cloud services, privacy, open source, trademark and patent licensing, manufacturing and consumer protection issues. Boehm is a prolific writer and speaker on technology law issues. He is past chair of the Information/e-Commerce section of the Ontario Bar Association and a member of the ITech Law Association, Toronto Computer Lawyers' Group and l'Association des juristes d'expression française. Boehm is a registered trademark agent.
Richard F.D. Corley
Law firm: Goodmans LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1992
Richard F.D. Corley is a partner and heads the cleantech and outsourcing practice groups at Goodmans LLP. Corley boasts more than 25 years of experience advising clients on complex outsourcing transactions, technology mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, cleantech and other technology-related matters. He recognized as one of the country’s leading outsourcing and IT lawyers, and has led the procurement, negotiation, implementation, renegotiation and resolution of disputes in many complex outsourcing transactions. Corley has pioneered the use of standardized tools and real-time issue resolution to facilitate the efficient preparation and management of outsourcing agreements based on well-developed precedents. He is a frequent speaker at professional conferences and seminars on outsourcing, technology and cleantech-related topics. Corley is also considered among the Canada’s top tech transaction lawyers.
Perry N. Dellelce
Law firm: Wildeboer Dellelce LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1992
Perry N. Dellelce is a founder and managing partner of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP. He practises in the areas of securities, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Dellelce offers a unique blend of legal and corporate finance experience combined with hands-on business management experience across a wide range of sectors including technology, natural resources and financial services. He is the chair of the NEO Exchange, Canada’s newest stock exchange, and a director of Mount Logan Capital Inc. and Mind Medicine, Inc. Dellelce is actively involved in the community and charity. His current mandates include being past chair and current member of the board of directors of the Sunnybrook Foundation and the chair of the board of directors of the Canadian Olympic Foundation. Dellelce is recognized as among the country’s leading tech transaction lawyers.
Michael G.G. Fekete
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1993
Michael G.G. Fekete is the national innovation leader and commercial group chair at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, where he practises as a member of the technology group. He is also a partner at the firm. As one of the Canada’s best technology transaction lawyers, Fekete represents industry leading and emerging information technology service providers, software publishers, hardware manufacturers, online vendors and other technology-focused enterprises. He has extensive experience in all areas of IT, with sub-specialties in cloud computing, government procurement and privacy. Fekete is actively involved in numerous public policy initiatives related to technology and data, including Canada’s national data strategy, artificial intelligence, procurement modernization and privacy. He works closely with the Information Technology Association of Canada on many of these initiatives.
K. Vanessa A. Grant
Law firm: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1997
K. Vanessa A. Grant is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP’s Toronto office. Her practice focuses on public and private corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Grant advises issuers, investors and underwriters on financings, initial public offerings, public and private M&A, corporate governance, joint ventures, and licensing and distribution agreements. She also designs, structures and negotiates complex collaborations, licensing, commercial arrangements and M&A transactions. Grant provides ongoing general corporate and commercial legal advice to several clients and works with national and international clients across all industries, with a particular focus on technology, including fintech and artificial intelligence, and life sciences companies, including digital healthcare, therapeutics, devices, diagnostics and agribusiness. Grant also represents private equity and venture capital funds investing in those industries. She lectures regularly on topics related to M&A, securities law, corporate governance and industry-specific issues. Grant is the co-director of the Osgoode Hall LLM program in business law and teaches a course in corporate finance for the program. She is considered one of the best tech transactions lawyers in Canada.
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Christopher A. Hewat
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1987
Christopher A. Hewat is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He specializes in the areas of securities and business law, with particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and private equity transactions. Hewat has also been involved in the development of securities regulation in Canada, having advised the Ontario Securities Commission in connection with its rules reformulation project and the Toronto Stock Exchange in its review of rules governing listed companies. His M&A experience includes advising the Toronto-Dominion Bank on its acquisition of artificial intelligence firm Layer 6 Inc. and institutional asset manager Greystone Managed Investments Inc., FLIR Systems, Inc. on its acquisition of drone maker Aeryon Labs Inc., BlueCat Networks Inc. on its sale to Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, the Special Committee of Callidus Capital Inc. on its going private transaction and The Descartes Systems Group Inc. on its acquisition of Visual Compliance. Hewat also has extensive experience acting for issuers and underwriters in public offerings, including offerings by Stelco, OpenText, Descartes and Shopify. He is considered one of the top tech transactions lawyers in Canada.
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Christine Ing
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1995
Christine Ing is partner and co-leader of the technology law and fintech groups at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. She is recognized as among Canada’s leading tech transactions lawyers. Ing has more than 20 years of experience in strategic commercial transactions and collaborative arrangements involving technology, intellectual property and data at their core. She boasts extensive experience in all aspects of information technology law, including outsourcing, systems and software acquisitions, systems and software development, licensing, various ASP and SaaS arrangements, complex services agreements and distribution and reseller agreements. Ing is passionate about and a well-recognized leader in open banking, alternative data, payment systems, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, cloud services, technology development and innovative collaborations. She also has significant experience in the payments space and has led large payment network deals on behalf of issuers.
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Donald B. Johnston
Law firm: Aird & Berlis LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1978
Donald B. Johnston co-chairs the technology law and privacy and data security groups at Aird & Berlis LLP. He is also a partner and a member of the firm’s corporate and commercial and intellectual property groups. As one the country’s top technology transactions lawyers, Johnston boasts diverse experience in all kinds of technology, intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, procurement, privacy and data protection and health law, and new technologies, including blockchain and autonomous vehicles. He provides strategic advice to clients on licensing transactions, financing and development projects, negotiating and settling agreements and distribution arrangements. Johnston has lectured extensively on outsourcing, technology law, e-health law, procurement, privacy and data security.
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W. Ian Palm
Law firm: Gowling WLG
Year called to the Bar: 1995
W. Ian Palm is a partner in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office. He devotes his practice to corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and private equity. Palm regularly acts for Canadian and international clients in a variety of industries, including technology, energy and infrastructure. He represents private and public companies, major corporations, pension funds, and private equity and venture capital investors. Palm has acted for issuers, investors and underwriters, advising them in a range of corporate finance and M&A transactions. He speaks frequently at law schools, institutes and conferences on M&A, private equity and securities law. Palm is recognized as among the best technology transactions lawyers in Canada.
Barry J. Reiter
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1977
Barry J. Reiter is a corporate partner and the chair of the Bennett Jones LLP’s technology, media and entertainment, and corporate governance and director protection groups. His corporate practice involves advising on corporate development and finance. This includes representation of founder and other shareholders, executives, businesses, investment banks and private equity sources, shareholder, executive and employee arrangements, privacy and cyber security, distribution arrangements, strategic alliances, partnerships and joint ventures, licensing and other commercial arrangements, private and public financings, mergers and acquisitions and international tax planning. Reiter’s governance practice involves advising boards, board committees, independent directors and management on compliance, effectiveness and protection issues. Reiter is the lead director at Baylin Wireless Technologies and director at RIMES Technologies. He is also a member of the Advisory Council of StarTech.com. Reiter is recognized as among Canada’s leading technology transactions lawyers.
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Parna Sabet-Stephenson
Law firm: Gowling WLG
Year called to the Bar: 2000
Parna Sabet-Stephenson is a partner in Gowling WLG’s Toronto office. She specializes in all aspects of outsourcing, technology law and e-commerce. Sabet-Stephenson has assisted domestic and international customers and service providers in a variety of industries. She boasts extensive experience in structuring, negotiating, drafting various outsourcing (BPO and ITO), joint venture, technology acquisition, technology development, licensing, supply, cloud services and complex services agreements. As one of the Canada’s best tech transactions lawyers, she has published extensively and frequently speaks on technology law topics. Sabet-Stephenson has also presented at various industry and legal associations.
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Gary S.A. Solway
Law firm: Bennett Jones LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1985
Gary S.A. Solway is the managing partner of the technology, media and entertainment group at Bennett Jones LLP. His practice focuses on all aspects of corporate commercial, corporate governance and securities work for companies at all stages, from startups to mature public companies. Solway advises on mergers and acquisitions, private and public financings, including IPOs, cyber security governance, special committee matters, shareholder arrangements, executive and employee compensation arrangements, licensing and distribution agreements, international corporate structurings, corporate reorganizations and private equity and venture capital fund formation. He regularly represents US and Canadian private equity and venture capital investors and foreign buyers acquiring Canadian businesses. Solway serves secretary of the CVCA, Canada's venture capital and private equity association. He is considered one of the top tech transactions lawyers in the country.
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Amy-Lynne Williams
Law firm: Deeth Williams Wall LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1980
Amy-Lynne Williams is a partner and one of the founding members of Deeth Williams Wall LLP. She devotes her practice to information technology law. Williams is recognized as among Canada’s leading tech transactions lawyers. She advises clients on systems acquisitions, outsourcing, privacy, payments, internet issues and tech transfers. Williams is a past president of the International Technology Law Association and the Canadian IT Law Association.