News

We are very pleased to announce Cecilia Barnes as the winner of the 2025 CAN-TECH Rising Star in Tech Law Award.

Cecilia Barnes is Counsel at Lawson Lundell LLP, where she advises a broad range of domestic and international technology clients on commercial transactions, intellectual property, privacy, and data security. Cecilia brings a unique blend of in-house experience and entrepreneurial insight to her work in private practice, having served as lead commercial counsel at high-growth companies and supported major milestones such as a $950M IPO. She is known for her practical, business-oriented legal advice and her ability to bridge law, technology, and innovation.

Cecilia was recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2025, a testament to her excellence and rising influence in the legal profession.

Beyond her legal practice, Cecilia is a passionate advocate for access to justice and inclusive innovation. She has led initiatives to expand legal support for underserved communities, including securing funding for BC’s first Black legal clinic and developing mobile legal tools to improve access to legal information across the province. A recognized thought leader, mentor, and educator, Cecilia contributes to the advancement of the tech law bar through teaching, speaking, and strategic partnerships. Her work bridges law, technology, and community – making her a true rising star in the field.

We are pleased to announce that the 2025 CAN-TECH Law Award of Distinction winner is Cory Freed!

Cory Freed is Assistant General Counsel and Head of Legal Affairs for Microsoft in Canada. Cory joined Microsoft in 2005 and now leads the team of legal professionals who provide comprehensive legal support to the business in Canada. Cory and the team also advise Microsoft Canada’s Public Sector sales and services organization.

In this role, Cory oversees the drafting and negotiation of agreements related to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, on-premises licensing, and consulting services for Microsoft Canada’s largest public sector customers. Cory acts as a strategic advisor on a range of legal issues to the Canadian business, including privacy, compliance, and regulatory matters.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Cory was an Associate in the technology law group at Osler LLP, a leading Toronto law firm. Cory previously served on the board of directors of CAN TECH, the national forum for Canadian legal practitioners specializing in technology law.

Your Discounted Business Law Fall Meeting Registration, Toronto | September 18-20

The Canadian Technology Law Association is pleased to partner with the American Bar Association’s Business Law Fall Meeting in Toronto and online, September 18-20. The three-day experience features 50+ CLE programs on all areas of business law, committee and subcommittee meetings providing substantive discussions of emerging trends, and social events. Members may register* at the discounted ABA rate to connect with other leaders in the legal profession—including well-known experts in business law fields, corporate counsel, private practitioners at various size firms—at substantive meetings and social events.

To register, visit LINK for more information about the meeting. To redeem your discounted ABA member rate, select your preferred format on the ABA Business Law Section website,

• “In-Person” at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel or
• “Virtual” for online access.
• Follow prompts on each page and then select “Non-Member Rate” as opposed to single CLE, until you’re prompted to enter your “discount code.”

• Based on your meeting format, enter the in-person or virtual code below, which will apply the ABA member registration rate.
• Member ABA registration rate discount code to enter:
• • In Person: MEMBERS ACCESS YOUR CODE HERE
  • Virtual: MEMBERS ACCESS YOUR CODE HERE

Once registered, you’ll receive a confirmation email from Quiana Nesbit.

Deadline to submit is August 22, 2025

The Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH) invites nominations for two esteemed awards:

1. Award of Distinction, recognizing members with a minimum of twenty (20) years of practice.
2. Rising Star in Tech Law Award, honoring early-career members within their first ten (10) years of practice.

Both awards celebrate extraordinary contributions in leadership, innovation, integrity, and commitment to the Technology Law Bar.

ELIGIBILITY:

Current CAN-TECH member in good standing (excluding Executive and Board of Directors).

NOMINATION PROCESS:

• Submission: Nominations to be made online by August 22, 2025, including a written document (max. 2 pages double-spaced) and the candidate's curriculum vitae.
• Consent: The candidate must be advised of the nomination and consent to it.
• Promotion: Solicitation through email, social media, CAN-TECH newsletter, and the awards page on the CAN-TECH website.

SELECTION PROCESS:

Selected by the Nomination Subcommittee, considering CAN-TECH guidelines on Diversity and Inclusion.

Only one award will be presented for each category.

PRESENTATION:

To be presented at a CAN-TECH Law event.

DEADLINE:

Online submissions must be filed by August 22, 2025.

Nominations from across Canada are encouraged. For additional details, see our award outline documents below:

• Rising Star Award
• Award of Distinction

SUBMIT FOR AWARD OF DISTINCTION

SUBMIT FOR RISING STAR

It’s just getting worse

This newsletter, as with most legal media of late, has previously reported on cases where AI was put to impermissible use by lawyers in both Canada and the US. To use a colloquial phrase, they are starting to come thick and fast. In R. v. Chand, 2025 ONCJ 282, Justice Kenkel was presiding over an aggravated assault trial and, when evidence had concluded and final submissions made by counsel, issued a “Direction Re: Defence Final Submissions.” 

For more details, please click here.

Strong Borders Act will give law enforcement expanded access to customer information and backdoors to electronic service providers.

On June 3, the new Canadian government tabled Bill C-2 in Parliament, called “An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures” but with a short title of “Strong Borders Act”.

For more details, please click here.

Important issues related to application of Canadian privacy laws under consideration.

The Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to appeal a decision from the Federal Court of Appeal (reported on in the September 2024 CanTech newsletter).

For more details, please click here

Recent decision has implications for “right to be forgotten” and collecting data for training AI models

The Alberta Court of Kings Bench, in Clearview AI Inc v Alberta (Information and Privacy Commissioner), has declared that province’s Personal Information Protection Act violates the Charter right to Freedom of Expression insofar as it prevents collecting information from the public internet for reasonable purposes.

This case was brought by Clearview AI Inc. (“Clearview”), a U.S.-based facial recognition company, which challenged an order issued by Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner. The order, based on findings from a joint investigation by Canadian federal and provincial privacy regulators, required Clearview to cease offering services in Alberta, stop collecting, using, and disclosing images and biometric data of Albertans, and delete the relevant data already in its possession.

For more details, please click here

CONTEST CLOSED, thank you for participating!

Leadership looks good on you (and your +1).

At CanTech Women in Tech (WIT), we’re all about helping our members grow — not just as lawyers or technologists, but as leaders (or leaders-in-progress, which absolutely counts).

That’s why we’re happy to share some access to The Art of Leadership for Women — a one-day conference coming to Toronto and Ottawa, featuring an inspiring lineup of speakers and actionable insights on what it takes to lead in today’s world.

We’ve got 2 tickets to give away — because growth is better with company. CONTEST CLOSED, thank you for participating!

 

And a discount code for $50 off (or $100 off per pass for groups of 5+). CANTECH MEMBERS CAN ACCESS DISCOUNT CODE

It’s a great excuse to step out of your routine, invest in yourself, and leave with fresh ideas (and probably a great notebook). Don’t miss this invaluable opportunity to develop your leaders, engage your talent, and build high-performing teams. Join us for an empowering day of learning, networking, and women’s leadership.

Details + registration

#cantechWIT#womenintech#leadership#careerbuilding#professionaldevelopment #TheArtOfLeadership

Contest Rules:

1. Contest: This Contest is brought to you by Canadian Technology Law Association (“Can Tech”).
2. Eligibility: Open to CanTech members who are legal residents of Canada and are the age of majority in their province or territory of residence. Limit of one (1) entry per CanTech member. Employees, officers, directors, agents, or representatives (and those with whom such persons are living) of Can Tech, associated and affiliated entities, prize suppliers, advertising/promotion agencies and any other individuals or entities involved in the administration, judging, or fulfilment of the Contest (“Contest Parties”) are not eligible to enter the Contest.
3. No Purchase Necessary: No purchase necessary.
4. Contest Period: Contest begins on June 16 at 2:00 PM ET and ends on Thursday, June 19 at 2:00 PM ET (“Contest Period”).  
5. How to Enter: Enter via our website during the Contest Period. All entries must be received during the Contest Period and are subject to verification by CanTech.
6. Winner Selection: One winner will be selected by random draw on Thursday, June 19, at approximately 3:00PM ET (“Draw Date”).  Odds of winning depend on total number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.
7. Prize: The Prize consists of two (2) tickets to The Art of Leadership Women, with an approximate total retail value: $1000 (the “Prize”).
8. Winner Notification: Winner will be contacted via direct message on LinkedIn or email by CanTech within 2 days of the Draw Date. Can Tech will make a minimum of 3 attempts to contact the potential winner and if a potential winner cannot be contacted within 2 days, or there is a return of any notification as undeliverable, then Can Tech may, time permitting, select an alternate potential winner in the same manner as set out in these Rules. In order to be declared the Prize winner, the potential winner will be required to correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question and, where applicable, sign and return Can Tech’s declaration and release form confirming compliance with these Rules, acceptance of the Prize, and release of the Contest Parties from any and all liability in connection with this Contest. If a potential winner fails to correctly answer the skill-testing question, fails to properly respond, execute and/or return any required Contest documents within the specified time, or is determined to be in violation of these Rules, then they will be disqualified as a potential Prize winner.
9. Indemnification and Limit of Liability. None of the Contest Parties makes any representation or offers any warranty, express or implied, as to the quality or fitness of a Prize or any elements of a Prize awarded in connection with the Contest. The entrant agrees to releases and holds harmless the Contest Parties from any and all liability for any injuries, loss or damage of any kind to the entrant or any other person or property, including personal injury, death, or property damage, resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, participation in the Contest, any breach of the Rules, the Prize and/or in any Prize-related activity.
10. Privacy. By participating in the Contest, you expressly consent and grant to Can Tech, the right to collect, store, disclose and use your name, and email address, submitted with your entry only for the purposes of administering this Contest, and you acknowledge that Can Tech may disclose your name and email address to its third party service providers and agents for the purposes of administering the Contest, in accordance with these Rules and the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy. 
11. General: Contest is subject to all applicable laws. Void where prohibited. Participation in the Contest constitutes each entrant’s full acceptance and agreement of the Contest Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Prize must be accepted as awarded and is not transferable or convertible to cash. No substitutions except at Can Tech’s option. Can Tech reserves the right to withdraw, cancel, terminate, or amend this Contest at any time without prior notice or obligation in the event of any cause beyond the reasonable control of Can Tech that interferes with the proper conduct of this Contest as contemplated by these Rules. Contest not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with, LinkedIn.

The CAN-TECH Law executive committee are pleased to announce Lola's appointment to the Board of Directors for the 2025 term. Lola is also our member ambassador for the Atlantic Canada region.

Lola (Agbaje-Williams) Williams-Afolabi is the lead counsel at Williams Armstrong LP, practising primarily Business and Intellectual Property Law. She has extensive experience in providing exceptional services for clients with creative and effective solutions to address their needs and protect their business interests. Lola advises on business operations, commercial transactions, intellectual property protection, strategy, privacy and other business-related matters. Lola holds an LLB from the University of Lagos, an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), and received the 2014 International Bar Association Scholarship in the Intellectual Property, Communication and Technology Section. Lola is currently the Chair of the Canadian Bar Association (NS Chapter) Intellectual Property Section, Board President of the NS chapter of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, and speaks on various expert panels on Business Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Artificial Intelligence. Outside the office, Lola loves spending time with family and making an impact through mentorship, advocacy and community work. Lola has also been a Judge with the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition at the University of Oxford since 2015 and participates as a Judge in other law moots in Canada and internationally. Lola received the CBA-NS, Community Service Award in 2022.