Canadian Technology Law Association upcoming events

RECORDING: CAN-TECH 2026 Spring Conference: Building the Modern Technology Lawyer (9 Jun 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

RECORDING: CAN-TECH 2026 Spring Conference: Building the Modern Technology Lawyer

Recorded on Thursday, June 4, 2026
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. MT | 12 to 5 p.m. ET | 1 to 6 p.m. AT

Back by popular demand, the CAN-TECH Spring Conference was set for June 4, 2026. This year, the conference focused on preparing junior to mid-level technology lawyers for the realities of modern practice.

The half-day, pan-Canadian program, with hybrid in-person and webcast sessions, featured panels across five satellite locations, (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Halifax and Montreal) each hosted one live panel and participated in the other panels via Zoom, and discussed a range of topics, including:

key skills for handling technology transactions – including if they go wrong;
a critical exploration of the current and future privacy law landscape; and
guidance for both in-house and in-firm lawyers on developing a successful career in technology law.

This program contained 1 hour of Professionalism Content.

The program consisted of five sessions:

Opening Remarks: 12 to 12:10 pm (All times were in ET)

Co-Chairs:

Kristal Allen, Partner, Dentons Canada LLP
M. Imtiaz Karamat, Associate, Deeth Williams Wall LLP

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Vancouver Panel: 12:10 to 1 pm - Hosted by McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Modernizing Technology Contract Clauses: Practical Guidance for Lawyers: Join us for an essential session designed specifically for junior and mid-level lawyers, where our expert panel will focus on the key contractual clauses that are becoming more heavily negotiated and increasingly relevant in today’s modern technology landscape. As technology continues to evolve, these clauses are taking on new importance in commercial transactions. Our panel will discuss how to approach drafting and negotiating these provisions, offering practical guidance and real-world examples. This session will equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to confidently address the complexities of technology contracts and stay ahead in the ever-changing digital environment.

Moderator: Cecilia Barnes, Commercial & Technology Lawyer, Lawson Lundell LLP

Featuring:

Curtis Chance, Associate, McCarthy Tétrault LLP

Jenny Huang, Senior Legal Counsel, Providence Health Care Ventures

Karen Claus, Founder and Technology Lawyer, Karen Claus Law

Halifax Panel: 1 to 1:50 pm - Hosted by McInnes Cooper

Beyond the Contract: The Unwritten Rules of Tech Transactions: Closing a technology transaction requires far more than strong drafting skills. This panel brings together experienced practitioners to focus on the practical, day‑to‑day skills lawyers need to support transactions effectively and add real value to deal teams. Panelists will share concrete strategies for communicating legal and commercial risk to clients in a way that is clear, credible, and decision‑focused, alongside guidance on negotiating confidently and appropriately. The discussion will also move beyond contract terms to explore the operational, organizational, and interpersonal skills that help transactions move from deal momentum to closing. The panel will briefly touch on how AI tools are being integrated into transactional practice and what this means for efficiency, training, and evolving roles on deal teams.
Moderator: Charlotte Henderson, Associate & Trademark Agent, Stewart McKelvey

Featuring:
- Lola Williams-Afolabi, Lead Counsel, Williams Armstrong LP
- Robert Cowan, Partner, McInnes Cooper
- Patrick Kahn, Associate, McInnes Cooper

Networking break: 1:50 to 2:10 pm

Toronto Panel: 2:10 to 3 pm - Hosted by Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Navigating Your Career in Technology Law: Practical Insights for Thriving in a Dynamic Industry: Building a successful career takes more than strong legal skills in the rapidly evolving technology sector. Join our expert panel—featuring practitioners from law firms and in-house legal teams—as they share candid insights on how they built their careers. From navigating early challenges and developing a professional profile to cultivating client relationships and adapting their mindset over time, this session offers practical guidance for junior and mid-level lawyers looking to thrive in today’s legal landscape.

Moderator: Thanasi Lampropoulos, Counsel, A.U.G. Signals Ltd.
Featuring:

Andrew S. Nunes, Partner, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Allan Oziel, Partner, Oziel Law

Neetu Toor, VP, Legal & Information Security, Loopio Inc.

Calgary Panel: 3 to 3:50 pm - Hosted by Dentons Canada LLP

When Tech Contracting Goes Wrong: Failures, Delays, and Deal Breakdowns: This panel discussion will delve into the challenges that arise when technology contracting does not go as planned. Drawing on hard won real-world experiences from legal professionals, the session will examine common pitfalls in drafting, negotiating, and managing technology contracts, including software development agreements, SaaS arrangements, and IT outsourcing deals. Panelists will discuss issues such as scope creep, shifting requirements, uncertainty regarding rights in intellectual property, and failures in performance or delivery, and how these issues can lead to missed deadlines, budget overruns, and unmet expectations. This conversation seeks to help you identify the common causes and consequences of project failures and delays - including lack of communication between stakeholders and inadequate risk allocation – and take a proactive approach to help prevent them.

Moderator: James Swanson, Founder, Swanson Law

Featuring:

Kristal Allen, Partner, Dentons Canada LLP

Sam Delechantos, Associate, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP

Networking break: 3:50 to 4:10 pm

Montreal Panel: 4:10 to 5 pm - Hosted by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)

Privacy & Cybersecurity in Canada: What’s New, What Matters, and What’s Next: This panel proposes a hybrid view (common law and civil law) on Canadian developments in the privacy and cybersecurity landscape. Come and join our panel of experts for a fascinating discussion as they comment on the latest legislative efforts, interpretation, and jurisprudence!

Moderator: Erwan Joncheres, Lawyer, Satoshi Legal

Featuring:

Frédéric Wilson, Partner & National Co-Leader, Privacy & Cybersecurity, BLG

Caroline Poirier, Partner, Bennett Jones

Katherine Barbacki, Senior Lawyer, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Spring Conference Co-chairs:

Kristal Allen, Partner, Dentons Canada LLP

Kristal is the co-lead of Dentons’ Venture Technology and Emerging Growth Companies practice, where she supports innovation-driven companies and serves as a strategic advisor from start-up through scale-up. Kristal is a pragmatic lawyer with a commercial focus, frequently advising on issues common to high growth entities such as collaborative development arrangements, technology development and commercialization, customer and supplier engagement, and intellectual property portfolio management.

Kristal brings a wealth of practical and industry knowledge when advising clients, particularly in the health, food, and technology sectors. In her practice, Kristal draws upon her experience in the life sciences and technology industries. Before becoming a lawyer, she held a variety of positions in areas such as technical marketing, regulatory, and new product research and development for major life sciences companies, providing advice to R&D teams, marketers and regulators.

Kristal joined Dentons’ as a partner in 2023, after practicing with another large Canadian law firm, and after several years as senior legal counsel and chief privacy officer to a large public company with global operations.

M. Imtiaz Karamat, Associate, Deeth Williams Wall LLP

M. Imtiaz Karamat is an associate lawyer with Deeth Williams Wall’s Technology and Privacy Group, where he assists both startups and established businesses with commercial transactions and maintaining compliance with privacy laws. Imtiaz’s multifaceted practice covers a range of technology and privacy matters, including advising clients on technology contracting, IP commercialization, privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity.

Imtiaz is passionate about emerging technologies and is always applying creative solutions to support clients with meeting their goals. Prior to entering the practice of law, Imtiaz completed extensive graduate research work in the medical sciences, which uniquely positions Imtiaz to advise clients in technology matters that intersect with the health sector.

Imtiaz regularly contributes to education initiatives in technology and privacy law, including organizing and presenting at local, provincial, and national legal programs.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

There are no refunds.

Stablecoins 101: Hype, Hope or the Future of Payments? (8 Jul 2026)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Stablecoins 101: Hype, Hope or the Future of Payments?

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Hybrid Event with in person & virtual options. See details below.

IN PERSON: 12 to 1:30 p.m. EDT

Location: Gowling WLG, 100 King St W Suite 1600, Toronto, ON M5K 2A1

12 to 12:30 p.m.: Lunch and Networking
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: Webinar

VIRTUAL: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. EDT on Zoom

Featuring:

Adam Garetson, Partner/Leader, Blockchain & Digital Assets Group

Adam is a partner in Gowling WLG's Toronto office and the leader of the firm's Blockchain & Digital Assets Group. Pairing sophisticated experience in both Canada's finance and tech sectors, Adam helps both public and private businesses navigate the complex legal and commercial terrain surrounding blockchain technology and digital assets.

In respect of this evolving space, clients routinely look to Adam to advise on a range of strategic corporate and financing transactions, both domestic and cross-border, and help them comply fully with their regulatory obligations. Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Adam served as general counsel, chief legal officer and corporate secretary for a leading Canadian digital asset market infrastructure company, cryptocurrency marketplace and "decentralized finance" platform. He has also acted as president, director and "ultimate designate person" (UDP) of a Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) registered "crypto-asset trading platform" (CTP) restricted dealer.

In these roles, Adam was instrumental in securing Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) listing, raising capital, effecting mergers and acquisitions, and overseeing corporate governance, internal reorganizations, marketing, continuous disclosure and regulatory compliance. Adam also previously served as director and senior counsel at one of Canada's top global financial institutions for over five years, providing legal guidance and spearheading numerous initiatives related to blockchain and smart contract matters within its Capital Markets division.

Adam has additionally spent over five years at another large national law firm in Toronto, providing corporate and securities law advice to underwriters, broker-dealers, banks, financial institutions and public and private companies on a range of matters. These include public offerings, IPOs, private placements, qualifying transactions, bought deal financings, secondary offerings and share and asset purchase transactions.

A sought-after thought leader, Adam frequently engages directly with regulators and elected representatives at all levels on matters related to blockchain technology and digital assets, including with the Canadian Department of Finance, Members of Federal Parliament, the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC), the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO, formerly IIROC). In 2022, he served as an expert witness to the Federal Government House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry and Technology (INDU) in connection with its study on blockchain technology.

Adam is also a recognized media commentator on crypto-related issues, having been featured in The Globe and Mail, BNN Bloomberg, CTV, and the Financial Post, among other leading outlets. Beyond these activities, he regularly speaks publicly on topics related to blockchain and digital assets, and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Ontario (Faculty of Law), teaching a course entitled “Digital Assets and Blockchain: Law and Policy.” These varied experiences have established Adam as a leader for clients navigating significant legal and regulatory hurdles and implementing important strategic decisions required for success in the blockchain and digital asset space.

Fees:

IN PERSON:

$15: CAN-TECH Law Members (plus tax)
$25: Non-members (plus tax)

VIRTUAL:

Free: CAN-TECH Law Members
$15: Non-members (plus tax)

Sponsored by:

2026 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference: Prompting Tomorrow: Shaping Next-Gen Law from Innovation to Implementation in the AI Era (15 Oct 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMT

The 2026 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference: Prompting Tomorrow: Shaping Next-Gen Law from Innovation to Implementation in the AI Era will run from October 15 to 16, with in-person and virtual options. Please note all times are Eastern.

This conference will provide an opportunity to learn about the most recent and significant developments in Canadian and international technology law, to benefit from an analysis of such developments as provided by leading practitioners and government officials, and to network with leading practitioners.

The conference will be hosted at the Fairmont Château Laurier, 1 Rideau Street, K1N 8S7, OTTAWA, Canada, a historic castle of unmatched splendor in the heart of Canada's capital. Located in the downtown core, poised between ByWard Market and the Rideau Canal locks, Fairmont Château Laurier is Ottawa's grand icon: a soaring historic château playing host to political leaders, film stars, and royalty for over a century.

Conference registrants can take advantage of preferred pricing for your stay. Details are included in the registration confirmation. There are limited rooms available.

CPD Pending.

Conference Co-Chairs:

Julia Johnson, Senior Director, Legal and Privacy, Assent

Julia leads the Assent's global legal and privacy team, a technology company focused on supply chain compliance solutions. She brings extensive experience advising high-growth technology companies on privacy, AI, and complex commercial matters.

Prior to Assent, Julia was Director of Legal and Privacy at Ada, an AI customer service company, where she played a key role in the company’s shift to generative AI after joining full-time in 2022. She first advised Ada as outside counsel in 2017 and guided the company through major enterprise deals and global compliance initiatives.

Earlier in her career, Julia practiced at McCarthy Tétrault and LaBarge Weinstein, advising scaling technology companies on IP, data protection, financings, and M&A. A certified privacy professional (CIPP/C) and trademark agent, she brings deep expertise at the intersection of AI, law, and innovation.

Jennifer Davidson, Partner and Co-Chair, Technology and Privacy Law, Deeth Williams Wall

Jennifer advises clients on all aspects of the digital risk management lifecycle, including incident preparedness, risk assessment, response, ransomware negotiations, emergency management, and regulatory compliance. Jennifer acts as breach counsel for clients in both the public and private sectors, managing security incidents on local, national, and international levels. Her technology practice encompasses a wide range of technology-related transactional matters, including procurement, data protection, S/I/PaaS solutions, IP protection and commercialization, particularly with respect to emerging technologies and machine learning algorithms.

Jennifer is the Chair of the Data Protection Committee at the International Technology Law Association (ITECHLAW), Past President of the Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH), Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s IP&IT Law Section, and faculty at Osgoode Hall Law School’s Drafting and Negotiation IT Agreements certificate program. She was recently recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as Repeatedly Recommended as a Leading Lawyer for Data Privacy & Cybersecurity / Technology Transactions / Information Technology, Best Lawyers Canada: Ones to Watch in the practice areas of Technology Law, Privacy & Data Security Law, Information Technology Law and Intellectual Property Law.

Jennifer is a frequent speaker and writer on technology, cybersecurity, privacy and intellectual property law as well as matters pertaining to equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal sector.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING

CONFERENCE PRICING:

CAN-TECH Law IN-PERSON or VIRTUAL CONFERENCE OPTIONS:

Early Bird ends September 21, 2026.

*Pricing below does not include applicable taxes.

Early Bird Member Conference only:

CAN-TECH Law Member : $1,495 ($1,695 after 21 September)
CAN-TECH Law Member (In-house/Gov) : $775 ($975 after 21 September)
Student : $300

Early Bird Member Conference and 2027 membership renewal:

CAN-TECH Law Member (Under 5 Years) : $1,645 ($1,845 after 21 September)
CAN-TECH Law Member (Over 5 Years) : $1,770 ($1,970 after 21 September)
CAN-TECH Law Member (In-House/Gov) : $950 ($1,150 after 21 September)
Student Bundle : $330

Early Bird Non-member Conference only:

Non-member : $1,695 ($1,895 after 21 September)
Non-member (In-house/Gov) : $975 ($1,275 after 21 September)
Student : $300

Early Bird Non-member Conference and 2026/2027 membership:

Non-Member Bundle (Under 5 Years) : $1,645 ($1,845 after 21 September)
Non-Member Bundle (Over 5 Years) : $1,795 ($1,995 after 21 September)
Non-member Bundle (In-house/Gov) : $1,075 ($1,175 after 21 September)
Student Bundle : $330

Please note:

Access to the conference recordings (to be made available a few weeks after the conference) will automatically be provided at no extra cost to all in-person and virtual registrants.

2026 CAN-TECH LAW FALL CONFERENCE DINNER

Join us for a networking dinner event. This dinner is not just about the delightful three-course meal or a complimentary drink tickets; it's an opportunity to network with peers, engage in insightful discussions, relax in a refined space after a day filled with learning and interaction. We will also celebrate the winners of the CAN-TECH Award of Distinction and Rising Star in Tech Law Award.

Date & Time: October 15, 2026, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Location: The Albion Rooms: Heritage Room - 33 Nicholas St, Ottawa, ON K1N 9M7

Price: $150 plus HST

Includes:

Three-course dinner
Two drink tickets
Networking and socializing with colleagues

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION AVAILABLE HERE.

Interested in sponsoring the 2026 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference? See the above link for details on sponsorship opportunities, or email contact@cantechlaw.ca for more details.

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE ACCESS INFORMATION:

Details on how to access will be emailed to all registrants well in advance of the proceedings. The details will be emailed to the address entered when registering for the conference. Be sure to check your spam folder! If you are not able to locate the access information by 9 a.m., October 14, please email contact@cantechlaw.ca. It is the responsibility of the registrant to make sure they have the access information.
It is up to each registrant to ensure they have a strong internet connection prior to the event. Please be sure to test your connection well in advance.

Terms and Conditions

The Canadian Technology Law Association (“CAN-TECH Law”) will share the names and business contact information of registrants of the CAN-TECH Annual Conference (“Registrant Information”) with the following parties:

(1) other registrants for the purposes of professional networking and business opportunities; and

(2) sponsors for the purpose of providing you with marketing materials.

In providing your Registrant Information to us, you acknowledge and agree to share your Registration Information with these parties and understand that they may contact you for the above-referenced purposes. CAN-TECH Law will not sell or share your Registrant Information without your permission in accordance with our Privacy Policy. If you do not wish to have your Registrant Information shared, please email contact@cantectlaw.ca.

The CAN-TECH Annual Conference will be video recorded and may be shared with audiences live or post event. In attending the CAN-TECH Annual Conference, you acknowledge and agree that you may be recorded. All recordings may be used by CAN-TECH Law for marketing purposes and sales of archived recordings.

2026 CAN-TECH Law Annual Networking Dinner (15 Oct 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

2026 CAN-TECH Law Annual Networking Dinner

Join us for a networking dinner event, where we will award the winners of The CAN-TECH Award of Distinction and The CAN-TECH Rising Star in Tech Law Award.

This dinner is not just about the delightful three-course meal or a complimentary drink ticket; it's an opportunity to network with peers, engage in insightful discussions, relax in a refined space after a day filled with learning and interaction.

October 15, 2026, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

The Albion Rooms: Heritage Room - 33 Nicholas St, Ottawa, ON, K1N 9M7

Price: $150 plus HST

Includes:

Three-course dinner
Two drinks
Networking and socializing with colleagues

To book a table or group rates, or for further details, please contact us at contact@cantechlaw.ca.