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CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS
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 is a Partner and Co-Chair of Deeth Williams Wall’s Technology and Privacy Law Practice Group. 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. |
Julia Johnson is Senior Director, Legal and Privacy at Assent, a technology company focused on supply chain compliance solutions, where she leads the company’s global legal and privacy team. She brings extensive experience advising high-growth technology companies on privacy, AI, and complex commercial matters.Thank you to our platinum sponsor
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CONFERENCE HOST VENUE
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| The conference will be hosted at the Fairmont Château Laurier, 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. 1 Rideau Street K1N8S7 OTTAWA Canada Conference registrants can take advantage of preferred pricing for your stay. Details are included in the registration confirmation. There are limited rooms available. |
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.
This program contains 2 hours and 0 minutes of Professionalism Content
This program contains 1 hour and 0 minutes of EDI Professionalism Content
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
DAY ONE (October 15) |
8:00 to 9:00 a.m. REGISTRATION 9:00 to 9:55 a.m. OPENING REMARKS AND KEYNOTE (TBA) |
10:00 to 11:15 a.m.
Regulating the Algorithm: Child Safety, Addictive Design, and Platform Responsibility
Featuring:
- Peter Ruby, Goodmans LLP
- Kalvin Sie, Spin Master Ltd.
Philippe Dufresne, Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
Moderator: Basia Walczak, Airbnb
Governments around the world are scrutinizing digital platforms for addictive design practices and harms affecting minors. This session examines emerging litigation and regulatory trends related to child safety online, algorithmic design choices, platform accountability, and chatbot liability.
11:15 to 11:30 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK |
Deepfakes, data mining, and technology-facilitated gender violence are raising urgent questions about privacy, accountability, and online safety. As legal response frameworks continue to evolve, what role does cyberfeminism play in shaping a more inclusive digital future? This panel will explore the evolution of cyberfeminism in the 2026 landscape, tracing its origins, core principles, criticisms, and influence on conversations around technology, privacy, and gender. Speakers will also examine emerging legal and regulatory responses to online harms.3:00 to 3:30 p.m. NETWORKING BREAK
3:30 to 4:25 p.m.
Contracting in 2026: New Rules, Tools, and Risks
Featuring:
- Andrew Alleyne, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
- Gisele Salazar, LaBarge Weinstein LLP
Hélène Deschamps Marquis, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Moderator: Lisa Danay Wallace, WeirFoulds LLP
Contract negotiation is changing fast. New consumer protection, transparency, privacy, and platform accountability rules are reshaping commercial terms, while AI tools are changing how contracts are drafted, reviewed, and negotiated. This session will examine the key contracting trends for 2026, including how legal teams are responding to emerging regulatory international or cross-border obligations, how AI-assisted drafting is affecting negotiation strategy and risk allocation, and how contracts should address AI use by vendors, customers, and internal business teams. Panellists will discuss practical updates to representations, warranties, audit rights, data-use clauses, liability, indemnities, disclosure obligations, and governance provisions for an AI-enabled contracting environment.
4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Global Tech Law Update: What Canadian Lawyers Need to Know
Featuring:
- Julia Jacobson, Squire Patton Boggs
- Ramon Alberto dos Santos, OpenAI
Moderator: Lisa R. Lifshitz, Torkin Manes
Stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving global landscape. This session offers Canadian technology lawyers a practical, comparative overview of emerging tech laws and regulatory frameworks across key jurisdictions, including developments relating to the EU Data Act and evolving U.S. approaches, and broader trends in AI regulation, platform governance, and cybersecurity. Hear from international experts on how these changes are shaping compliance, risk, and opportunity—and what they mean in an increasingly complex and evolving regulatory landscape for your practice. Gain actionable insights to advise clients operating globally with confidence.
5:15 to 5:20 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS
5:30 to 6:30 p.m. COCKTAIL RECEPTION
7:00 to 10:00 p.m. DINNER (ticketed event)
DAY TWO (October 16) |
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9:25 to 9:30 a.m. OPENING REMARKS
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
TRACK 1: Top of the Headlines: Legal Perspectives on the Latest Hot-Button Issues
Featuring:
- Maya Medeiros, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
- Michael Geist, University of Ottawa
- David Reevely, The Logic
This session will examine the latest AI headlines and hot-button issues through a legal lens, with a focus on what lawyers need to understand as developments unfold in real time. Drawing on perspectives from leading experts, the panel will explore the legal and regulatory implications of the stories currently shaping public debate. The discussion will be designed to be timely and practical, helping attendees connect fast-moving news developments to concrete legal risks, client advice, and compliance considerations.
TRACK 2: Québec, AI and the New Compliance Playbook
Featuring:
- Nancy Cleman, Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon L.L.P.
- Cédrik Pierre-Gilles, Gowling WLG
- Laure Bonnave, Clyde & Co Canada LLP
Moderator: Claire Mazzini, Microsoft Canada
AI adoption is raising distinct legal and contracting challenges in Québec. This panel will explore how organizations can navigate Law 25, automated decision-making, privacy impact assessments, vendor accountability, and AI governance, while also managing Québec-specific contracting issues such as Bill 96 French-language requirements and civil law approaches to liability and risk allocation.
10:30 to 10:45 a.m. NETWORKING BREAK
10:45 to 11:45 a.m.
TRACK 1: The Agentic Legal Department
Featuring:
- Sahil Zaman, McCarthy Tetrault
- Phil Lamothe, GC AI
- Julia Johnson, Assent
Moderator:
- Dustin Paterson, Torys LLP
Agentic AI is moving legal teams from manual workflows to intelligent, automated operations. This panel will explore how in-house departments and law firms are using AI agents for contract review, matter intake, regulatory monitoring, knowledge management, litigation support, and client service delivery. Panellists will also tackle the hard questions: supervision, privilege, accountability, vendor selection, governance, and how lawyers can lead this transformation responsibly.
TRACK 2: Code, Models & Control: Open Source Governance in the AI Era
Featuring:
- James Gatto, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
- Simon Hodgett, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
- Patrick Masson, Apereo Foundation
Moderator: Thomas Prowse, Solace
Open source licensing remains foundational to software innovation, but AI models and training datasets are testing the boundaries of traditional frameworks. This session explores evolving open source models, including business source licensing, model distribution, and the legal implications of training and deploying AI systems built on open technologies.
11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. LUNCH
12:15 to 1:15 p.m. PLENARY (TBA)
1:15 to 2:10 ROUND TABLES (not available to virtual attendees)
This session will involve dynamic and engaging roundtable discussions. Pick the topic that interests you the most and join a table of your colleagues. A facilitator will get the conversation with a ice-breaker, then delve into the theme. The discussion that ensues will be lively, interactive and thought-provoking, giving attendees the chance to connect, share perspectives, make new friends and dive into the issues that matter most.
Roundtable Discussions will feature:
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2:15 to 3:15 p.m.
The Legal AI Demo Lab
See legal AI in action. This track will feature practical, hands-on showcases from leading technology providers, highlighting how AI is already being used to transform legal work—from drafting and research to workflow automation, knowledge management, and agentic tools. We’re pleased to feature live 30-minute demos from the following conference sponsors:
- Microsoft
- GC AI
3:15 to 3:45 p.m. NETWORKING BREAK
3:45 to 4:45 p.m.
AI on Trial: Red Teaming in a High-Stakes Game Show
Featuring:
- Frederique Horwood, Cohere
- Jey Kumarasamy, ZwillGen
- Jean-François Bilodeau, Microsoft
Red teaming has emerged as a core technique for identifying vulnerabilities and unintended behaviours in AI systems. This interactive session introduces the concept of adversarial testing, how organizations evaluate model safety and performance, and how legal and compliance teams can participate in responsible AI assurance.
4:45 to 5:00 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS
Thank you to our sponsors |
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