About
Bar admissionsBritish Columbia, 2006

EXPERIENCE

  • Acted for global children’s entertainment brand in development and implementation of generative artificial intelligence policies.
  • Acted for global games developer in investigation and takedown of hacking tools developer.
  • Acted for major platform in roll-out of global digital wallet for ecommerce store, as well as international global regulatory efforts including payments processing and online harms.‎
  • Acted for Sockmonkey Studios and its shareholders on its sale to Behaviour Interactive.‎
  • Acted for multiple major foreign games publishers in worldwide rollout of games, live services ‎and in-game purchases‎
  • Acted for major sports and entertainment franchise in the launch of a non-fungible token ‎platform.‎
  • Acted for B2B SaaS providers and procurers in major platform in-licenses and out-licenses ‎involving large ‎enterprise and ‎government.‎
  • Acted for financial institution in title sponsorship of Overwatch League esports team.‎
  • Acted for New World Interactive in the establishment of their Canadian studios and in NWI’s sale ‎to ‎Embracer Group AB.‎
  • Acted for major social media platforms, streaming services, online consumer service providers, ‎and ‎video game platforms regarding ‎entry into the Canadian market and compliance with ‎Canadian laws.‎
  • Acted for Brace Yourself Games in the licensing and development of “Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt ‎of the ‎NecroDancer Featuring the ‎Legend of Zelda” (2019).‎
  • Acted for NuData Security Inc., a cyber-fraud detection and behavior analysis software platform, ‎from its ‎inception and ‎founding in 2007 through its sale to Mastercard Incorporated.‎
  • Represented Bit Stew Systems Inc. from its inception through multiple financings culminating in ‎its sale ‎to a subsidiary of ‎General Electric Co. in a cash transaction valued at US$153 million.‎
  • Lead counsel for Plentyoffish Media Inc. ("POF") and its founder Markus Frind in POF's ‎acquisition by ‎The Match Group for ‎US$575 million in cash; Canadian outside counsel for POF and The ‎Match Group since.‎
  • Assisted Canadian fund-backed company in the licensing of table-top and video games properties for development and publishing of new games.
  • Ongoing acting for many internet, media, technology and video game companies on all ‎corporate and ‎commercial ‎matters including founding and formation, employment, leasing, ‎confidentiality and IP ‎protection, licensing, investment ‎and M&A.‎

Awards

The Legal 500 Canada

  • AI, (2025)
  • Technology, (2022 – 2024)
  • Corporate, (2022 – 2023)
Additional Recognitions
  • Lawyers of the Year, Information Technology Law‎, Best Lawyers in Canada, (2026)
  • Recognized, Calgary Information Technology Law‎, Best Lawyers in Canada, (2020 – 2026)
  • Recognized, Calgary FinTech, Best Lawyers in Canada, (2022 –2026)
  • Recognized, Calgary Privacy and Data Security Law, Best Lawyers in Canada, (2021 – 2026)
  • Team Finalist, PocketGamer.Biz Best Business Support Services, Mobile Games Awards, (2024)
  • Listed, Computer and IT Law, Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, (2020 – 2025)
  • Listed, Corporate Mid-Market, Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, (2022 – 2025)
  • Listed, Technology Transactions, Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, (2020 – 2025)
  • Listed in Lexpert Special Edition: Technology, (2023 – 2025)
  • Listed as Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyer (formerly Acritas Star Lawyer), (2019 – 2021, 2024)
  • Lexpert’s Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers under 40, (2017)
Education
  • LL.B.,  University of Alberta, 2004‎
  • B.Comm. (with distinction), ‎University of Alberta, 2000‎

Publications

  • Global Co-Lead, Video Game Laws of the World, DLA Piper
  • "Detoxifying the Anonymous Internet One Troll at a Time: Norwich Orders", [republished by Internet and E-Commerce Law in Canada, vol. 23, no. 6, October 2022]
  • Shocking U.S. "Loot Box" Bill Should Surprise No One: The Video Game Industry Under Attack, May 2019
  • Financial Institutions: OSFI's Heightened Cyber Security Incident Reporting Obligations Now In Effect, April 2019
  • VFX Animators Awarded Overtime Pay: Decision Sets High BC Bar for "High-Tech Professional", April 2019
  • What Can and Should the Law Do About 'Deepfake': An Update, December 2018
  • A $250,000 Reminder that "CASL" is Not Just an Anti-Spam Law, July 2018
  • What Can The Law Do About ‘Deepfake'? March 2018
  • Practicing Safe Text: Drafting Tips from the Stormy Daniels NDA, March 2018
  • Seller Beware: The Dangers of Sales Language, January 2018
  • Internet Law Essentials: Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL), 2017 Edition, Specialty Technical Publishers, July 2017
  • Taking CASL by Storm: Compliance Tips for Investment Fund Managers, June 2017
  • CASL Private Right of Action Delayed; Enforcement by CRTC Continues, June 2017
  • Enforcement Advisory: Keeping Records of Consent under CASL, August 2016
  • Will Virtual Meetings Become a Reality in Canada? June 2016
  • Privacy Alert: Proliferation of Access Requests as New Tools Automate Request Generation and Distribution, June 2016
  • Video Games as Canadian Culture: Navigating the Investment Canada Act in Interactive Entertainment Acquisitions, May 2016
  • CRTC Imposes $1.1 Million Penalty for Alleged CASL Violation, March 2015
  • Internet Intermediaries and Copyright Owners Take Notice: Canada's Notice-and-Notice Regime Comes into Force, January 2015
  • Green Eggs And Spam: The Surprising Side Dish to Canada's Anti-Spam Law that May Catch Software Businesses Off Guard, December 2014
  • The Internet Never Forgets: Google Inc.'s "right to be forgotten" EU ruling and its implications in Canada, August 2014
  • Internet Law Essentials: Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL), Specialty Technical Publishers, May 2014
  • Canada's Anti-Spam Law: Are You Ready? May 2014

Seminars

  • Speaker, “On the ground with Generative AI - how is Generative AI transforming the legal landscape + the wider business ecosystem”, Vancouver Legal Innovation Forum 2024, 20 November 2024
  • Panelist, “Emerging Issues at the Intersection of Film, TV and Videogames”, VGBA Annual Northwest Summit, 14 November 2024
  • Moderator, “IP Deep Dive: General Consumer Expectations panel”, VGBA Annual Northwest Summit, 14 November 2024
  • Presenter, “Mastering the Game - Commercial Video Game Agreements”, MBL Webinars, October 2024
  • Attendee, MIPCOM Cannes 2024, 21 October 2024
  • Presenter, “Privacy & AI, where are we now?”, 2024 Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity Canadian Symposium, DLA Piper, 10 October 2024 
  • Presenter, “GenAI-era paradigm shift in commercial IP use”, AI Law & Ethics: Current Events, hosted by Toby Tobkin and PermafrostAI, Association of Certified Forensic Investigators of Canada Fraud Conference, 10 September 2024
  • Panelist, “Negotiating a Video Game Publishing Deal”, Shanghai 2024 Video Game Law Summit, 26 July 2024
  • Presenter, “How To AI Professionally, Sensibly and Responsibly: Yes, Even You”, Alberta Justice (Legal Services Division) Lawyers’ Conference, 18 June 2024
  • Speaker, “Sensibly Approaching AI in Games”, XP Gaming Summit (Toronto), 14 June 2024
  • Speaker, “International Update”, Video Game Bar Association Summit (Los Angeles), 5 June 2024
  • Speaker, “Surprise, You’re A Social Media Company!”, Video Game Bar Association Summit (Los Angeles), 4 June 2024
  • Speaker, “Games Legal Developments”, VGBA Networking Reception (Los Angeles), 3 June 2024
  • Panelist, “Deceptively Obvious 2.0: When Contractual Drafting Goes Wrong”, Games Industry Law Summit On Tour (Limassol), 19 April 2024
  • Panelist, “ARTEFICIAL: AI-ART-Copyright debate, & Ethical/Legal implications of using AI in Gamedev”, 23 March 2024
  • Roundtables Moderator, “Ask Games Lawyers Anything: This Normally Costs Money”, Game Developers Conference 2024 (San Francisco), 21-23 March 2024
  • Speaker, “The Hidden Side of AI: What Public Sector Lawyers Need to Know”, Canadian Bar Association Public Sector Lawyers Section, 28 February 2024
  • Speaker, “Generative AI: Legal and Business Considerations”, Canadian Bar Association BC Legal Conference Privacy Law 2024, 26 January 2024 
  • Moderator, “Negotiating Commercial Contracts”, Tokyo Video Game Law Conference, November ‎‎2023‎
  • Speaker, “Bringing Japanese Business to Canada”, DLA Piper Tokyo, November 2023
  • Speaker, “Introduction to Japanese Law: The Japan-Canada Perpective”, DLA Piper Tokyo, November 2023
  • Speaker, “Generative AI for Senior Counsel: What Every Lawyer in BC Needs to Know”, Canadian ‎Bar Association BC Branch, October 2023‎
  • Speaker, “Using AI as a Tool for Lawyers”, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, UBC Allard ‎Law School, October 2023‎
  • Moderator, “AI in Games”, Video Game Bar Association Summit Northwest, October 2023‎
  • Roundtable Consultant, “Canadian Guardrails for Generative AI – Code of Practice”, Innovation, ‎Science and Economic Development Canada, September 2023‎
  • Presenter, “Loot Box Laws of the World”, Video Game Bar Association Summit, May 2023‎
  • 2023 Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity Symposium, 18 May 2023
  • Moderator, “Negotiating Commercial Contracts”, Tokyo Video Game Law Conference, November ‎‎2023‎
  • Speaker, “Generative AI for Senior Counsel: What Every Lawyer in BC Needs to Know”, Canadian ‎Bar Association BC Branch, October 2023‎
  • Speaker, “Using AI as a Tool for Lawyers”, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, UBC Allard ‎Law School, October 2023‎
  • Moderator, “AI in Games”, Video Game Bar Association Summit Northwest, October 2023‎
  • Roundtable Consultant, “Canadian Guardrails for Generative AI – Code of Practice”, Innovation, ‎Science and Economic Development Canada, September 2023‎
  • Presenter, “Loot Box Laws of the World”, Video Game Bar Association Summit, May 2023‎
  • Moderator, “Generative AI in Games”, More than Just A Game (London), April, 2023‎
  • Presenter, “Deceptively Obvious (Contracts), Games Industry Law Summit - On Tour I, April 2023‎
  • Moderator, “Building Better Digital Ethics and Laws: Meatspace meets Metaverse”, GDC, March ‎‎2023‎
  • Moderator, “The Current And Future Ethical Challenges In Games: XR and the Metaverse”, GDC, ‎March ‎‎2023‎
  • Conference Organizer, “#Techlaw2022”, CLE Society of BC, October-November 2022‎
  • Moderator, “Square Peg, Four-Dimensional Hole: Applying Existing Regulatory Frameworks to ‎the ‎Metaverse”, DLA Piper Media, Sports, and Entertainment Summit, September 2022‎
  • Presenter, “Content Law”, Pocket Gamer Connects (Helsinki), September 2022‎
  • Presenter, “Making Legal Sense of the International Business of Games”, DLA Piper Helsinki, ‎September  ‎‎2022‎
  • Presenter, “M&A in the Games Industry”, Pocket Gamer Connects (Toronto), July, 2022‎
  • Presenter, “Preparing For an Exit - An Essential Guide”, Pocket Gamer Connects (Toronto), July, ‎‎2022‎
  • Moderator, “M&A and Investment in Games Industry”, Video Game Bar Association Summit, May ‎‎2022‎
  • Presenter, “Finding Your Groove in the Legal Profession”, CLE Society of BC, March, 2022‎
  • Presenter, “Level Up Your Game: A Discussion of Copyright and other IP issues in interactive ‎Entertainment”, Toronto Intellectual Property ‎Group (TIPG), April 29, 2021‎
  • Panelist, “International Roundup of Copyright Issues in Video Games” Copyright Society Midwinter ‎Meeting, February 25, 2021‎
  • Panelist, “Things That Go Bump In the Chat Logs”, Roundtable Discussion, Video Game Bar ‎Association, October 28, 2020‎
  • Speaker, "Ask Game Lawyers Anything: This Normally Costs Money!" PAX Online, September 19, 2020
  • Moderator, “Consumer Protection and Regulation”, Roundtable Discussion, Video Game Bar Association, August 26, 2020
  • Clinic Adjunct Interview, Business Law Clinic History Project, Peter A. Allard School of Law, The University of British Columbia, July 23, 2020 
  • Guest Lecturer, The Business of the Practice of Law, Peter A Allard School of Law, Dr. Carol Liao “Business Organizations”, November 2019
  • Co-Organizer,1-day Video Game Law 101: Freemium Edition Conference, DigiBC (Vancouver), October 2019
  • Moderator, Ask Game Lawyers Anything: This Normally Costs Money, PAX DEV and PAX West (Seattle), August 2019
  • Co-Panelist, So, About That Loot Box Bill… PAX DEV (Seattle), August 2019
  • Panelist, E-sports Bar Association Conference (LA) International Law Panel, June 2019
  • Panelist, Video Game Bar Association Conference (LA) International Digital Media Business Incentives and Foreign Investment, May 2019
  • Panelist, 5th Games Law Summit (Vilnius) Canada Video Game Legal Topics, April 2019
  • #Techlaw2019 Legal Topics For Business Lawyers, Chair of 5-part TV series for Continuing Legal Education Society of BC (Vancouver), February 2019
  • Panelist, Legal Innovation Forum (Vancouver) Talent, Education and Purpose, November 2018
  • Organizer, 2-day Video Game Bar Association Summit North (Vancouver), October 2018
  • Speaker, Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (Vancouver) AI, IP and Ethics, October 2018
  • Expert Witness for Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics (Ottawa), Deepfakes and Election Interference, October 2018
  • Moderator, Ask Game Lawyers Anything: This Normally Costs Money, PAX DEV (Seattle), August 2018
  • Co-Panelist , "I Agree", the Internet's Biggest Lie: T&C/Privacy post-GDPR, PAX WEST (Seattle), August 2018
  • Co-Panelist, PAX WEST (Seattle) Loot Crates & Tokens; aka "Games, Stop Acting like Casinos", August 2018
  • Getting It Right the First Time: Ensuring Enforceable Contracts from the Start, Presenter, Employment Law Seminar 2016, Vancouver, BC, November 17, 2016
  • Speaker, Lessons Every Startup needs to Know: Tales from the Trenches, Moderator, Vancouver Startup Week, Vancouver, BC, September 28, 2016
  • Speaker, Make the Most of your Advisors (and Save Money Doing It!), Vancouver Startup Week, Vancouver, BC, September 28, 2016
  • Co-Presenter, Under Attack – Online Threats to Reputation, Prosperity and Peace of Mind, Canadian Bar Association BC Branch Freedom of Information & Privacy Law Section annual conference, Vancouver, BC, June 2, 2016
  • Panelist, Cyber Security Readiness: Detecting, Responding and Avoiding Threats, Portfolio Management Association of Canada's Vancouver Compliance Forum, Vancouver, BC, May 18, 2016
  • Co-Panelist, Gaming, Gambling or Addiction? F2P Scientific and Legal Perspectives, Game Developers' Conference, San Francisco, CA, March 14, 2016
  • Co-Panelist, The Science of Video Game Addiction, PAX West, Seattle, WA, August 29, 2015
  • Co-Panelist, Protect Yourself! FAQ about DMCA and Other Takedown Systems, PAX Dev, Seattle, WA, August 27, 2015
  • Presenter, CASL Update, Canadian Bar Association BC Branch Freedom of Information & Privacy Law Section annual conference, Vancouver, BC, May 8, 2015
  • Co-Panelist, "Cyberbullying" - A Catch Phrase or a Real Problem, PAX Prime, Seattle, WA, September 1, 2014
  • Co-Panelist, The Indie Legal Roundtable, PAX Dev, Seattle, WA, August 28, 2014
  • Canada's New Anti-Spam Law - what it really means, how it affects you, and why every business in Canada should care, Vancouver, BC, June 10, 2014
  • Moderator, Shooters and Shooters: Exploring the Connection between Video Games and Mass Shootings, PAX Prime, Seattle, WA, September 2, 2013
  • Lead Panelist, Gaming or Gambling: Scientific and Legal Perspectives, PAX Prime, Seattle, WA, August 31, 2013
  • Co-Panelist, The Indie Developer's Legal FAQ, PAX Dev, Seattle, WA, August 29, 2013
  • Co-Panelist, Gaming or Gambling: Scientific and Legal Perspectives, PAX Dev, Seattle, WA, August 27, 2013

Media Mentions

  • "AI 'hallucinations' used by lawyer in B.C. court a wake-up call, say experts," The Canadian Press, February 29, 2024
  • "Generative A.I. in the justice system," CBC, The Early Edition, January 11, 2024
  • "B.C. taking steps to protect people from having intimate images shared online without consent," CTV Vancouver, May 4, 2023
  • "The Internet Is Ruined. The Metaverse Can Still Be Saved," WIRED, April 21, 2023
  • "Prada’s VR experience brings Milan to your couch, but there are risks to be managed," World Trademark Review, June 11, 2020
  • "Epic suing a former Keywords employee for leaking Fortnite Chapter 2 secrets", GameDaily.biz, November 13, 2019
  • "Small businesses caught in legal missing middle", Business in Vancouver, November 7, 2019
  • "Microsoft confirms that human contractors have listened to Xbox players' audio", GameDaily.biz, August 22, 2019
  • "E3 data breach that exposed 2,000 journalists' private data puts ESA in legal crosshairs", GameDaily.biz, August 3, 2019
  • "Deepfakes: preparing for the trademark infringement of the future", World Trademark Review, July 23, 2019
  • "Taking Care of Business? Experts Call New BC Law a Gift to Corporations", The Tyee, June 4, 2019
  • "ESA: loot box proposal 'flawed and riddled with inaccuracies,' bill gains bipartisan support", GameDaily.biz, May 28, 2019
  • "North Van entrepreneur's struggle with Kardashian empire a cautionary tale", CTV Vancouver, May 7, 2019
  • "Deepfakes and Brand Sabotage" by David Pring-Mill, Data, Strategy, Technology, December 3, 2018
  • "Psychologist calls for F2P game designers to be more aware of addiction dangers" by Colin Campbell, Polygon, March 14, 2016
  • "Why Canada's anti-spam laws may be keeping Canadians off Jeopardy!" by Robin Levison King, The Star, February 19, 2016
  • "Canadian anti-spam legislation off to slow start, but seeing results" by Steve Mertl, Yahoo! News Canada - Daily Brew, March 31, 2015
  • "What do you think about Canada's new anti-spam legislation" Cross Country Checkup on CBC Radio, July 6, 2013
  • "What does the law apply to?" CTV News, June 30, 2014
  • "Stringent anti-spam legislation comes to Canada on July 1st" The Simi Sara Show, CKNW Radio, June 26, 2014
  • "New anti-spam laws affect virtually every business in Canada" by Nelson Bennett, The Vancouver Courier, June 23, 2014
  • "The Ifs, Ands and Buts of New Anti-Spam Legislation" by Nelson Bennett, Business in Vancouver, June 17, 2014
  • "Anti-spam rules to weigh on all commercial email", AGCanada.com, June 16, 2014
  • "How New Anti-Spam Laws will Affect your Business" by Nelson Bennett, Real Estate Weekly, June 13, 2014
  • "Spam law to affect virtually every business in Canada" by Nelson Bennett, Business in Vancouver, June 10, 2014
  • AM 650's The Law Show with Stirling Faux, Radio broadcast regarding "Being a Lawyer", June 8, 2014
  • "Specialty Technical Publishers Announces Publication of Canadian Anti-Spam Law (CASL) Guide", PR Web, May 20, 2014
  • AM 650's The Law Show with Stirling Faux, Radio broadcast regarding "Canada's Anti-Spam Law", May 11, 2014
  • AM 650's The Law Show with Stirling Faux, Radio broadcast regarding "Intellectual Property Law", October 27, 2013

Teaching and Community Involvement

  • Guest Speaker, “What I Think Every Lawyer Needs to Know about AI”, Current Issues in Social Media and Copyright Law, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, 9 February 2024
  • Clinic Adjunct, Business Law Clinic, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia, August 2019 to 2023
  • Pro Bono Legal Advisor, Business Law Clinic at the Allard School of Law (UBC) (2019-2023)‎
  • Founding Donor, Peter A Allard School of Law Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award
  • Director, Board of Directors, Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society‎
  • Director, Claren Academy Society
  • Business and Technology for Lawyers (5-part series featuring Technology Issues in Contracts, High Technology Employment, Cybersecurity & Privacy and The Future of Tech Law for Lawyers), Chair, CLE BC, Feb-May 2019
  • CLE-TV: Anti Spam Update: Prepare for End of CASL Transition (online) CLE BC, June 2017
  • Regular lecturer at UBC Business Law Clinic speaking to intellectual property, technology and dealing with start-up companies, 2016, 2015
  • Business and Technology for Lawyers (5-part series featuring Anti-Spam Law Update, Technology Issues in Contracts, Social Media & Privacy, Copyright Act Update, and IT Best Practices for Lawyers), Chair, CLE BC, 2015
  • CLE-TV: The New Anti-Spam Law: It's Broader Than You Think, Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, April 2014
  • Privacy Update 2013: Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation, Speaker, CLE BC, May 2013
  • Legal Strategies in Business Acquisitions 2011: Intellectual Property Matters, Panelist/Speaker, CLE BC, February 2011
  • U.S. Legal Issues in Technology Companies, Speaker, Acetech Symposium, June 2009
  • An Introduction to Intellectual Property, Speaker, Early Career Masters Course, Sauder School of Business (UBC), 2009

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Director, Video Game Bar Association
  • Director, Board of Directors, Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society (responsible for the annual Honda Celebration of Light)
  • Class 1 Trademark Agent, Canadian College of Patent Agents and Trademark Agents
  • Member, DLA Piper (Canada) LLP National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee‎

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