Canada: Regulatory Communications
The Canadian communications sector has undergone significant changes in the past few years, with the transition to digital TV, which occurred on 31 August 2011 and vertical integration of broadcasters and programmers. Our sources indicate that the next 12 months will consist of consolidation work, teasing out problems with new regulations and rules. To date the rules on foreign investment are still being debated. The 16 lawyers selected in this chapter are highlighted for their unparalleled abilities in this space.
McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s “first-rate” communications team is the largest in Canada and fields the most nominees in this chapter. “Definite inclusion” Hank Intven heads the firm’s telecommunications practice and advises businesses, governments and regulators in the telecoms and broadcasting industries. Grant Buchanan is “highly recommended” by his peers for his expertise on broadcast and telecom regulation and copyright board work. He previously worked for Western International Communications for 12 years where he was vice-president of corporate and regulatory affairs. Lorne Salzman has represented clients in telecommunications proceedings before the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and Industry Canada and is “well known” for his expertise in foreign investment screening and telecoms regulation. Peter Grant is a former chair of the telecommunications group in Toronto. Noted as a “dean of the bar” by interviewees, he specialises in broadcasting and cable television licensing, copyright negotiations and telecoms regulation.
Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP earns three lawyer inclusions in this chapter. David Kidd focuses on broadcasting and telecoms. He is praised for his expertise in advising on foreign ownership restrictions in the telecoms sector as well as his work in regulatory issues. Co-head of the firm’s IT group Sunny Handa specialises in telecoms and broadcasting alongside his “first-rate” practice in mergers and acquisitions of technology companies. In Ottawa, Gary Jessop has extensive experience in CRTC work in telecoms matters.
Three lawyers from Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP are selected in this chapter. Laurence Dunbar is a “great practitioner” with extensive experience in the communications sector. He counsels domestic and foreign governments on competition and regulatory issues and companies on cross-border telecom issues including foreign ownership restrictions. Stephen Whitehead frequently advises on regulatory and commercial issues relating to telecoms and broadcasting companies and his work in the field of satellite communications is “top-class”. Robert Buchan is “second to none” when it comes to broadcasting expertise and he has appeared numerous times in major broadcasting policy hearings before the CRTC.
“Top-tier” practitioner Michael Koch at Goodmans LLP advises numerous high-profile TMT companies and regularly represents clients before the CRTC. Since serving as counsel to the CRTC in 1994 Koch has been a part of each of the major proceedings that have established the competitive framework for the telecommunications industry. Alongside him, Monique McAlister is “held in high regard” for her regulatory knowledge with expertise in broadcasting, new media and telecoms.
At Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP in Ottawa, Kirsten Embree is head of the communications practice group and has worked in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries for over 20 years. She advises clients on regulatory matters and represents them before the CRTC.
Lorne Abugov heads up his own boutique in Ottawa after recently retiring from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. His experience is “vast”, having practised communication law for over 25 years. Head of Stikeman Elliott LLP’s communications group Gregory Kane QC earns praise for his domestic and international electronic and telecommunications work.
One of the most “respected” individuals in the research, Lori Assheton-Smith, a sole practitioner, has a “stellar reputation” in the industry and regularly appears as counsel before the CRTC.