Ryan MacIsaac
Biography
Ryan is in-house counsel to Uber. Ryan's practice includes litigation before courts and tribunals, regulatory compliance, privacy matters, and policy work.
Sairam Sanathkumar
Biography
Sairam is a Technology and Corporate Commercial lawyer at Torys LLP. He has significant experience as a corporate counsel for Fortune 500 companies in the IT, healthcare and retail industries, having worked on their traditional and emerging technology-related matters. Sairam’s technology expertise includes general corporate matters, joint ventures, data privacy and data management, IT outsourcing, technology transfers, big data, inbound & outbound licensing, advertising platform agreements, e-commerce, non-linear delivery models involving SMAC (social, mobility, analytics and cloud), and emerging tech such as artificial intelligence and blockchain. Sairam writes and speaks regularly on technology and data privacy law in the media, and has published pieces in Canadian and foreign law journals such as The Lawyer’s Daily, Lexpert, LexisNexis, Bar & Bench, National Magazine of the CBA, and OBA Newsletter. Topics include artificial intelligence, tech regulations, privacy laws, cyber security, and blockchain/cryptocurrencies.
Rajen Akalu
Biography
Results-driven lawyer with 20+ years of experience in information privacy law and technology. Assists clients extract the value inherent in data, while managing the complex risks associated with data. Adept at drafting and reviewing contracts and internal policies in accordance with applicable regulations. A member of the Ontario Bar in good standing. Executive member of Privacy and Access Section of the OBA.
Yonida Koukio
Biography
Yonida is a Business and Intellectual Property Lawyer at Oziel Law, a boutique technology law firm in Toronto. She works closely with innovative start-ups at all stages of their business from their inception up to an M&A or go-public transaction. Yonida regularly represents foreign companies in establishing a presence in Canada to access the North American markets with work that includes setting up and structuring subsidiaries, IP transfer and brand protection, and corporate finance. She assists corporations throughout their lifecycle with strategy and drafting of various corporate, technology and IP, privacy, financing, and employment contracts. Her previous professional experience includes working at two full-service national law firms in roles relating to legal, knowledge management, innovation, and business development. She led projects pertaining to machine-learning contract analysis, and automation of due diligence review of corporate, private equity, and financial agreements. She also co-founded an award-winning SaaS startup that simplifies the outsourcing of legal tasks between lawyers. Prior to her legal career in Ontario, Yonida practiced law in Athens, Greece. She holds LLB and LLM degrees from Democritus University of Thrace, and more recently an LLM in Business and IP Law from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University.
Sandev S. Purewal
Biography
Sandev is a Partner at Lerners LLP practicing in the areas of Personal Injury, Insurance Litigation, Class Actions, and Privacy Law. He is a Certified Specialist in Civil Litigation (C.S.) with the Law Society of Ontario since 2017. Sandev was called to the Ontario Bar in 2001 and is an experienced lawyer in the areas of serious personal injury, disability and insurance law, while also having addressed a wide range of civil and commercial litigation matters. In 2018, he received a Lexpert Zenith Award for Mid-Career Excellence in the Legal Profession. In 2022, Sandev was awarded the FACL Ontario Lawyer of Distinction Award. He has appeared as counsel before the Superior Court of Justice, Ontario Court of Appeal, Financial Services Commission of Ontario, License Appeal Tribunal, and the Tax Court of Canada. Sandev obtained the Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation from The Directors College in 2023 after his studies at the DeGroote School of Business - McMaster University. Sandev is President-Elect of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) in 2023/2024 and will become OTLA President in 2024/2025. He has been a member of the OTLA Board of Directors since 2015. Sandev was Past-President (2010-2013) and Director (2007-2009) of the Brain Injury Association of Peel & Halton (BIAPH), as well as being actively involved in other community activities, such as leading the “Helmets on Kids” project in the Peel Region since 2007, which provides free bicycle helmets to children in need. The Peel Helmets on Kids program has provided 8,500 free helmets to children to date. He received his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and Bachelor of Education degrees from York University in 1996, a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the University of Toronto in 1998, and his J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1999. While attending Osgoode Hall Law School, Sandev was also a Research Assistant to Professor D. Paul Emond in 1998, and helped to develop the Professional Development Program’s Negotiation Skills Workshop. Sandev also recently attained The Osgoode Certificate in Privacy and Cybersecurity Law.
Warren Urquhart
Biography
Past tech consultant, now governance counsel for Toronto Hydro. Writer who has appeared in the Toronto Star, LexisNexis Law360 and more. Former: Ontario's Ministry of Attorney General, Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Travis G. Walker
Biography
I work with domestic and London market insurers to resolve all manner of defence and coverage disputes in both creative and pragmatic ways. I am a problem solver at heart. I have a particular interest in the rapidly developing field of cyber risk insurance and the insurance needs of technology companies.
