Joanna Fine

Joanna is a member of the Privacy and Data Management group. She provides practical and strategic privacy compliance advice to organizations across all sectors, from large multi-national companies to emerging companies.

Joanna regularly assists clients in identifying and managing privacy risks associated with complex and innovative data collection and use initiatives, including interest-based advertising, “big data” analytics, AI, surveillance technologies, and anti-fraud initiatives. Joanna also assists clients with security incident response and privacy regulatory investigations, including liaising with federal and provincial privacy regulators in Canada.  

She regularly provides privacy and anti-spam training to clients, drafts privacy policies and procedures, conducts privacy reviews, and advises on privacy issues in mergers and acquisitions and outsourcing arrangements (including transborder data flows).


Representative Work

  • CNH Industrial

    CNH Industrial in its agreement to acquire Hemisphere GNSS for $175 million

  • Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd

    Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. in its US$ 100 million sale to Ellimist Singapore Pte. Ltd.

  • Québecor

    Québecor and its wholly-owned subsidiary Videotron Ltd. in their $2.85 billion acquisition of Freedom Mobile Inc. from Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc.

  • Verisk Analytics

    Verisk Analytics in its acquisition of Opta

  • Security Compass Technologies

    Security Compass Technologies in the sale of its consulting business to Kroll

Latest Insights

  • Webinar May 29, 2024

    AccessPrivacy Monthly Call: Legislative Reform in the Canadian Privacy and Data Arena

    In this month’s webinar, Adam Kardash is joined by Partners and Special Counsel from Osler's Privacy and Data...

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    AccessPrivacy Monthly Call: Legislative Reform in the Canadian Privacy and Data Arena
  • Webinar Feb 28, 2024

    AccessPrivacy Workshop: OPC Draft Guidance for Processing Biometrics: Call for Comments

    An interactive workshop designed to help organizations and trade associations understand the scope, meaning, and impact of the proposed guidance, and...

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    AccessPrivacy Workshop: OPC Draft Guidance for Processing Biometrics: Call for Comments
  • Webinar Jun 14, 2023

    AccessPrivacy Workshop: CAI Consent Guidelines Consultation

    The Commission d'accès à l'information (CAI) has prepared draft guidelines on the criteria for the validity of consent under Law 25's amendments to...

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    AccessPrivacy Workshop: CAI Consent Guidelines Consultation
  • Webinar Feb 1, 2023

    AccessPrivacy Monthly Call: Self-regulatory developments in the Canadian digital advertising arena

    The webinar provides privacy professionals with a unique opportunity to stay current in the rapidly-evolving field of privacy and data governance...

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    AccessPrivacy Monthly Call: Self-regulatory developments in the Canadian digital advertising arena
View all Insights

Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Privacy & Data Protection
  • Thomson Reuters: “Stand-out Lawyer”
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Privacy and Data Security Law

Media Mentions

  • Osler News Feb 5, 2021

    Osler helps support the launch of CDL Rapid Screening Consortium pilot program

    COVID-19 is an unprecedented health crisis that has resulted in a loss of economic activity and the disruption of daily life. To address this...

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  • Osler News Mar 1, 2017

    Congratulations to our new counsel

    Osler is pleased to announce the admission of the following Toronto-based senior associates to the role of counsel.

    Read more

Speaking and Writing

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, “What Advertisers and Their Counsel Need to Know About Privacy Laws: Understanding How New Privacy Legislation in Canada are Impacting Canadian Advertising,” Advertising & Marketing Law, The Canadian Institute, January 19, 2023

Speaker, “The Regulatory Landscape,” The Osgoode Certificate in Privacy Law and Information in Healthcare, Osgoode Hall Law School, January 18, 2023

Speaker, “Realizing the Value of Your Data”, Chartered Professional Accountants Canada, Conference for Audit Committees, December 6, 2022

Speaker, “Canadian Update”, “Access to Information and Privacy Law Online Symposium,” Canadian Bar Association, October 28, 2022

Speaker, “Managing Cybersecurity Risks”, CAN TECH Law Conference, June 7, 2022

Speaker, “The Regulatory Landscape,” The Osgoode Certificate in Privacy Law and Information in Healthcare, Osgoode Hall Law School, January 18, 2022

Speaker, “The Regulatory Landscape,” The Osgoode Certificate in Privacy Law and Information in Healthcare, Osgoode Hall Law School, January 18, 2021.

Speaker, June Access Privacy Call, June 25, 2022

Speaker, “Dealing with Data: Managing Proprietary Rights,” 10th In-House Counsel Summit, Law Society of Ontario, February 19, 2020.

Speaker, “The European Data Protection Board’s final guidelines on territorial scope of GDPR and what it means for Canadian businesses”, AccessPrivacy Monthly Privacy Call, December 18, 2019.

Co-author, Osler Update “FINTRAC updates guidance regarding identity verification methods permitted under amendments to anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulations”, November 26, 2019.

Speaker, “Privacy and Data Security Compliance in the APEC Region,” Practising Law Institute’s 19th Annual Institute on Privacy and Data Security Law, May 30, 2018.

Speaker, “An Update on Privacy in Canada,” International Association of Privacy Professionals, Atlanta KnowledgeNet, June 23, 2015.

Speaker, “The Six-Minute Business Lawyer 2015: Privacy Law Developments,” Law Society of Upper Canada, June 10, 2015.

Co-Chair, “CASL One Year Later: Advice for Preventing a $1.1 Million Penalty”, Ontario Bar Association, June 5, 2015.

Speaker, “Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) Update,” AccessPrivacy Advanced Training for Seasoned CPOs, November 28, 2014.

Moderator, “The Next CASL Frontier: Tackling Section 8 (Computer Program) Uncertainties,” Ontario Bar Association, November 19, 2014.

Speaker, “Compliance with Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation,” AccessPrivacy Introductory CPO Training Session, October 29, 2014.

Speaker, “Critical Privacy Issues in Entertainment, Media and Communication Law: Navigating the Privacy Challenges of New Technology: A case study of Second Screen Technology and Interactive Media,” Ontario Bar Association, June 11, 2014.

Speaker, “Privacy and Anti-Spam Overview,” Interactive Advertising Bureau of Canada’s X-Series: Legal, Toronto, November 12, 2013.

Speaker, “The Six-Minute Business Lawyer 2013: Update on Privacy Law,” Law Society of Upper Canada, June 6, 2013.Co-author, Canada chapter in Rosemary P. Jay, ed., Getting the Deal Through – Data Protection & Privacy 2014 (Law Business Research Ltd., 2013).

Speaker, “Emerging Themes and Trends in The Canadian Privacy Arena: Anti-Spam Legislation to Security Breaches,” Women in Film & Television Toronto Executive Breakfast Series, February 20, 2013.

Speaker, “Update on Background Verifications” and “Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation,” AccessPrivacy CPO Training Session, November 9, 2012.

Speaker, “Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation,” AccessPrivacy CPO Training Session, October 12, 2012.

Published Work

  • Author, “CRTC Releases First Set of Guidelines on Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation,” Eye on Privacy, December 2012.
  • Co-author, Canada chapter in Rosemary P. Jay, ed., Getting the Deal Through – Data Protection & Privacy 2013 (Law Business Research Ltd., 2012).
  • Co-author, “Anti-spam bill sends tough message to spammers,” The Lawyers Weekly, June 5, 2009.
  • Co-author, Update 2006: Recent Changes to Ontario’s Environmental Laws, OBA Annual Institute, Toronto, January 23, 2006.
  • Co-author, “CMS v. Argentina: A Harbinger of Things to Come?” International Trade Law and Regulation, Vol. 12, Issue 1 (January 2006) 36.
  • Co-author, “Contracting Issues in China – Examining Opportunities and Challenges of Doing Business in China,” North American Corporate Lawyer Vol. 8, No. 4 (2006) 477.

Credentials

Education

  • University of Toronto, J.D.
  • York University, M.E.S.
  • McGill University, B.A.

Languages

  • English

Professional Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • The Canadian Technology Law Association
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • Ontario Bar Association, member of the Privacy Law Section Executive
  • The Law Society of Ontario
  • Toronto Computer Lawyers' Group