John is a member of the Marketing & Distribution and Privacy & Data Management practice groups. John has a thorough understanding of the technology underlying social media promotional programs. He has advised clients extensively on these campaigns, speaking in Canada, the United States and abroad on program design and implementation, as well as on strategies to mitigate risk. He reviews advertising and promotional materials across all media, with an emphasis on Internet-based and mobile media, including compliance issues relating to misleading advertising, contests, games, sweepstakes and consumer-protection issues.
John also advises regularly on the management and retention of personal information, best practices and the management of data security breaches, and regulatory compliance under privacy legislation.
Representative Work
- Nasdaq
Nasdaq in its acquisition of Metrio
- iNovia Capital
iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
- BBH Capital Partners
BBH Capital Partners in its $120 million investment in Synex Group insurance
- TopBuild
TopBuild in its $1 billion acquisition of Distribution International
- Echosec Systems
Echosec Systems in its acquisition by The Tusker Fund
- Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Nova Scotia, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, National Bank of Canada and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canada’s Big 6 “D-SIB Banks” in connection with the Canadian Emergency Business Account program initiated by Export Development Canada on behalf of Canada
- Accel
Accel in 1Password's US$200 million Series A financing round
Nasdaq in its acquisition of Metrio
iNovia Capital in connection with Talent.com’s US$120 million Series B financing round
BBH Capital Partners in its $120 million investment in Synex Group insurance
TopBuild in its $1 billion acquisition of Distribution International
Echosec Systems in its acquisition by The Tusker Fund
- Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Nova Scotia, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, National Bank of Canada and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce
Canada’s Big 6 “D-SIB Banks” in connection with the Canadian Emergency Business Account program initiated by Export Development Canada on behalf of Canada
- Accel
Accel in 1Password's US$200 million Series A financing round
Latest Insights
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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...
Read more
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Osler Update Mar 1, 2024
Canada’s new Online Harms Act (C-63): what you need to know
The Government of Canada introduced its long-anticipated online harms legislation, Bill C-63, on February 26. We look at the key duties the bill...
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Osler Update Dec 11, 2023
Online streaming and news laws advance federal government’s digital agenda
The OSA requires platforms to pay for and promote Canadian content, while the ONA introduces a mandatory bargaining framework requiring platforms to...
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Blog Feb 10, 2021
Mandatory vaccinations for employees: What are the issues?
While Canada is still in the early stages of its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, given the limited availability and potential interruptions in vaccine...
Read more
Awards and Recognition
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Chambers: Ranked in Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Advertising and Marketing and Privacy & Data Protection (Nationwide – Canada)
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Advertising & Marketing Law
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Who’s Who Legal: Ranked in Who’s Who Legal: International – Data – Data Privacy and Protection; Ranked in Who’s Who Legal: Canada – Data
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Advertising and Marketing Law; Privacy and Data Security Law
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Thomson Reuters: “Stand-out Lawyer”
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Lexpert Special Edition: Recognized in Technology and Health Sciences
Media Mentions
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Media Mentions Apr 18, 2022
How should legal departments prepare for, respond to and remediate data breaches? – Canadian Lawyer
According to the panelists at a recent webinar hosted by the Canadian Legal Innovation Forum, cybersecurity risks and ransomware attacks are on the...
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Osler News Apr 22, 2021
143 Osler lawyers recognized in the 2021 Canadian Lexpert Directory
Osler is proud to announce that 143 of our lawyers have been recognized in the 2021 edition of The Canadian Lexpert Directory, including 12 newly...
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Osler News Feb 19, 2021
Lexpert recognizes 21 Osler lawyers as technology leaders
Osler is pleased to announce 21 of our lawyers have been recognized as leading lawyers in the Lexpert Special Edition: Technology 2021.
Read more -
Osler News Mar 1, 2017
Osler welcomes 10 new partners
Osler is proud to announce the addition of 10 new partners across five of our offices.
Read more
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
AccessPrivacy Monthly Call: Legislative Reform in the Canadian Privacy and Data Arena
Read morePlaying by the Rules: Contest best practices during a pandemic
Speaker, Playing by the Rules: Contest best practices during a pandemic, January 21, 2021
Analog to Digital: Disruption in the Commercial Real Estate Sector
Speaker, Toronto, February 28, 2019
Council for Chief Privacy Officers, Conference Board of Canada
Speaker, Toronto, January 31, 2019
Why online advertisers know what you’re thinking, Osler Retail Seminar
Speaker, Montreal, April 10, 2018
Unscrambling PIPEDA, CASL and Online Behavioural Advertising
Speaker, Ontario Bar Association, Advertising & Marketing Law: Social, Digital, Online Compliance, October 4, 2017
Privacy & Anti-Spam 101 for Emerging Companies
Speaker, Toronto, March 21, 2017
Innovation in Digital Marketing: Navigating the Opportunities and Challenges in the age of Living Services
Co-Presenter, Toronto, January 20, 2016
Published Work
- Co-Presenter, “A Conversation: Regulations, Compliance & Privacy,” Data Marketing 2015 Conference, Toronto, November 19, 2015.
- Co-Presenter, “CASL Enforcement: Strategies for Building a Due Diligence Defence,” AccessPrivacy by Osler Training Session, Toronto, November 6, 2015.
- Presenter, “CASL Mid-year Review: What We’ve Learned During the First 6 Months,” 21st Annual Advertising & Marketing Law Conference, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, January 26-27, 2015.
- Presenter, “CASL Workshop – Installation of Computer Programs,” AccessPrivacy by Osler Training Session, Toronto, September 19, 2014.
- Presenter, “User Generated Content,” IAB Canada X-Series: Legal, Toronto, November 12, 2013.
- Presenter, “Anti-Spam Compliance,” Institute of Law Clerks of Ontario’s 23rd Annual Conference, Collingwood, Ontario, May 10, 2013.
- Presenter, “Do Insurance and Social Media Make a Good Mix?” 2013 Compliance and Consumer Complaints Annual Conference, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, Vancouver, B.C., May 9, 2013.
- Presenter, “Social Media – Risks and Opportunities of Embracing and Ignoring,” Portfolio Managers Association, May 1, 2013.
- Presenter, “A Complete Guide to Running Promotions on Facebook & Twitter,” Managing Legal Risks in Running Online Contests, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, June 21-22, 2012.
- Presenter, “Online Advertising Guidelines,” The 2012 Information Technology Law Spring Forum, Canadian IT Law Association (IT.Can) and Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto, June 18, 2012.
- Presenter, “Social Media and Privacy Law in Practice: Meshing Compliance Obligations with Business Reality,” Privacy Law & Compliance, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, September 21, 2011.
- Presenter, “Social Media Privacy Issues,” The Information Technology Law Spring Forum, Canadian IT Law Association (IT.Can), Toronto, June 6, 2011.
- Presenter, “The Internet of Things,” IAPP Canada Privacy Symposium 2011, International Association of Privacy Professionals, Toronto, May 6, 2011.
- Presenter, “Successfully Implementing Your Social Media Agenda,” Advanced Forum on Managing Legal and Business Risks in Social Media, Canadian Institute, Toronto, April 14, 2011.
- Panellist, “New Media and the Future of Advertising (Social Media, Behavioral Advertising, Blogging, Astroturfing and More),” Advertising Law & Public Policy Conference, Association of National Advertisers, Washington, D.C., March 15-16, 2011.
- Presenter, “Fundamentals of Advertising & Marketing Law Applied to Social Media,” 17th Annual Advertising & Marketing Law Conference, The Canadian Institute, Toronto, January 19-21, 2011.
- Presenter, “Social Media Compliance & Risk Mitigation Strategies,” Advertising & Regulation: The Edge of Possibilities, Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance International Conference, Santiago, Chile, November 26, 2010.
- Presenter, “The Internet of Things,” PIPA Conference 2010: Getting Through the Privacy Jungle, hosted by the Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Alberta and British Columbia, Calgary, AB, November 3, 2010.
- Presenter, “Going Global: Running a Worldwide Sweepstakes Campaign that Complies with Varying Countries’ Laws,” 4th Annual Sweepstakes, Contests & Promotions, American Conference Institute, New York City, September 24, 2010.
Credentials
Education
- York University (Osgoode Hall Law School), J.D.
- McGill University, B.A.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- The Law Society of Ontario
