Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Telecoms in Canada

Fasken

Fasken houses a strong practice which is equipped to handle the gamut of telecoms and broadcasting matters. The group regularly acts for clients before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the Department of Innovation and the Copyright Board. Network deployment requirements, specialized communications contracts and anti-spam legislation are additional areas of expertise. Broadcasters, radio equipment and hardware vendors and satellite service providers routinely feature on the group’s client roster. Leslie Milton steers the department from Ottawa and has significant experience in telecoms and radio communications regulation. Additional key partners at the Ottawa office include licensing and regulatory compliance specialist Scott Prescott, and ex-practice head Gerald Kerr-Wilson. In Toronto, Barbara Miller majors on the investments, acquisitions and financings of telecoms and broadcasting entities, and Paul Burbank provides key support at the associate level.

Practice head(s):

Leslie Milton


Other key lawyers:

Scott Prescott; Gerald Kerr-Wilson; Barbara Miller


Testimonials

‘The team specializes in CRTC regulatory matters. They provide timely responses to requests and always give sound legal advice and direction.’

‘Barbara Miller is a pleasure to work with and provides excellent guidance on regulatory matters. I have a great deal of respect for her advice and knowledge.’

Key clients

Rogers Communications Canada


Shaw Communications


Quebecor Media


Amazon


TELUS Communications


Canadian Broadcasting Corporation


Sirius XM Canada


Warner Media


Roku


Google


Work highlights


  • Advised Rogers Communications on the regulatory approvals for its $25B acquisition of Shaw Communications.
  • Advised Rogers Communications on the implementation of Bill C-11, Online Streaming Act and the various new regulatory frameworks the CRTC will seek to adopt for television, radio, distribution and online streaming services.
  • Advised Rogers Communications on the CRTC’s ongoing review of its wireline wholesale high-speed access framework.

McCarthy Tétrault

McCarthy Tétrault's practice is noted for regularly representing clients in contentious broadcasting and telecommunications cases, in addition to advising on the application, regulation and commercialization of emerging technologies. The team is frequently instructed by telecoms companies, satellite carriers, mobile and fixed wireless networks, cable operators, financial institutions and regulators. Of counsel and Toronto-based practice lead Grant Buchanan has focused his practice on broadcast and telecoms financing, Copyright Board work and regulatory matters. Counsel Keith Rose is active on non-contentious matters involving 5G, satellite communications and consumer and medical devices.

Practice head(s):

Grant Buchanan


Other key lawyers:

Keith Rose


Key clients

Bell Canada


Bell Media


TELUS Communications


Jewelry Television


telMAX LP


Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)


Word of God Fellowship


Ericsson


Loral Space & Communications (Loral)


Dentons

The expertise of the practice at Dentons encompasses telecoms matters involving mobile satellite systems, online streaming services, user generated content platforms and cloud-based computing systems. Domestic and foreign satellite operators, broadcasters and tech companies regularly feature on the group’s client roster. Ottawa-based Monica Song steers the department; her practice has a particular emphasis on the satellite and wireless industries and cloud-based technology companies, with an increasing focus on earth observation satellite service licensing and broadband expansion projects. Key counsels include Gregory Kane KC, who represents telecoms clients in regulatory and appellate litigation, and Margot E Patterson, who advises multinational media companies on broadcasting regulatory matters.

Practice head(s):

Monica Song


Other key lawyers:

Gregory Kane KC; Margot E Patterson


Key clients

Ligado Networks LLC


Spire Global


WorldVu Development LLC dba OneWeb


Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

The group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP advises a range of companies on telecommunications, broadcasting and radio communication compliance matters. Additional skill lies in disputes, hearings, regulatory enforcement actions and public consultation processes. Montreal-based Sunny Handa steers the practice and is well-versed in M&A, telecommunications and broadcasting matters. Also in Montreal, younger partner Céline Poitras assists corporations with their Canadian regulatory obligations.

Practice head(s):

Sunny Handa


Other key lawyers:

Céline Poitras


Key clients

Affinity Network


Aryaka Networks


Bell Canada


Cisco Systems Canada


Equinix


GHGSat


Global Voice & Data


Inmarsat PLC


Pelion IoT (formerly ARM Limited)


SES


Work highlights


  • Advised SES in connection with its Canadian operations and strategic approach in addressing the upcoming reallocation and clearing of C-band spectrum to support the deployment of 5G services in Canada.
  • Advised GHGSat, a Montreal-based satellite company that monitors high-resolution greenhouse gas, in its $45m Series B funding round.
  • Advised Inmarsat, a global player in the satellite communications space, in connection with its compliance with the Canadian telecommunications and radiocommunication regulatory regimes.

Goodmans LLP

The practice at Goodmans LLP specializes in advising on matters relating to the Broadcasting Act, as well as representing clients before the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the Competition Bureau and the Competition Tribunal. Two Toronto-based partners co-lead the group: Michael Koch focuses his practice on federal regulatory matters and has both contentious and non-contentious expertise, while Monique McAlister majors on communications, privacy and consumer protection matters.

Practice head(s):

Michael Koch; Monique McAlister


Key clients

BCE/Bell Media


Major League Baseball Collective of Canada


The Walt Disney Company


Warner Bros. Discovery


Rainbow Media/AMC


CBS Corporation


Bragg Communications


Intelsat


Rogers Communications


Comwave


Gogo Internet


Work highlights


  • Acted for Shaw Communications in the acquisition by Rogers Communications of all of Shaw’s issued and outstanding Class A and Class B shares in a transaction valued at approximately C$26bn.
  • Advised multiple clients on proposed amendments to the Broadcasting Act that would result in foreign online undertakings being regulated as part of the Canadian broadcasting system.

Stikeman Elliott LLP

The telecoms practice at Stikeman Elliott LLP frequently supports its M&A group with regulatory advice. The group has particular strength in anti-spam matters, regularly providing advice on all elements of the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules, including the National Do Not Call List and restrictions on automated dialers. Ottawa-based unsolicited telecommunications specialist David Elder steers the department. Elder supports clients on licensing, policy matters and competitive disputes and routinely appears before the CRTC, Federal Court of Appeal, and numerous parliamentary committees.

Practice head(s):

David Elder


Key clients

Bell Canada


TELUS Communications


Cogeco Média


Cogeco Connexion


Cogeco Communications


The Hearst


Datablocks


Sunlight Media Networks


Cartesian Capital


Fibrestream


AppDirect


Aquilini Equities