Barry Sookman > McCarthy Tétrault > Toronto, Canada > Lawyer Profile

The market-leading team at McCarthy Tétrault draws on a nationwide presence and offices abroad in London and New York to advise major AI companies, financial institutions, insurers and a wide range of domestic and multinational corporates across such sectors as telecoms, transport, forestry, professional services and entertainment. The firm’s comprehensive offering covers AI due diligence and risk mitigation in the context of complex, multi-jurisdictional M&A, AI corporate governance procedures, algorithmic impact assessments and IP challenges associated with AI. The team is led by Charles Morgan in Montreal, a specialist in cross-border commercial transactions involving AI, and Daniel Glover, who brings strength to advising clients on breach response, compliance and data protection. Other key figures include Barry Sookman, who handles complex, AI regulatory matters, with court experience at all levels, including before the Supreme Court; Christine Ing, an expert in fintech; and Adam Goldenberg, a specialist in public law disputes. Key support is provided by associate Francis Langlois in Montreal. Unless noted, all lawyers mentioned work in the Toronto office.

McCarthy Tétrault’s IP team is ‘excellent at finding creative arguments and solutions to problems’. Primarily recognized for its dominant IP litigation practice, the group also possesses extensive expertise on the non-contentious side with strong skill sets in global IP portfolio management and transactional matters. Toronto-based Steven Mason heads the IP litigation practice and is commended as a ‘go-to lawyer for bet-the-company work’. Mason recently paired up with Toronto-based senior counsel and copyright expert Barry Sookman to successfully represent Sam Smith, Normani and Stargate — and their record labels and music publishers — in a copyright infringement action. The Toronto group also includes Lisa Melanson, who leads the IP strategy and prosecution area; high-profile IP litigator David Tait; and associate Kendra Levasseur, who ‘performs beyond her years of qualification’. In Vancouver, Vincent Yip is recommended for IP transactions. Fiona Legere left the firm in July 2024.