The globalization of markets and the commercialization of innovative technologies represent unprecedented challenges for both emerging and established information technology (IT) companies, including from a legal standpoint. The lawyers in Heenan Blaikie’s Information Technologies group advise clients in a broad range of technology-related transactions, from technology license agreements to outsourcing and computer service contracts, financing agreements and various forms of intellectual property protection.
Our Canadian and international clients cover the full spectrum of the IT industry, such as:
- systems integrators and consultancies
- start-ups and leading e-commerce companies
- software companies
- application and Internet service providers and cloud computing
- hardware designers, manufacturers and suppliers
- outsourcers and database service providers
- a wide array of technology buyers in all areas of the economy including financial services and banking, healthcare, education and energy
Services Overview
Heenan Blaikie’s Information Technologies group provides advice in connection with:
- Systems integration – assisting both vendors and buyers to negotiate and implement large systems upgrades and integration projects
- Outsourcing – negotiating all aspects of complex outsourcing transactions, including in relation to service level agreements (SLAs), intellectual property, data and privacy, change management, tax, currency and other financial aspects of long-term and multi-jurisdiction relationships
- Intellectual property – providing expert advice on the licensing, transfer, non-disclosure and protection of intellectual property, including copyright, patents, trade-marks, domain names and trade secrets
- Privacy and information management – advising on the development and implementation of security policies and document and data management programs, including all aspects of digital security, encryption infrastructures and electronic network security; conducting of privacy audits; analysis of business strategy, regulatory compliance and risk management issues; implementation of online privacy policies; examination of privacy regimes in other countries; constant monitoring of developments worldwide regarding privacy law and information management
- Procurement – assisting vendors to manage and successfully complete complex procurement initiatives from inception; assisting vendors to respond to RFPs and RFQs and negotiate resulting agreements in all types of contexts and processes (federal, provincial, local, foreign, private and public)
- Litigation – injunctions, class actions, domain name disputes, all forms of intellectual property, competition/antitrust, computer hardware and software litigation
- Health law – electronic medical record (EMR) keeping; privacy violation investigations; drafting, developing and updating privacy and security procedures; expert diagnostic systems; telemedicine; master patient index (MPI); clinical data repositories; electronic signatures
- Corporate and commercial issues – financing, mergers and acquisitions of IT companies, strategic alliances, electronic banking, tax matters, e-commerce and Internet transactions, co-branding and joint ventures
Our know-how also extends to issues that arise due to technological breakthroughs, including:
- software piracy
- privacy protection
- computer security
- online music piracy
- domain name rights
- consumer protection
What is of paramount importance for Heenan Blaikie lawyers is to provide IT clients with the best service at all times and in all circumstances.
Organizational Involvement
Many of our lawyers belong to a wide range of IT-related associations and organizations, such as the following:
- Canadian IT Law Association (IT.Can)
- ITechLaw
- Licensing Executives Society International
- International Association of Privacy Professionals
- Computer Law Association
- Canada’s Health Informatics Association (COACH)
- Quebec Technology Association (AQT)
- Intellectual Property Institute of Canada