Elisabeth Symons

Contact

T416-941-0968

Qualifications

LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School
B.Sc., Double Major Computer Science and English, University of Toronto

Elisabeth Symons is Counsel to the firm. She is the Co-Chair of Deeth Williams Wall’s Technology Law Practice and practises information technology law.

Practice Areas

Elisabeth helps public and private sector organizations to understand the legal issues that they face relating to technology and address them in creative and practical ways that help them to meet their objectives. She assists clients with: (i) a wide variety of technology agreements; (ii) procurement of technology; (iii) issues relating to distressed technology projects; and (iv) Internet issues.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Repeatedly Recommended for Computer & IT Law, 2024
Best Lawyers in Canada, LAWYER OF THE YEAR for Information Technology Law in Toronto, 2022
Best Lawyers in Canada, Information Technology Law, 2021
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Repeatedly Recommended for Computer & IT Law

Professional Affiliations

Canadian Bar Association (Ontario); Information Technology and Intellectual Property Section (Member, Former Chair)
Canadian Bar Association (Ontario); Privacy and Access (Member)
International Technology Law Association (Member, Co-vice Chair of the Interactive Entertainment and Media Committee)
Canadian Technology Law Association (Member, Former Vice President, Former Director)
Toronto Computer Lawyers’ Group (Member, Past Chair)
American Bar Association (Member)

Publications and Presentations

Elisabeth is a co-editor of Mann’s Technology News (Carswell). She co-authored the chapter on Copyright in Electronic Commerce – A Practitioner’s Guide (Carswell) and the chapter on Doing Business with Government in the Business Laws of Canada (West). As well, she has written and published articles in various legal newsletters and newspapers since 2001.

PUBLICATIONS

Editor

Co-editor of Mann’s Technology Newsletter (Carswell) (2011-2023)

Books

Co-authored the chapter on “Copyright in Electronic Commerce” – A Practitioner’s Guide (Carswell)
Co-authored the chapter on “Doing Business with Government" in the Business Laws of Canada (West)

Selected Publications (2018-2023)

“Facebook, Inc. v. Douez, No Stay of the Common Damages Appeal”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2023.
“R. v. Campbell – Impersonation Over Text Messages”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2023.
“R. v. Fardy – Reviewing and Refining the Law Relating to Searching Text Messages”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 1, 2023.
“hiQ and LinkedIn”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 3, 2022.
“Twitter, Glass Houses and SLAPPs: Mondal v. Evans-Bitten”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2022.
“Joint Investigation into Location Tracking by the Tim Hortons App (PIPEDA Findings #2022-001)”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2022.
“No Consent - Douez v. Facebook, Inc.”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2022.
“Are Upgrades to a Website Special Circumstances When Determining if a Trademark Has Been Used: In the Matter of a Section 45 Proceeding Relating to TMA894149 for Rides.ca”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 1, 2022.
“Copyright Infringement: Is Being Linked to an IP Address Identification Enough for a Finding of Default Judgement?”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 1, 2022.
“When a Request Computer’s Password a Violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms? - R. V. Scopel-Cessel”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 1, 2022.
Banter or Bias: Law Society of Ontario v. Diamond, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 4, 2021.
Should Past Social Media Mistakes Be a Barrier to Practicing Law: Law Society of Saskatchewan v. Baron, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 4, 2021.
“Rethinking Platform Liability for Online Hate and Other Harms – A Commission on Democratic Expression”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2021.
“A Commission and a Proposed Approach to Addressing Harmful Content Online”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 1, 2021.
“hiQ Labs, Inc. v. LinkedIn Corporation”, with J. Fraser Mann, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 3, 2020.
“Trends in Fair Dealing: Alexander Stross v. Trend Hunter Inc.", Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2020.
“Skepticism and Online Identity: R. v. Morrison", Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2019.
“R. v. Mills: Concurring and Confusing”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 3, 2019.
“R. v. Mills Versus R. v. Morrison: Should Skepticism Be a Factor Whenever Reasonable Belief is Being Examined in Relation to the Internet”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 3, 2019.
“Do You Follow Your Articling Students' Social Feeds?”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2019.
“Application Programming Interfaces and Fair Use: A Story of Twists and Turns", Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 1, 2019.
"A Timeline for Friending and Connecting: How Have Legal Perspectives on the Use of Social Media Shifted?", paper presented at the 2018 World Conference.
“R v Villaroman: Revisiting What is a Reasonable Expectation of Privacy When a Computer Repairer Finds Child Pornography”, Mann’s Technology Law Newsletter (Carswell), Issue 2, 2018.

Elisabeth is also frequent speaker, presenting at conferences for legal, regulatory and other professionals.

Selected Presentations (2018-2023)

“Dealing with Post-Life Digital Legacies”, discussion lead, the 2023 European Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held in Amsterdam, Netherlands, October 2023.
“The Management of Legal Risk in Technology Contracts and Beyond: ISO 31022 and Professional Conduct”, DWW Continuing Professional Development, Online, November 2022.
“Legal Tech”, discussion lead, the 2022 European Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held in Zurich, Switzerland, October 2022.
“Data Protection and Contracting with Event Management Platforms”, discussion lead, Interactive Entertainment & Media Committee meeting, the 2021 European Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held online and in Lisbon, Portugal, October 2021.
“Negotiating Agreements Involving the Use of a Celebrity's or an Individual’s Likeness”, moderator, Interactive Entertainment & Media Committee meeting, the 2021 World Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held San Francisco, California, May 2021.
“Ethical Decisions in Digital Transformation and the Lawyer’s Professional Obligations”, presented to CAN.TECH’s program on “Digital Transformation: Understanding and Managing the Legal Risks”, Online, May 2020.
“Threat Monitoring in the Mainstream", discussion lead, Interactive Entertainment & Media Committee meeting, the 2020 World Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held online, May 2020.
“Reseller and VAR Agreements”, presentation to the Osgoode Certificate Program on Negotiating and Drafting IT Agreements, Online, March 2020.
“Host Platform Liability (Part One)”, curated and moderated, presentation to the 2019 European Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held in Dublin, Ireland, October 2019.
“AI and Investigatory Tools”, curated, presentation to presentation to the 2019 World Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held in Boston, Massachusetts, May 2019.
“Changing Legal Perspectives on Connecting with Social Media” presentation to the Toronto Chapter of the International Boutique Law Firm Association, Toronto, Ontario, January 2019.
“Changing Legal Perspectives on Connecting with Social Media” presentation to the 2018 World Technology Law Conference, International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), held in Seattle, Washington, May 2018.
“Preparing for and Responding to Data Breaches”, presented to the procurement, audit and legal groups of a municipal client, February 2018, co-presented with Fraser Mann.

Client Advisory: Overview of The IPC’s Guidance on Facial Recognition and Mugshot Databases Used By Ontario Police Services

Events

October 26, 2023

Olalekan (Wole) Akinremi to Moderate The Critical Infrastructure Panel At The 2023 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference

On October 26, 2023, DWW Partner Olalekan (Wole) Akinremi will moderate a panel titled “Understanding Obligations, Weighing Risks and Preparing for Change Under the Proposed Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act” at the 2023 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference.

Join Wole and a panel of seasoned technology lawyers as they discuss:

October 25, 2023

DWW Is Proud to Sponsor The 2023 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference

Deeth Williams Wall LLP is proud to sponsor the upcoming 2023 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference at the Hart House in Toronto on October 25^th - October 26^th, 2023.

Come join members of DWW’s Technology Practice Group at the 2023 CAN-TECH Law Fall Conference.

November 16, 2022

DWW CPD 2022: The Management of Legal Risk in Technology Contracts and Beyond: ISO 31022

Web archive Passcode: Z!@y+%b8

Dealing with legal risk is part of lawyers’ daily lives. It is integral, ever expanding and growing more complex as technology evolves, businesses models shift, interconnectedness increases and legal regimes change.

Elisabeth Symons, B.Sc., LL.B.