Contact

Eraustin@dww.com
T416-941-8210

Qualifications

  • Admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1985
  • LL.B., University of Toronto
  • B.Sc. (Pure Mathematics) and M.Sc. (Game Theory), University of Calgary
Richard Austin is a Senior Counsel with the firm. He is the Co-Chair of Deeth Williams Wall’s Technology Law Practice and practises exclusively in the area of information technology, privacy and cybersecurity law.

Practice Areas

Richard’s areas of practice include outsourcing transactions, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, applications development projects, technology mergers and acquisitions, technology start-up support, access to information, privacy, security including cybersecurity and international data flows, IT governance and regulatory compliance, records retention and destruction policies (RRDP) and social media. Richard represents developers and users of information technology in the public and private sector as well as domestic and international service providers.

Before joining Deeth Williams Wall, Richard was General Counsel of EDS Canada, one of Canada’s largest information technology service providers, for 18 years. Richard’s responsibilities at EDS Canada included providing strategic legal advice and guidance to senior management with respect to the Canadian business and to business leaders on specific transactions. Richard provides his clients with expert, effective legal advice based on his deep knowledge of the technology sector, experience with complex technology transactions and appreciation of customer issues and supplier concerns.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Lawyer of the Year for Information Technology Law in Toronto, 2023
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Information Technology Law, Privacy and Data Security Law and Technology Law, 2023
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Information Technology Law, Privacy and Data Security Law and Technology Law, 2022
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Lawyer of the Year for Information Technology Law, Toronto, 2020
  • AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Preeminent ranking in Computers and Software, Labour and Employment and Technology and Science
  • Best Lawyers in Canada, Information Technology Law, Privacy and Data Security Law and Technology Law
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Consistently Recommended for Computer & IT Law and Technology Transactions
  • Who's Who Legal, Global Leader in Data Security and Information Technology
  • Who's Who Legal, National Leader in Data

Professional Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association (CBA), Member
  • Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Member
  • Canadian IT Law Association (IT.CAN), Former President and Director
  • Toronto Computer Lawyers’ Group (TCLG), Member

Events

November 16, 2022

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

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.
November 2, 2022

Richard Austin to Moderate Panel at the 2022 CAN-TECH Law Annual Conference on November 2, 2022

On November 2, 2022, DWW Senior Counsel Richard Austin will moderate a panel discussing, "Technology, Competence and Ethics: Staying Afloat in Stormy Seas" at the 2022 Canadian Technology Law Association Annual Conference.

Join Richard and a panel of experts as they discuss the impact of evolving technology on two core responsibilities of lawyers: the duty of competence and the duty to act ethically.

Talk description: 
April 27, 2022

DWW CPD 2022 Program: Service Levels: Making Them Work by Richard Austin and Olalekan (Wole) Akinremi

Service levels can be an effective way for clients to ensure their suppliers are providing services in accordance with the supplier’s contractual obligations. However, there are pitfalls to avoid when using service levels such as drafting service levels that provide incentives for suppliers to focus on irrelevant or unimportant metrics or having ineffective remedies if the suppliers fail to achieve the agreed-to service levels.

This presentation provides a comprehensive overview of service levels, focusing on: