Canadian Lawyer - sample

48 M A R C H 2 0 1 9 w w w . c a n a d i a n l a w y e r m a g . c o m C anada's tech sector is booming, and law firms of all shapes and sizes are lining up to take advantage. In its recent tech talent survey, commercial real estate and investment company CBRE placed four Canadian cities in its top 25 North American markets, crediting cost-efficient office space and comparatively welcoming immigration policies for the list's high Cana- dian content. Toronto, whose record-high fourth place was sealed by a 14-per-cent boost in tech jobs that made it the fastest-growing hub on the list for the second year running, was also joined by Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver. "Tech is a key sector for us," says Viona Duncan, co-chairperson of the global tech practice group at international law firm Gowling WLG. Still, she says, the all-encompassing nature of technology makes her client base a hard one to pin down. The startup-rich environment of Duncan's Waterloo, Ont. base is perfect for finding clients taking their first steps in cutting-edge industries empow- ered by advances in artificial intelligence, blockchain and crypto-currency. But the firm also caters to more traditional, old-world powerhouses venturing into new technological waters or dealing with the pri- vacy and cybersecurity issues that come with them. "Technology has no boundaries. Every- thing either is touched by it or will be in the future," says Duncan. As a result, her practice group is among the most integrated at Gowlings. "It's unique in the sense that we interact with probably every other practice group and industry sector. We're dealing with lawyers across the firm, nationally and internation- ally," Duncan says. "Employment lawyers need help with issues posed by artificial intel- ligence in recruitment; we might be dealing with people in the automotive law group on driverless cars or helping the financial ser- vices group with fintech matters for banks." According to Duncan, the common thread running through the tech group's diverse col- lection of clients is the break-neck pace of change they're all dealing with. "Our job is to keep up with what's hap- pening and relieve some of the pressure on our clients by seamlessly servicing them," she says. Lawyers advising in the burgeoning technology industry must balance creativity and risk By Michael McKiernan TECH SUPPORT E M E R G I N G P R A C T I C E A R E A : T E C H N O L O G Y L E G A L R E P O R T GARY NEILL

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