The Practitioner’s Guide to Privacy in M&A

Danielle Miller Olofsson is a senior associate in the Corporate Group of Stikeman Elliott LLP. Her practice focuses on all matters relating to privacy, data protection, and cyber security. Danielle advises clients on compliance requirements and cyber security best practices. Having practiced law in Europe, Danielle is also called to guide clients on the increasingly complex requirements surrounding international data transfers and multi-jurisdictional data incidents. She is particularly interested in personal information protection as it relates to artificial intelligence, smart objects, blockchain and the health industry. Danielle lectures at the Université de Montréal’s Law Faculty on technology, law and data protection.

Kevin Kyte is a senior partner in the Corporate Group of Stikeman Elliott LLP. His practice focuses primarily on domestic and international cross-border private and public mergers & acquisitions, securities, governmental requests for proposals and contracts, foreign investment and regulatory issues in business and financing transactions, including joint ventures, outsourcing, private placements, privatizations, reorganizations, corporate governance and corporate support on insolvencies.

Kevin has over 35 years of extensive experience servicing clients in many industries, including infrastructure, energy, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical, pulp and paper, aluminum, steel, construction, heavy equipment manufacturers, engineering, mining, technology, Voice over IP and software. In addition to private M&A, his work has a particular emphasis on commercial matters, including T's & C's, limitations of liability, procurement, Incoterms, JV agreements and language laws.

David Elder is Chair of the Privacy & Data Protection and Communications practice groups at Stikeman Elliott LLP, where he also serves as the firm's Chief Privacy Officer. He provides privacy and marketing compliance advice to a wide range of Canadian and international businesses that conduct both "bricks and mortar" and online activities. He also provides advice with respect to managing data breaches and navigating privacy issues arising in M&A transactions. David is also recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). He serves as Special Digital Privacy Counsel to the Canadian Marketing Association, in which role he advocates and advises on a range of electronic privacy issues, including those arising with respect to digital advertising, marketing and analytics. He has also represented the CMA before several Parliamentary Committees with respect to proposed privacy laws and issues. For many years, he has been an active participant in legislative and policy developments respecting privacy. Based in Ottawa, he has over 30 years of experience gained in private practice, government and corporate settings.

Trevor Rowles is counsel in the Corporate Group of Stikeman Elliott LLP. He advises clients on a wide range of complex M&A and corporate matters, including contract, transactional, governance and drafting issues, and has developed significant expertise in advising private equity investors and their portfolio companies as well as structuring and implementing transactions for private and public companies. Trevor also has overall responsibility for the firm’s national M&A knowledge management program, and is responsible for monitoring and advising on legal developments and legal technology impacting the firm’s M&A practice and the development and maintenance state-of-the-art precedents.

Rachel Zuroff is a seasoned research lawyer in the Knowledge Management group at Stikeman Elliott LLP. With extensive experience across multiple practice areas, including M&A, privacy law and data protection and consumer protection law she is known for providing in-depth research and strategic advice on complex legal issues. Rachel regularly hosts a podcast focused on privacy law, offering thought leadership on emerging trends and regulatory developments. In addition to conducting in-depth legal research and advising clients, she plays a key role in mentoring and training the firm’s articling and summer students, helping shape their research, writing and analytical skills. Before joining Stikeman Elliott LLP, Rachel practiced in public international law, notably at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Court of Justice.