Course Chair
Ryan J. Black — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
About the Course Chair
Ryan Black is a partner practising technology-related business law, with a particular focus on intellectual property, information technology, video games and esports, and internet-facing businesses. As a former software and Internet developer, Ryan has a unique insight to emerging technology matters important to today's businesses, such as cybersecurity, blockchain technologies, artificial intelligence, open source software, deepfakes, cloud computing, and social media. Ryan is a frequent speaker and presenter on a wide variety of legal matters including Canada's Anti-Spam Law (CASL), video game law and policy matters, technology trends and regulations, and intellectual property issues, and is also the co-author of Internet Law Essentials: Canada's Anti-Spam Law, published by Specialty Technical Publishers. Ryan authored the 2017 update to that CASL book, focusing on CASL compliance.
Ryan is a member of the firm's National Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. In 2017, Ryan was named as one of Canada's leading lawyers under 40 in Lexpert's annual Rising Stars edition, in 2019 he was named an Acritas Star for peer-recommended lawyers, and he has also been named a 2020-21 Best Lawyer in Canada for Information Technology Law, and a 2021 Best Lawyer in Canada for FinTech Practice and Privacy and Data Security Law. Ryan currently acts as Clinic Adjunct for the Centre for Business Law at the UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law, a director (and Chair, Governance) of the Canadian Internet Registration Authority, a director of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society, and a director of the Video Game Bar Association.
Faculty
Maneesha Dakha — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Toronto
David Spratley — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
About the Faculty
Maneesha Dakha practises business law with a focus on general corporate commercial matters, purchase and sale transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance matters.
Maneesha regularly assists clients in the technology industry whether it is reviewing commercial agreements, drafting term sheets, or advising on key deal terms for negotiations.
Maneesha has considerable experience guiding clients in heavily regulated industries through complex regulatory landscapes. In particular, Maneesha has extensive operational experience with gaming and liquor regulations, including licensing. While practising at a prominent business law firm, Maneesha was seconded as corporate counsel to Canada's largest publicly traded gaming, entertainment, and hospitality company, where she provided legal advice to the various business teams and acted as assistant corporate secretary.
Having gained insight into the daily operational and legal challenges facing companies, coupled with her business background, Maneesha is able to leverage her experience into practical targeted solutions for clients. Maneesha has worked with clients at all stages of the business life cycle, including a number of emerging and growth stage companies.
Maneesha has played a pivotal role in the development of DLA Piper Canada's pro bono business law clinic dedicated to providing Black and Indigenous businesses with corporate and commercial legal advice.
Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy practises intellectual property litigation and has over a decade of experience litigating copyright, patent, and trademark matters. She also provides strategic advice in the procurement and enforcement of global brands in a variety of industries, with a focus on pharmaceuticals.
Described as a "sharp tactician lauded for her detailed analysis, strategic mindset and unrivalled expertise" (World Trademark Review 2020), Sangeetha has appeared as counsel in two appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as in matters before the Federal Court, the Ontario Court, the Trademarks Opposition Board, and the Competition Tribunal. Sangeetha has experience in all aspects of intellectual property litigation, ranging from pre-litigation opinions to appeals. In addition, she regularly works with counsel in various jurisdictions to co-ordinate the Canadian part of multi-jurisdictional lawsuits. She also has an active prosecution and opposition practice focused on global trademark portfolios. She counsels clients on brand clearance and related regulatory matters.
Sangeetha is a regular speaker, a published author, and an active member of the intellectual property community. She has been chair of the Ontario Bar Association IP-IT Section, as well as the Copyright Committee of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. She presently serves on the Canada Amicus committee of the International Trademarks Association, is a Global Fellow of the Federal Circuit Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.
Prior to obtaining her JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, Sangeetha obtained a BSc in molecular biology from the University of Toronto, and did research in psychosomatic medicine at the Toronto General Hospital.
David Spratley advises clients on a wide range of intellectual property, information technology, privacy, ecommerce issues, and related issues.
He has extensive experience in: creating, protecting, enforcing and commercializing trademarks, domain names and copyright; drafting and negotiating IT outsourcing and services agreements and cloud computing agreements; implementing ecommerce solutions; drafting web site terms of use; developing, distributing, licensing and supporting software, video games and other technology; and establishing and protecting franchise systems and other distribution systems. As well, he assists clients in complying with federal and provincial privacy legislation (including through privacy audits and drafting privacy consents and policies), Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), promotional contest laws, and gift card laws. He also advises on IP, IT, privacy, and related aspects of commercial transactions.
David has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for technology law, intellectual property law, and information technology law.