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
Tyson Gratton — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
David Spratley — DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, Vancouver
About the Faculty
I am a technology and privacy lawyer who loves working with video game, virtual and augmented reality, information technology, and ecommerce businesses. From one person indie shops through to AAA studios and all points in between, I am always thrilled to help a client solve a problem or secure a deal.
I work with creators, developers, integrators, innovators, distributors, and service providers across Canada, the US, and abroad. My practice is focused on drafting effective licensing and master service agreements; negotiating publishing and distribution deals; and advising on consumer protection and privacy matters. As a former television executive, I know what it's like to be on the other side of the lawyer-client relationship and actively work to not simply flag issues but to provide effective solutions as well.
I am also proud to be an Adjunct Professor for the Centre for Business Law at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC; I work with upper-year law students to provide pro bono business law advice to qualified businesses in beautiful Vancouver, BC.
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.