Legal and Regulatory Virtual Seminar

John Bassindale is a partner at Millar Kreklewetz LLP in Toronto, a top-ranked boutique law firm focusing on all aspects of Canadian commodity tax, customs and trade matters.  John’s practice includes both planning and litigation, including litigation before the Tax Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal.  He has contributed numerous articles on a variety of tax matters to various Canadian tax publications aimed at both lawyers and accountants.  John has served on the executive of the Ontario Bar Association’s Tax Law Section for several years including as Section Chair.  John now serves on the executive of the Canadian Bar Association’s Commodity Tax, Customs and Trade Section.

To learn more, visit Millar Kreklewetz LLP.

Eamonn Flaherty has a corporate and commercial law practice that includes national and multinational clients in a variety of sectors including manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Eamonn advises on matters related to financing, corporate governance, complex corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, major commercial agreements, service agreements, and regulatory approval. Many of the transactions he has worked on involve multiple Canadian jurisdictions or U.S.-Canada cross-border parties.

To learn more, visit Miller Thomson LLP.

Peter Maddox has served as the President of DSA Canada since 2018. As President, he is passionate about promoting the growing positive impact that direct selling has on Canadian individuals and communities, as well as ensuring that the Association remains an influential representative of its member companies. His role at DSA involves managing files as diverse as strategic planning, government relations, regulatory affairs, media relations, member engagement and being the public face of the organization.

Peter has extensive experience with associations and in marketing roles, having previously held positions with the Canadian Propane Association and Canadian Tire Corporation. Originally from Australia, Peter has worked for both the Australian Professional Engineers Association (now Professionals Australia) and the Australian Pharmacy Guild. He has an MBA from Chifley Business School and a Marketing Degree from the University of Tasmania, and is currently studying to become Certified Association Executive.

Jack Millar’s commodity tax practice encompasses all Canadian indirect taxes and includes all matters relating to Canada’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), and all matters relating to Canada’s various provincial sales taxes like the Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan retail sales taxes (RST), the British Columbia social services tax (SST), and the Quebec sales tax (QST). His Commodity Tax practice also encompasses a variety of other indirect taxes, like the Employer Health Tax (EHT), and a range of excise taxes applying to goods like tobacco, alcohol, jewellery, gasoline and other motive fuels.

To learn more, visit Millar Kreklewetz LLP

Matthew Powell is a patent prosecutor and professional engineer. He is sought after to rapidly understand clients’ business aims, grasp new and difficult technical ideas, and appreciate the economic impacts of new inventions. He directly advises chief executives, engineers, technology managers and legal counsel. Matthew works with various technologies arising in the fields of telecommunications, streaming video, computing, digital currency, financial services, image processing, authentication, semiconductors, AI, magnetic resonance imaging, location-based services, virtual reality, energy storage, drilling, advanced materials, construction, vending and others.

To learn more, visit Dickinson Wright.

Lewis Retik is a partner in Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office. He leads the Food and Beverage Group and co-leads the Cannabis Group.

His practice is focused primarily on regulatory and commercial law with respect to commercializing regulated products, including: regulatory licencing, product distribution, product classification, manufacturing, advertising, packaging, and labelling.

Lewis has extensive experience working with companies of all sizes, ranging from recent startups to large international companies in regulated industries, including: food, natural health products, cosmetic, drugs, and technology. He also addresses regulatory compliance and commercial issues that relate to e-commerce, multi-level marketing, direct selling, consumer protection, and products that use the radio frequency spectrum.

He is often responsible for working with clients to develop regulatory strategies that are both consumer-friendly and compliant.

In addressing client issues, Lewis regularly interacts with senior government officials within such departments and agencies as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), Competition Bureau, Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Environment Canada.

To learn more, visit Gowling WLG.

Kerry Tassopoulos focuses his practice on regulatory and compliance matters and provides guidance to his clients on the legal and regulatory challenges they face on a daily basis. He has a complex understanding of the regulatory priorities, policies, and enforcement approach of state, federal, and international governments. Kerry has advised clients on a wide array of FDA issues, ranging from premarket approvals, to labeling and post-market compliance, and enforcement actions as well as FTC regulation in the franchising, business opportunities, direct sales, and multi-level marketing, product claims, and product advertising areas.

Kerry has more than 35 years of experience as an attorney, lobbyist, and business executive and, during that time, he has successfully designed and implemented effective legal strategies to address complex matters. Prior to joining GrayRobinson, Kerry owned his own law firm, where he used his experience from his previous roles as Vice President, Public Affairs at Mary Kay, Inc., General Counsel of Jani-King International, and Director of Government Affairs at Excel Communications to assist clients with outside general counsel assistance, public affairs and government relations, and legal support in marketing and distribution and supply chain operations.

To learn more, visit GrayRobinson.

Sanjukta Tole is a lawyer and trademark agent. She advises a variety of clients, from SMEs to Fortune 500 companies, on all facets of brand management. She is highly experienced in the Canadian trademark prosecution process, including providing availability opinions, oppositions, cancellation proceedings, and management on international IP portfolios.

She also provides strategic guidance in enforcing their IP rights with a focus on domain name and Internet-related disputes, expungement proceedings and trademark infringement actions. On commercial transactions, Sanjukta advises on licensing/privacy/co-existence agreements and IP due diligence.

As an active member of the IP profession in Canada, Sanjukta is a co-author of Hughes on Trademarks (LexisNexis Butterworths) and Trademarks Act & Commentary (LexisNexis) and writes chapters in Canadian Forms & Precedents as well as the Halsburys’ Laws of Canada (Lexis) on trademarks. She recently also contributed to the introductory trademark chapter in the Canadian Trademark Law Benchbook (Westlaw Carswell). Sanjukta also participates in the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), the International Trademarks Association (INTA) and MARQUES, serving on various committees and teams. She was appointed to the Board of Examiners for the recently established College of Patent and Trademark Agents.

Sanjukta has been recognized for her work in various legal surveys, including Who’s Who Legal, IP Stars and Best Lawyers®.

To learn more, visit Dickinson Wright.

Michael Weinberger’s practice focuses on helping businesses seeking growth in Canada. In particular, Michael has developed three areas of expertise: Firstly, advising direct selling companies expanding into Canada. Secondly, guiding clients through privacy regulation and compliance. Thirdly, helping individuals buy, sell, and start companies. He is committed to giving effective advice to local, national, and international businesses in English, Spanish, French, and German.

To learn more, visit Siskinds.