L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic students at the 2024 Fall CAN-TECH conference. Left to right: Daniel Rosenthal (3L), Carly Lafond (3L), Ken Vong (2L), Paul Chorney (2L), Serena Bevilacqua (2L), Kassandra Taverner (3L), Lauren Martin (3L), Skylar Ferbers (3L), Jordan Wagner (3L), Connor Giesbrecht (3L).
Exploring New Frontiers in Technology and Law
L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic Students Attend the Canadian Technology Law Association’s 2024 Fall Conference
On October 7 and 8, 2024, 10 law students from the Faculty of Law’ s L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic attended the Canadian Technology Law Association’s (“CAN-TECH”) 2024 Fall Technology Conference in Toronto, Ontario.
The conference explored critical topics at the intersection of technology and law, including artificial intelligence (“AI”), innovation, intellectual property (IP), data privacy, emerging regulations and brought together legal thought-leaders from across Canada. This was an incredible opportunity for law students to not only learn about the latest developments in technology and law, but to also engage with leading professionals in this space.
“Many of us were drawn to attending CAN-TECH’s fall conference because of its focus on cutting-edge issues in technology, IP and law, and it was exciting to meet and learn from others who share this passion”, said Kassandra Taverner (3L).
Over the two days, students heard from trailblazing lawyers and professionals in technology, whose insights were both inspiring and eye-opening.
Skylar Ferbers (3L), Lauren Martin (3L), Julie Chapman (Vice President and Head of Legal at LexisNexis North America).
Julie Chapman, a leading voice on the future of generative AI in the legal profession, spoke as a panelist on AI and the law. Chapman is the Vice President and Head of Legal at LexisNexis North America. She provided advice on navigating a career in law as technology continues to develop at a rapid pace. “Use AI to set yourself apart! We used to do legal research in libraries, and then we switched to online databases, which made lawyers more efficient, the same thing will happen with AI,” she said, highlighting the importance of persistence and adaptability in this fast-paced field.
Kelley Irwin spoke on women in groundbreaking roles. Irwin currently acts as a Board Director and Strategic Advisor and has 35 years of technology and executive management experience, including 10 years as a Chief Information Officer (CIO). When asked about building confidence in a male dominated space, she said that it is something that comes with time but also emphasized the importance of a strong mentor: “I’ll never forget when my coach told me to not be afraid to take up space at the table. Don’t minimize yourself.”
Jennifer Davidson, partner at Deeth Williams Wall (Toronto) and Co-Chair of their Technology Law Group, was the moderator on an exciting talk focused on space law. When asked how she ended up in her current practice area, she provided advice to law students who may still be unsure what their future holds, “just jump in and try it, you don’t know what you’ll like until you try it.”
Skylar Ferbers (3L), Jennifer Davidson (Partner at Deeth Williams Wall, Co-Chair of their Technology Law Group, and Past President of CAN-TECH Law), Lauren Martin (3L).
Parna Sabet-Stephenson, leader of Gowling WLG’s Financial Services & Technology Group, provided advice to young women in law, “Don’t be intimidated, the landscape of the legal field is changing. Be confident, disintegrate the speed bumps, don’t let them slow you down.”
“Attending the CAN-TECH Law Conference was a completely unique experience from the classroom. It provided real-world insights with industry experts discussing current trends. The opportunity to learn and network with legal leaders made it an especially valuable learning experience,” said Jordan Wagner (3L).
We are grateful for the opportunity to have been part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking conference event, and look forward to applying what we’ve learned as we move forward helping clients and on our career paths.