Theo Ling is a partner in Baker & McKenzie’s Toronto office. He heads the Firm's Canadian Information Technology/Communications (IT/C) Practice Group and is a senior member of the Global IT/C Practice Group, which is top ranked by Chambers and Partners in each of the areas of data protection, outsourcing, and technology and communications. Mr. Ling’s international commercial/regulatory practice is focused on technology-based issues and the converging computer, internet and communications industries.

Practice Focus

Mr. Ling is recognized for his creative, pragmatic, and solution-based approach, which he applies when helping market leading businesses develop and implement effective global strategies to: support multijurisdictional commercial activities and manage complex cross-border compliance risks. He chairs the Firm's Global Privacy and Information Management Steering Committee. Mr. Ling is also the lead editor of the Global Privacy Handbook, Baker & McKenzie's highly regarded resource to international data privacy laws and trends and coordinates BakerGPS (Global Privacy Strategy), a virtual privacy think-tank.

Representative Legal Matters

• Advises software and hardware manufacturers on a wide range of computer-related issues involving the sale and license of technology, acquisition of technology companies, outsourcing, and software development and consulting arrangements.
• Advises multinational corporate clients with respect to international commercial and regulatory compliance, privacy, information management, encryption, digital signature and electronic commerce issues.
• Advises providers of internet-based services, as well as corporate clients that utilize internet-based services, on issues related to websites, protection of intellectual property, domain names, licensing issues and electronic commerce.
• Advises clients on a variety of issues relating to the regulation of telecommunication services in Canada and on a multijurisdictional basis.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association - Electronic Commerce Division
• Law Society of Upper Canada
• Computer Law Association
• Canadian Bar Association
• Canada China Business Council
• Hong Kong Canada Business Association
• IT Canada Law Associate - Former Director and Chair of Privacy Sub-Committee
• Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association
• Toronto Lawyers Computer Group - Information Security Committee
• Canadian Uniform Law Conference Subcommittee on Electronic Commerce

Admission

Ontario~Canada (1994)

Education

Queen's University  (LL.B.) (1992)
London School of Economics and Political Science  (Master of Arts International Relations) (1989)
University of Toronto  (B.A. International Relations) (1988)