Theo C. Ling
Biography
Theo Ling heads Baker McKenzie's Canadian technology and data practice and is a member of the Commercial, Data, IPTech, and Trade Practice Group, as well as the Technology, Media & Telecoms and Financial Institutions Industry Groups.
Recognized for his expertise in artificial intelligence, data privacy, cybersecurity, information governance, technology media communications, and procurement law, Theo's practice lies at the intersection of technology, data, and law.
Theo is ranked by several legal directories, including Chambers, Legal 500, and Best Lawyers, where he is described as "a knowledgeable technology lawyer, with a practical, 'can-do' attitude who is excellent at getting things done." Named by the Financial Times as one of the Top Ten Most Innovative Lawyers in North America, Theo founded the legal industry's first global legal innovation lab focused on multidisciplinary collaboration.
Practice Focus
Theo is known for his creative, pragmatic, and solution-based approach, helping market-leading businesses develop and implement effective global strategies to support multijurisdictional commercial activities and manage complex cross-border compliance risks. His international commercial and regulatory practice focuses on data and technology-related issues, including digital transformation, data governance, data privacy, data security, electronic payments, data monetization, records retention, media/format, electronic signatures, cross-border data transfers, digitization, fintech, and AI and machine learning considerations.
He advises clients on internet-related services involving smart/connected devices regulated under telecommunications and broadcasting laws. Theo also provides counsel on the sale and license of technology, acquisition of technology companies, outsourcing, and software development and consulting arrangements. His clients include highly regulated multinational entities in technology, financial services, healthcare, pharma, and energy and infrastructure industries, seeking advice on managing various stages of their information life cycle and legal data analytics.
Representative Legal Matters
- Advises companies on a wide range of issues involving the sale and license of technology, acquisition of technology companies, outsourcing, and software development and consulting arrangements.
- Advises highly regulated multinational clients in the financial services, healthcare, pharma, energy and infrastructure, and technology industries with respect to the full range of information life cycle management issues relating to corporate data and legal data analytics.
- 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 Honors
- Recognized as a "Best Lawyer," in Technology Law, Best Lawyers, 2020-2025
- Ranked in Information Technology, Chambers Global, 2014-2024
- Ranked in Information Technology, Chambers Canada, 2016-2024
- Recommended and Banded in Technology, Legal 500, 2019-2024
- Named One of the Top 10 Most Innovative Lawyers in North America, The Financial Times, 2016
Professional Associations and Memberships
- International Technology Law Association
- Canadian Technology Law Association
- International Association of Privacy Professionals (CIPP US)
- Canadian Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Law Society of Ontario
Admissions
- Ontario~Canada (1994)
Education
- Queen's University (LL.B.) (1992)
- The London School of Economics and Political Science (Master of Arts International Relations) (1989)
- University of Toronto (Trinity College) (B.A. International Relations) (1988)
Languages
- English