Stephen Zolf

• Chambers Global: The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Telecommunications & Broadcasting
• Chambers Canada, Telecoms, Media & Broadcasting (Canada)
• The Legal 500 Canada, Technology, Media and Telecoms
• Global Leader in Who's Who Legal Global: Telecoms & Media, National Leader in Who's Who Legal Canada: Sports & Entertainment and Who's Who Legal Canada: Data
• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Telecommunications and Entertainment Law
• Listed in the Lexpert Special Edition: Technology 2020
• The Best Lawyers in Canada, Communications Law (2018 “Lawyer of the Year”), Entertainment Law, Defamation & Media Law, Advertising & Marketing Law

Memberships

• Canadian Bar Association
• American Bar Association

Professional Activities

• Canadian Bar Association (Ontario) - Executive Committee, Entertainment, Media and Communications Section (1995-2015) (Past Chair)
• Legal Alert (Carswell), Editor (Telecommunications) (1997-2017)

Represented Powerfleet, Inc. (Nasdaq: AIOT), a global AIoT SaaS provider, in its acquisition and related financing of Fleet Complete, a leader in connected vehicle technology and fleet management. 

Represented Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, a leading owner-operator of distinctive urban workspace in Canada’s major cities, in the acquisition from Westbank of a 90% ownership interest in 400 West Georgia Street in Vancouver, and an additional 45% ownership interest in 19 Duncan Street in Toronto (increasing Allied’s ownership interest to 95%). The transaction was based on an aggregate property value of $920.7 million.

Advised Phillips Foods Inc., a U.S.-based global processor and distributor of branded seafood products, in the acquisition of the assets of South Shore Seafoods Group of Companies, a Canadian seafood processor and distributor.

Acted as Canadian counsel to Kuehne+Nagel with respect to its acquisition of Farrow, a Canadian customs brokerage, transportation and logistics business.

Represented Linamar Corporation in its acquisition of Bourgault Industries Ltd., a leading agricultural equipment manufacturer, for $640 million. In conjunction with the Bourgault transaction closing, Linamar also finalized a new $700-million term loan agreement.

Represented Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, a leading operator of distinctive urban workspace in Canada’s major cities, in the sale of its network-dense urban datacentre portfolio to Japanese telecommunications provider KDDI Corporation for $1.35 billion.

Represented a U.S. private equity firm that invests in technology, business services and industrial companies as Canadian counsel in its acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of a Canadian-based cybersecurity firm and amendments to the fund’s term and asset-based credit arrangements.

Represented a leading global transportation industry manufacturer and supplier as Canadian counsel in its purchase of certain assets of a cross-border privately-owned commercial vehicle, bus and trailer manufacturing business.

Represented a U.S. private equity firm as Canadian counsel in connection with its acquisition of a Canadian software company focused on streamlining operations and improving operational efficiency in the manufacturing industry.

Represented Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. as Canadian counsel in connection with its majority ownership acquisition of FloWorks International, LLC.

Advised Origin, an outdoor-focused, digitally driven creative, content and branding agency, in connection with its acquisition by MMGY Global, a leading travel and hospitality marketing firm.

Acted as Ontario and Quebec counsel to Gillfor Distribution Inc. in connection with the acquisition and financing of AFA Forest Products Inc., a leading and long-standing distributor for building products in Canada.

Advising Linamar Corporation (TSX: LNR) in connection with its acquisition of the Salford group of companies for an aggregate purchase price of $260 million.

Advising Putman Investments Inc., a Canadian-based, family-owned enterprise, on its acquisition of Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us Canada from Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited.

Counsel to broadband/ISP companies with respect to a site-blocking injunction proceedings before the Federal Court of Appeal.

Regulatory counsel on major CRTC proceedings to examine the wholesale access framework for wireline and wireless facilities.

Advising clients on merger reviews under the Competition Act, including sector-specific advice in merger transactions in the transportation sector and related approvals under the Canada Transportation Act.

Advising companies on Health Canada and Ad Standards Canada compliance matters with respect to advertising natural health products in Canadian media.

Regulatory counsel to a major Canadian telecom/media company on the transfer of control of its media businesses.

Advising major U.S. studios on acquisitions and commercial transactions in Canada and on regulatory and competition law matters.

Advising a major Canadian private equity firm on industry Canada licensing framework relating to the transfer of AWS wireless spectrum licences.

Representing a major Canadian telecom/media company on regulatory approval of the transfer of control under the Broadcasting Act and Competition Act in connection with a proposed acquisition.

Advising cable programming services on issues related to foreclosure, vertical integration and abuse of dominance provisions under the Competition Act.

Representing rights holders of sound recordings in tariff proceedings before the Canadian Copyright Board.

Advising a Canadian broadcaster on proceedings before the Supreme Court of Canada relating to the CRTC’s jurisdiction to establish a fee for signal regime.

Representing Canadian film distributors before the Canadian Copyright Board on the use of copyrighted audio visual material.

Counsel to an international association of Internet service providers before the Supreme Court of Canada (Tariff 22 proceeding).

Legal counsel to cable operators with respect to the retransmission tariff proceedings before the Canadian Copyright Board.

Shaw Communications Inc. – Regulatory counsel on the acquisition of Shaw Media Inc. by Corus Entertainment Inc.

Berry Plastics Inc. – Canadian Competition/Merger review process.

Advising major U.S. studios on acquisitions and commercial transactions in Canada and on regulatory and competition law matters.

Advising major Canadian private equity firm on competition law issues and Industry Canada licensing framework relating to the transfer of AWS wireless spectrum licences.

Shaw Communications Inc. – regulatory counsel on acquisition of restructured CanWest Global Communications Corp.

Rogers Communications Inc. – regulatory compliance under the Broadcasting Act and Competition Act in connection with a proposed media acquisition.

Advising cable programming services on issues related to foreclosure, vertical integration and abuse of dominance provisions under section 78 and 79 of the Competition Act.

AVLA – Commercial radio tariff (Canadian Copyright Board).

V Interactions Television Network – Application for Leave to Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada re: CRTC jurisdiction over “value for signal” regime.

Canadian Film Distributors and Exporters, Copyright Board – Copyright Board proceeding on proposed SODRAC video copy tariff.

International Association of Internet Service Providers – Supreme Court of Canada appeal on Tariff 22 (Internet).

Retransmission copyright collective – tariff on distant radio and television signals (Copyright Board).

"Litigation Landscape: Developments in Canadian and International Communications and Media Legal Cases," IIC Canada 2024 Conference, October 21-22, 2024.

"Telecommunications: Re-examining Facilities-Based Competition," CBA Competition Law Fall Conference, October 26-27, 2023 (Moderator).

"Examining Bill C-19: The Criminalization of Wage-Fixing and No-Poaching Agreements in Canada," Aird & Berlis, May 2023 (Webinar).

"Lessons from Cineplex v. Cineworld – A Case Study," CBA Competition Law Spring Online Symposium, May 2022.

Canadians Doing Business in Cuba: Implications Under the Helms/Burton Act, June 2019 (Webinar).

Malware, Adware and Spyware – Legal and Regulatory Issues, June 2018 (Webinar).

Copyright Act Reform: Key Issues for the Five-Year Review, International Institute of Communications Canadian Chapter Annual Conference, November 14-15, 2017 (Moderator).

Foreign Participation on the Market – Change is in the Air, Insight Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa, February 24-25, 2014 (Conference Co-Chair).

What’s New for Fixed and Mobile Networks, Insight Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa, February 24-25, 2014 (Conference Co-Chair).

Copyright, content and filtering/blocking:  how can we ensure open access to the Internet while protecting IP (Chair), International Institute of Communications (IIC), Telecommunications and Media Forum, Washington, DC (2012).

Perspectives on Canada’s New Copyright Laws:  Bill C-11 and the Canadian Supreme Court’s Copyright Pentalogy, ABA Section of International Law International Intellectual Property Rights Committee, Canada Committee, teleconference (2012).

Lawful Access to ISP Data – what the new legislation will mean for you, Insight 9th Annual Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa (2012).

CRTC Wireless Code of Conduct:  Constitutional Law Issues, Insight 9th Annual Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa (2012).

Understanding Fair Dealing: Copyright Primer for CLE Providers, Association of Canadian Legal Education Directors (ACLED), Toronto (2012).

The Copyright Modernization Act (Bill C-11): Striking the Balance to Foster Innovation and Digital Rights Management (DRM), Heenan Blaikie 8 Minute Updates: Protecting Innovation, Toronto (2012).

New Rights for Performers and Makers of Sound Recordings, Osgoode Professional Development Understanding Bill C-11: The Copyright Modernization Act, Toronto (2012).

International Institute of Communications (IIC) (Canadian Chapter), 2011 Conference: Towards a Digital Economy for Canada, Plenary Panel, “Copyright and the Digital Economy,” November 2011.

"Glencore’s Acquisition of Teck: Impact on the Future of Mining Transactions in Canada," Aird & Berlis, August 2024.

"Employers, Take Note! Amendments to the Competition Act Have Criminalized Wage-Fixing and No-Poaching Agreements," Aird & Berlis, May 2023.

"Bill C-11 Proposes to Regulate Canada’s Online Streaming Services," Internet and E-Commerce in Canada, April 2022.

“Government Releases Plan for Auction of Spectrum in 600MHz Band,” Legal Alert, December 2017.

“Blame Licensing, Not CRTC for Streaming Restrictions,” The Lawyers Weekly, March 2016.

“CRTC’s Revised Regulatory Framework for Wholesale HSA Services,” Legal Alert, December 2015.

“Recent Changes to the Investment Canada Act Will Affect Investments by Non-Canadians,” Corporate Financing, Volume XIX, No. 4, 2015.

• LLB, University of Toronto, 1987
• M.Sc. (Econ.), London School of Economics and Political Science, 1983
• BA (Econ.), University of British Columbia, 1981