TOPIC

There are very few technology lawyers with legal careers spanning punched cards, the birth of the Internet, Y2K, the dotcom bubble, off-shoring, outsourcing, Watson, mobile and cloud computing and Apps.  And only one who has been involved in and has lead the Canadian charge for global information technology giant IBM.

Come and hear Jay Safer, recently retired General Counsel of IBM Canada, reflect on his time at IBM Canada and how the IT industry has changed over his almost four decades’ long career, as TCLG and special guests celebrate his accomplishments and contributions to Canada and technology law.

Lunch will be served at noon and the presentation will begin at 12:15.

ABOUT JAY

After completing his law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School, Jay worked at Rosenfeld, Schwartz for two and one-half years, principally in litigation.  He joined IBM Canada as Legal Counsel in 1977.  Jay progressed rapidly at IBM Canada and, after a stint in the United States with IBM Corporation, was appointed General Counsel of IBM Canada in 2000.  Over his career, Jay’s practice areas have involved Hardware, Software, all services including outsourcing, Financing, Real Estate, HR, Corporate Secretarial, M & A and Manufacturing.  As the third IBM Canada General Counsel after Grant Murray and Art James, Jay has supported 8 IBM Canada CEOs while participating as a member of the company’s senior leadership team.

Jay:

• Until December 31, 2015 was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of IBM Canada
• Received the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Award in 2013 for his work with ITAC on Federal Government Contracting
• Acted as President of the Association of Canadian General Counsel in 2011
• Was Director of the Canadian IT Law Association (IT.CAN) from 2006 – 2010)
• Has been a regular speaker at legal conferences and co-chaired IT.CAN’s 14th Annual Conference in Montreal in 2010

Over Jay’s career at IBM Canada, technology law in Canada has undergone dramatic changes, from focussing on whether there was copyright in software to the Privacy, Security and Cybersecurity questions that are so much a part of today’s agendas.  We will hear lots more about these events, and many others, as Jay and his colleagues, counterparts and competitors reflect on his many contributions.

COST FOR ATTENDANCE

Cost for attendance: ten dollars ($10) for members and students, twenty dollars ($20) for non-members, payable at the meeting. Receipts will be available. Cheques should be made payable to the Toronto Computer Lawyers’ Group.

MEMBERSHIP (2015-2016)

The cost of a 2015-2016 membership (September 2015 – June 2016) for lawyers is fifty-five dollars ($55), and articling students and law school students may join the TCLG free of charge by indicating that they are “students” on the membership application form. Please see the online membership page for further details: http://www.tclg.org/membership. You can join the TCLG and pay for your membership online.

REGISTRATION

Please register before 10:00 am on Friday, February 5, 2016. Registrations will not be confirmed. Substitutions are permitted anytime. Registrants who do not attend and do not cancel or send a substitute may be invoiced for lunch. Please e-mail registrations or cancellations to: secretary@tclg.org.

When registering, please advise if you have any dietary restrictions.

SPREAD THE WORD

Please circulate this notice to business associates, clients, colleagues or others who may be interested in attending a meeting or joining the TCLG.