
Overview
Monique McAlister is a partner in one of the firm’s Business Law groups.
Her practice focuses on regulatory, public and commercial law, with expertise in communications, privacy and data protection, consumer protection, copyright, competition, advertising, anti-spam, telemarketing, and pensions and benefits.
Monique provides advice on a broad range of issues to clients, including those in the communications and digital media industries, with respect to Canadian regulation of broadcasting and digital media; public policy-making; copyright infringement; foreign ownership restrictions on cross-border media investments; CRTC licensing, renewal and amendment applications; distribution agreements; affiliation agreements; program supply and program production agreements; merger reviews; and consumer protection and disclosure requirements for e-commerce; misleading advertising and claims substantiation; packaging and labelling and promotional contests.
In respect of pensions and benefits, Monique provides advice on regulatory and compliance issues related to pension investments.
Monique is recognized for her work in four key areas: (1) communications law/telecommunications and broadcasting; (2) data; (3) technology; and (4) advertising and marketing law. She was named “Best of the Best” in the 2021 Global Expert Guide in Telecommunications; Lawyer of the Year for Communications Law in 2022 by Best Lawyers in Canada; is recommended as a Global Leader in Telecoms, Media & Entertainment in 2022 and a National Leader in Data in 2021 by Who’s Who Legal; and is named as one of Canada’s top-ranked lawyers in Lexpert’s Special Edition on Technology and Health Sciences 2022. She is also recognized as a leading lawyer by Chambers Global and Chambers Canada for telecoms, media and broadcasting; by Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Technology, Media and Telecommunications Lawyers and Euromoney’s Guide to the World's Leading Women in Business Law for technology, media and telecommunications; and by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and by Best Lawyers in Canada for advertising and marketing law.
Expertise
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Advertising and Marketing
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AI
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Anti-Spam and Malware
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Communications and Media
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Competition and Foreign Investment
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Competition Bureau investigations
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Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
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Entertainment
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Freedom of Information
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Intellectual Property
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Mergers and Acquisitions
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Privacy and Data Protection
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Technology
Featured Work
Monique’s representative work includes:
- Advising various Canadian and non-Canadian clients on legislative amendments, laws and regulatory policies applicable to linear broadcasting and online streaming services and other direct-to-consumer businesses.
- Acting as counsel on applications and policy submissions to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC); Heritage Canada; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED); and the Copyright Board.
- Acting on investigations before the Cartels and Deceptive Marketing Practices Branch of the Competition Bureau.
- Liaising with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and provincial privacy commissioners.
Awards & Recognition
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Chambers Global Band 2, Telecommunications and Broadcasting 2023
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory Recognized, Telecommunications 2023
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Chambers Canada Band 2, Telecommunications and Broadcasting 2023
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The Legal 500 Canada Leading Individual, Telecoms 2023
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Who's Who Legal Recommended Global Leader, Telecoms and Media 2023
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Best Lawyers in Canada Recognized: Advertising and Marketing Law, Communications Law 2023
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Monique is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto Law School, where she teaches about “The Role of the CRTC” as part of the Entertainment Law course.
Board of Directors, International Institute of Communications (IIC) - Canadian Chapter.
Steering Committee, IIC Communications Law and Policy Conference.
Credentials
- Osgoode Hall Law School, LL.B., 1996, (1993/94 Prize in Civil Procedure)
- University of Toronto, B.A., 1992, (with High Distinction, Graduation Prize in Sociology)
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association, Entertainment, Media and Communications Law Section
Call to Bar
- 1998 Ontario
Insights
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Privacy and Data Protection
B.C. Court Rules Facebook Liable for Privacy Violations in Class Action
Another chapter in the now decade-long saga of Douez v. Facebook was penned earlier this month as a British Columbia Court found Facebook liable for providing advertisers access to users… -
Financial Services Regulatory
FSRA Initiates Consultation on Guidance for Principles-Based Regulation
On March 16, 2022, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) initiated a consultation on its proposed Principles-Based Regulation Approach Guidance (the “Proposed PBR Guidance… -
Dispute Resolution
Federal Privacy Regulation 2.0: Now with Bite and Bark
This week, the Canadian Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry introduced for first reading in Parliament Bill C-11, An Act to enact the Consumer Privacy Protection Act and the Personal… -
Class Actions
Clarity Emerging in Data Breach Class Actions and the Risks Are High
A recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court suggests that judges are increasingly willing to certify class actions brought in respect of data breaches. That willingness, when combined with the… -
Dispute Resolution
Privacy Commissioner of Canada Rules on Loblaw Gift Card Program
Last week, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada determined that Loblaw Companies Ltd. initially collected more personal information than it needed with respect to the $25 Loblaw gift cards it made… -
Privacy and Data Protection
Privacy Commissioner Retains Original Policy on Cross-Border Transfers of Personal Information
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) announced yesterday that it concluded its “Consultation on transborder dataflows” (the “Consultation”) and determined that its 2009 Guidelines…
News & Events
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Banking and Financial Services
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023 Continues to Recognize Goodmans
We are proud to announce we have once again been recognized in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2023.85 Goodmans lawyers have been recognized as top-tier in their fields and leaders across… -
Banking and Financial Services
Chambers and Partners Continues to Honour Goodmans with Global Recognition
We are proud to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top tier recognition from Chambers and Partners in the Chambers Global 2023 Guide released today. Recognition from Chambers and… -
Banking and Financial Services
The Legal 500 Canada Continues to Recognize Goodmans with Top Tier Rankings
We are pleased to announce Goodmans LLP has once again received top tier recognition from The Legal 500 Canada in their 2023 Guide released today. Recognition from The Legal 500 is based on…