Aaron Baer

Professional Involvement

Membership

• Canadian/Ontario Bar Association
• International Legal Technology Association (ILTA)
• Legal Innovators' Roundtable
• Toronto Legal KM Group
• Editor, Codify Legal Publishing’s Monthly Privacy Report 
• Editor, Codify Legal Publishing’s Monthly Corporate/Commercial Report

Representative Matters

Represented MediPharm Labs Corp., a global leader in specialized, research-driven pharmaceutical-quality cannabis extraction, distillation and derivative products, in an asset purchase transaction.

Advising Cubigo, multinational technology company, on its expansion into Canada. Cubigo is an integrated community platform that digitizes daily services in senior living communities. The technology is used by leading long-term care residences and Cubigo partners with notable brands like Lyft and Comcast.

Representing BDO Canada in its capacity as the court-appointed receiver of 908593 Ontario Limited, operating as Eagle Travel Plaza, et al., in the sale of assets pursuant to an insolvency proceeding commenced by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Canada. 

Advising Mercury, a San Francisco-based company that provides banking built for startups, on its expansion into Canada. The innovative company is powering the next generation of business by providing full-service bank accounts that help tech companies scale.

Advising AIMS Canada, a global leadership and consulting firm, on its expansion into Canada. AIMS Canada is a member of AIMS International staffing and recruitment firm, a global company that supports its clients with executive searches, leadership development, executive coaching and talent management in over 50 countries worldwide.

Advising Grifa Filmes, a Brazilian production company that produces documentaries and series, on its expansion into Canada. The company has two documentaries that qualified for the Oscars and has received three Emmy nominations.

Advising fizor., an innovative consultancy firm providing high-quality business consultancy and enterprise applications, on its expansion into Canada. The European-based firm supports SMB, SME and Large Enterprise clients globally with their transition to modern enterprise technology and application infrastructures.

Advising Attached, a language services and solutions company founded in the Netherlands, on its expansion into Canada. The company provides a wide range of translation services (legal, marketing, finance, e-learning, etc.), content creation and localization to clients located around the world.

Advising Rallyware, a company founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that deploys workforce engagement solutions, on its expansion into Canada. The technology is used by companies in more than 50 countries and has impacted over 10 million people.

Advising MedTrix Healthcare Communications, a technology company that helps pharmaceutical companies actively engage with health-care professionals, on its expansion into Canada.

Advising Galen Data on its expansion into Canada. The U.S.-based software company provides device-to-cloud connectivity and data analysis, harnessing the power of medical information to lead to new innovations in the health-care sector.

Advising People.ai on its expansion into Canada and establishing operations in Toronto. The San Francisco-based company accelerates enterprise growth through AI and machine learning for some of the world’s leading brands.

Advising VFX Legion, a well-known visual effects studio based out of Los Angeles, on its expansion into Canada. The studio’s portfolio of work includes high-profile and critically acclaimed television shows and feature films, including Scandal, Madam Secretary, The Purge: Election Year, How to Get Away with Murder and Suits.

Advising Gatik AI, an autonomous vehicles company based in California, on its expansion into Canada.

Represented 1Password in the completion of a US$200 million Series A Round led by Accel, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. The investment provides Accel with a minority, non-controlling interest in 1Password and marks one of the largest Series A rounds ever raised by a Canadian tech company.

Represented Baylin Technologies Inc. (TSX:BYL), a diversified leading global wireless technology management company, in the completion of a $40.25 million bought deal public offering of subscription receipts and 6.5% extendible convertible unsecured debentures and the related acquisition of Alga Microwave Inc.

Acted on behalf of Shahid Khan in his purchase of the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. The purchase represents the largest single-asset price-per-room hotel transaction in Canadian history. Through various family holdings, Mr Khan took immediate ownership of the hotel, which will continue to be managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. 

Acted for Sobeys on regulatory compliance issues regarding the 2013 acquisition of Canada Safeway for a cash purchase price of $5.8 billion.

Acted for PCL Constructors Canada Inc. on the McMaster Children’s Health Centre P3 Project. 

Acted for PCL Constructors Canada Inc. on the Regina Stadium P3 Project.

Selected Speaking Engagements

"Panel Discussion on a Sample Transaction," OBA Commercial Agreements Bootcamp 2020, November 24, 2020.

"Practical Advice for Assessing and Mapping Your Options As You Advance in Your Practice," Young Lawyers Summit, November 24, 2020. 

"Intro to Legal Innovation," Student Legal Innovation Association, November 13, 2020.

"The Practice of Law in the ‘Gig’ Economy: The “Uberisation” of Legal Services and What it Means for Lawyers, Law Firms and the Regulation of the Profession," IBA 2020 – Virtually Together Conference, November 4, 2020.

“Expanding into Ontario, Overview of Corporate and Employment Considerations,” Toronto Global Forum 2020, October 26, 2020.

"Covid Immunity and Business Liability," Bringham Young University Law School, October 26, 2020.

"The Canadian Landscape for Business Expansion and Relocation," Aird & Berlis Technology Webinar, September 16, 2020.

"Integrating Tech into Your Daily Practice – Practical Ideas Using Technology in the New Remote Environment," Canadian Lawyer Legal Tech Virtual Summit, September 15, 2020.

"Tips and Tricks for Succeeding in 1L," Webinar, August 26, 2020. 

"The Changing Insurance Landscape Amid COVID-19," Centre for Study of Insurance Operations Webinar, August 24, 2020.

"What Startups Need to Know about Corporate Law," Founder Institute Webinar, July 15, 2020.

“How to Scale Fast & Reduce Costs with Remote Dev Teams in Canada” – June 4, 2020 with Boast.AI and VanHack (webinar)

"Expanding Your Business to Canada - A Legal Primer for Tech Companies," Aird & Berlis Technology Webinar, May 5, 2020.

"Crisis Management: What companies should know when responding to COVID-19," April 13, 2020.

"The Virtual Office: Effectively Developing a Secure Work-From-Home IT Solution," Aird & Berlis Technology Webinar, April 9, 2020.

“Rethinking the Shape, Scope and Trajectory of the Legal Career,” Canadian Legal Innovation Forum, March 5, 2020.

“Privacy Law Panel,” Osgoode Hall Law School, October 21, 2019.

“Doing Business in Canada,” Marseille in Canada 2019, July 8, 2019.

“Privacy and Cyber Security Risks and Liabilities,” The Six-Minute Business Lawyer 2019, June 12, 2019.

“Adoption of Legal Tech: A Big Law Perspective,” Lawyer 2.0 - The Future of Legal Practice, Queen's University, November 17, 2018.

“Legal Innovation: What's Here, What's Near and What's Further Away,” Aird & Berlis Technology Webinar, June 7, 2018.

“The Power of Blockchain in Business,” Aird & Berlis Technology Webinar, April 25, 2018.

Selected Publications

Co-author, "The First Step to Protecting Your Brand in Canada," Market Expansion Bulletin, November 10, 2020.

Co-author, "Legislative Requirements for Ontario Workplaces," Market Expansion Bulletin, October 27, 2020.

Co-author, “Expanding to Canada is About to Get Even Simpler,” Market Expansion Bulletin, October 14, 2020. 

Co-author, "Pathway to Canadian Immigration: Why Purchasing an Existing Canadian Business May Be Right for You," Market Expansion Bulletin, October 9, 2020.

Co-author, Canada chapter of “Guidelines and Regulations to Provide Insights on Public Policies to Ensure AI’s Beneficial Use as a Professional Tool,” Artificial Intelligence Working Group of the International Bar Association Alternative New Law and Business Structures Committee publication, September 2020.

Co-author, "Is Your Business Growing? Make Sure You’re Compliant With Pay Equity Obligations," Market Expansion Bulletin, September 10, 2020.

Co-author, "Guide to Incorporating in Canada," August 19, 2020.

Co-author, "Key Differences in Employment Law between Canada and the United States," August 19, 2020.

Co-author, "Global Mobility in the Wake of U.S. Order to Ban the Entry of Foreign Workers to the United States," Aird & Berlis LLP Workplace Law Bulletin, July 16, 2020.

Author, "Growth vs. Fixed Mindset – How Lawyers Can Better Embrace the Changes Resulting From COVID-19," The Lawyer's Daily, July 14, 2020.

Co-author, "Uber v. Heller: Supreme Court Throws Out Dutch Arbitration Clause As Unconscionable," Aird & Berlis LLP Litigation Bulletin, July 9, 2020 and The Lawyer's Daily, July 23, 2020.

Co-author, "Expanding Your Business to Canada," April 9, 2020.

Author, "Boosting the Rate of Technology Adoption," The Spotlight, February 21, 2020.

Co-author, "Canada’s New Digital Charter and What this Means for PIPEDA," The Spotlight, June 13, 2019.

Co-author, "Directors and Officers May Be Found Personally Liable Under CASL," The Spotlight, May 28, 2019.

Education

• JD, University of Western Ontario, 2013
• HBA, Richard Ivey School of Business, 2013
• Student Exchange Program, National University of Singapore (NUS) Faculty of Law, 2012