Stephen Zolf Bio

Stephen Zolf is a member of the firm’s Corporate/Commercial, Telecommunications, Sports & Media and Technology Groups. Stephen has expertise in regulatory, public law, competition law and copyright law. Trained as a regulatory economist and as a lawyer, Stephen’s expertise extends to advising clients on merger clearance under the Competition Act as well as foreign investment in Canada under the Investment Canada Act. He assists clients in a number of sectors, including the Canadian trade and investment regime, marketing and advertising matters and compliance under the Health Canada regulatory framework. Stephen has been recognized as an industry expert in communications and media law. His deep understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in the Canadian communications sector enables him to guide clients in implementing new business models in the Internet environment of rapidly evolving digital distribution networks and platforms. Stephen has advised telecommunications clients on the CRTC’s regulatory framework for wholesale access to telecommunications facilities, including wireline facilities and mobile wireless services. He represents clients before Industry Canada on spectrum policy matters and licence transfers. He also regularly represents media and content companies on matters, including rights clearances and copyright law, Canadian content rules and regulations, the Canadian tax credit regime and on intellectual property issues governing producers and content creators. Stephen has experience before many administrative tribunals and agencies, including the CRTC, the Canadian Copyright Board, the Competition Bureau and Industry Canada. He has also acted as regulatory/legal counsel in a number of major high profile Canadian media/telecom transactions. Stephen has strong communication skills and a personable approach, and publishes and speaks frequently on regulatory law and policy. He has been consistently recognized as a leading practitioner of communications and media law by Chambers and Partners, Lexpert, Best Lawyers and Legal Media Group. Stephen was the Telecommunications Contributor to Legal Alert (Carswell) for over 20 years. Before becoming a lawyer, Stephen worked as an economist and policy advisor for the Canadian government in the area of competition policy, regulatory reform and telecommunications.