Ellie's practice focuses on privacy, access to information, cybersecurity, AI governance, and related consumer protection issues. She advises public and private sector organizations operating in highly regulated industries, including health care and life sciences, financial services, energy and social media.
As a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/C), Ellie assists clients on a broad range of strategic and practical data governance matters including drafting privacy policies, responding to data subject requests, representing clients before privacy regulators, complying with transparency requirements for artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems, assisting with complex corporate transactions involving data-based assets and transborder data flows, complying with Canada's anti-spam legislation, and preparing for and responding to data breaches.
Ellie routinely handles freedom of information matters, including Information Commissioner of Canada investigations, and provides advice to government institutions on their disclosure obligations and to third parties affected by access requests. She was also counsel to the Toronto Star in the precedent-setting Supreme Court of Canada appeal about whether the estate court files of Barry and Honey Sherman should be sealed from public view on the basis of privacy concerns.
Ellie also advises clients on regulatory compliance in the health-care sector, including for virtual care and digital health initiatives. She assists clients in navigating health profession regulations, medicare regulations, conflicts of interest, regulatory licenses and approvals, and other specialized health sector regulations. Ellie also has significant experience providing advice on accessibility legislation across Canada, including the federal Accessible Canada Act and Ontario's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
Ellie joined Blakes after summering and articling with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General in the Legal Services Branch of the Ministries of Health and Long-Term Care. Her scholarly work has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals, including the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology.
