Robert Percival Partner | Toronto

Robert has advised:

• A leading Canadian digital bank in connection with the negotiation and implementation of a core banking cloud-based platform and services agreement with Temenos AG

• Several major organizations in connection with the negotiation of global cloud services platform agreements with Google, AWS and other cloud services providers, including data protection, data security and global data transfers advice

• A global Canadian loyalty analytics company in connection with a multi-jurisdictional virtual private cloud (VPC) and application maintenance and development outsourced service agreement, including in respect of the transfer and processing of consumer data

• Several Canadian and global financial institutions in connection with numerous IT services/outsourcing, cloud services and other technology transactions, including in relation to equities and currency trading systems, back-office functions, mortgage processing, data management, mutual fund, HR/scheduling, procurement, payroll and many other systems

• A Canadian Crown corporation in connection with its implementation of Mendix RAD (rapid application development) cloud-based platform in an SAP cloud environment

• A Canadian public corporation in connection with an agile software development, implementation, licence and services agreement with a multinational technology service provider and related to a leading airline and travel rewards platform

• An industry leading international technology service provider on numerous outsourcing (ITO and BPO) services transactions with leading North American and international businesses, financial institutions and government agencies

• An international leader in the areas of telematics, automotive safety and mobile media in numerous technology commercialization joint ventures, licensing and distribution transactions, acquisitions, financings and other matters

• Multiple private- and public-sector clients in connection with the acquisition and implementation of various ERP and SaaS solutions, including SAP, Oracle, Workday, Service Now, Yardi and other industry-sector specialty platforms

• A major Canadian mall operator in the acquisition and deployment of a retail mobile analytics solution and related privacy law matters with respect to the collection and use of mobile-device data

• A North American food-service retailer in connection with the design-build, acquisition and implementation of technology infrastructure, and the support and maintenance arrangements concerning a new "smart" distribution facility

• Many international businesses on Canadian electronic commerce, internet, consumer protection, data privacy and commercial matters in connection with the establishment of services in Canada

Robert is recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

• The Best Lawyers in Canada – 2024–2025 (Information Technology Law, Privacy and Data Security Law, Technology Law)

• The Legal 500 Canada – 2021–2025 (Technology)

• Chambers Canada: Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business – 2016–2025 (Information Technology)

• Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences 2024

• Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (2023–2024: Information Technology; 2022: Information Technology – Canada)

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – 2021–2024 (Computer & IT Law, Technology Transactions)

• Who's Who Legal: Global – 2022–2024 (Data – Information Technology)

• Who's Who Legal: Canada 2022 (Data)

• Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders 2021 (Data – Information Technology)

• Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers 2021 – Independently Rated Lawyers (As nominated by senior in-house counsel)

• Who's Who Legal: Canada – 2016–2017 (Telecommunications Media and Technology)

Robert is actively involved in the IT bar. He is a current or past member of the Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH), the IP&IT Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association, the Toronto Computer Lawyers' Group (TCLG) and the International Technology Law Association (ITECHLAW). 

Robert is a past member of the board of directors of CAN-TECH, the former chair and treasurer of the TCLG, a former Executive Committee member of the Information Technology and E-Commerce Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association, a former co-chair of the CAN-TECH Outsourcing Committee, a founding member and co-chair of the CAN-TECH Committee on Electronic Commerce, and a past-adjunct professor of law, internet and information technology law at the University of Victoria.

Robert was a co-author of "Computer Contracts," Canadian Forms and Precedents (Commercial Transactions), Lexis-Nexis.

• Co-author : New Ontario Bill 194 to Regulate Public-Sector Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems
  Blakes Bulletin on Privacy & Data Protection / Technology, June 5, 2024.
• Co-author : OSFI’s New Guideline B-10: Third-Party Risk Management
  Blakes Bulletin on Technology / Financial Services Regulatory, May 17, 2023.
• Co-author : OSFI’s New Draft Guideline B-10: Third-Party Risk Management
  Blakes Bulletin on Technology / Financial Services, May 11, 2022.

• Quoted : Evolving technologies facilitate growth but present new risks to businesses
  Interviewed by Lucy Saddleton, Canadian Lawyer InHouse, December/January 2022.
• Quoted : Physical distance still matters, despite technology
  Article by Tim Wilbur, Canadian Lawyer InHouse, December 15, 2021.

Admitted to the Ontario Bar – 1998
LLB, Dalhousie University – 1996
BBA (Hon.), Wilfrid Laurier University – 1991