According to satisfied clients, Dentons ‘truly understands the nuances of the media and entertainment industry’. As one of the most comprehensive media practices in Canada, the group is geared to provide support across the full industry life cycle, from financing and tax matters through to production, licensing and transactional mandates. In Toronto, Ken Dhaliwal is a go-to adviser to independent producers, broadcasters, Hollywood streamers, distributors and lenders. Dhaliwal recently teamed up with up-and-coming Toronto-based partner Jayme Alter to advise Spin Master on ‘Paw Patrol 3’. In Vancouver, Juliet Smith is praised as an ‘ideal collaborator’ and acts for a diverse roster of studios, Canadian producers, visual effects and animation houses, and Canadian financial institutions. The Toronto bench also draws on experienced specialists Jim Russell and David Steinberg, while counsel Bob Tarantino and associate Karin Kazakevich provide dedicated support.

‘At the forefront of entertainment law in Canada’, Goodmans LLP’s media and entertainment practice maintains close relationships with major players across the industry, including independent producers, Canadian and US networks, Hollywood studios, cable and OTT services, and film and TV distributors. The team’s expertise spans regulatory and commercial matters, with particular strength in audio-visual productions, financing, co-productions and distribution. Experienced counsel David Zitzerman spearheads the group; he works alongside Jaclyn Seidman to provide ongoing advice to Amazon Studios on productions produced, or post-produced, in Canada. The Toronto-based team also includes the ‘responsive and savvy’ Tara Parker, who advised on a long line of production matters during 2024/25, and Carolyn Stamegna, whose focus spans the film, television, media and technology sectors.

Cassels’s leading copyright offering is reflected in its media and entertainment practice, with the group particularly sought after by record labels, music publishers, composers and performance rights organizations for advice on royalty and copyright-related matters. Department head Casey Chisick is widely recognized as a foremost authority on Canadian copyright and music law; his expertise also extends to audio-visual productions, book publishing and video game development. Other key contacts in the Toronto-based team include IP litigator Eric Mayzel, who handles disputes involving the music, film and TV, and franchising industries; rising copyright specialist Jessica Zagar; and IP and entertainment partner Lindsay Dykstra.

Noted for its ‘creative problem-solving’, Gowling WLG’s media and entertainment practice works in close collaboration with the firm’s dominant IP group to deliver integrated commercial and IP advice to clients in the music, film, television, theatre, video game and book publishing industries. The Toronto-based team is led by Susan Abramovitch, whose expertise spans a wide array of contract structuring, licensing, rights management and disputes. Associate Madison MacColl, who supports the advertising, marketing and entertainment law groups, is also recommended.

Fasken’s multidisciplinary media and entertainment practice operates at the intersection of IP and communications law and is particularly noted for its experience in advising telecoms, broadcasting and internet clients. Communications and M&A specialist Barbara Miller co-heads the team alongside copyright head Gerald Kerr-Wilson and regulatory telecoms partners Leslie Milton — all are based in Ottawa. Montreal-based litigator Christian Leblanc is also recommended for media-related disputes.

The media and entertainment group at McCarthy Tétrault leverages the firm’s premier technology and telecoms practices to specialize in advising major communications clients, including Facebook, CBC and the Canadian Retransmission Collective. Toronto-based IP and cyber law specialist Daniel Glover is a key contact and brings strong experience in copyright-related matters. Litigator Gillian Kerr is also noted for representing traditional media, social media and AI companies in defamation, copyright and privacy disputes.