FinTech

From crowdsourcing and e-wallets, to robo-advisors and digital currencies, innovative technologies continue to disrupt the financial services and capital markets sectors. Investment in FinTech has risen sharply and continues to climb, with global investment in 2014 estimated at US$12.2 billion (source: Accenture) and more than 80 FinTech companies launched in Canada to date. Exponential growth and proliferation of FinTech, in turn, puts pressure on the various regulatory regimes governing banking and securities, which seek to safeguard the Canadian financial system and ensure a level playing field among all participants without stifling innovation.

Whether a start-up looking to grow a business and navigate applicable regulatory regimes, a private equity firm seeking investment opportunities, a financial institution developing a new service offering through a collaborative alliance,  or a company seeking to purchase or sell FinTech products or services, Osler, regarded as one of the top FinTech law firms in Canada by Chambers FinTech 2021, has the cross-disciplinary expertise and experience to provide the necessary critical insight and guidance. We assist FinTech companies by addressing their business and legal risks to ensure they grow and thrive beyond the start-up phase and remain compliant with relevant bank, securities and consumer protection legislation. Financial institutions and other users of FinTech products and services benefit from our knowledge and understanding of the FinTech market – our lawyers can help them remain competitive, evolve their technology and business models and tap into the potential offered through financial technology.

Supporting innovation and growth

We act for some of Canada’s most innovative FinTech technology companies, as well as Canada’s leading financial institutions, advising on legal issues including:

• the full range of corporate and securities issues, including formation, structure, governance, financing, intra-founder issues, and equity-based compensation;

• commercial agreements, including customer-facing agreements, service and software agreements, and reseller and distribution agreements;

• intellectual property rights, including the registration of intellectual property rights, ownership of technology, licensing and development arrangements, and infringement/enforcement;

• regulatory compliance involving provincial securities commissions, IIROC, consumer and pay-day lending legislation, consumer protection legislation and the Bank Act;

• anti-money laundering and terrorism financing risks;

• privacy, data governance and data breach;

• employment;

• developing growth and exit strategies, including consolidation through M&A and progressing from start-up to IPO

Our FinTech clients include