Katelyn Smith

Katelyn Smith

Associate, Privacy and Data Management

Contact Information

ksmith@osler.com

tel: 416.862.6575

Office

Toronto

Bar Admission

Ontario, 2018

Alberta, 2015

Education

  • University of Victoria, J.D.
  • Western University, B.A. (Hons. with ‘Western Scholars’ designation)

Language(s)

English

Katelyn is a member of the Privacy and Data Management group. Her practice focuses on a wide range of privacy, data governance and regulatory compliance matters, and involves assisting clients with developing their privacy management programs, negotiating outsourcing and licensing arrangements, advising on privacy risks in mergers and acquisitions, representing clients in regulatory investigations and security incident response matters, and, more generally, providing clients with advisory services in connection with all types of initiatives involving the processing of personal information.

Having previously worked at the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, Katelyn is well-versed in the freedom of information regime and the investigations process.

Katelyn also has significant experience in health privacy matters and frequently advises both public sector institutions and private sector organizations, including virtual care providers, on their obligations under provincial health privacy laws across the country, with a particular focus on Ontario and Alberta.

As a key member of the Canadian Anonymization Network (CANON), Katelyn has in-depth knowledge of the concepts of de-identification and anonymization under Canadian privacy laws, and has been intimately involved in legislative reform efforts in Canada. Alongside a CANON working group, Katelyn recently prepared a submission to the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology on proposed amendments to the de-identification and anonymization provisions in the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 (Bill C-27).

  • Canadian Anonymization Network (CANON)
  • Ontario Bar Association, Privacy and Access Law Section - former Newsletter Editor (2020-2022), Public Affairs Liaison (2019-2020), Secretary (2018-2019)
  • Canadian Bar Association, Privacy and Access Law Section - former Member-at-Large (2018-2021)
  • Law Society of Ontario
  • Law Society of Alberta

Previous Speaking Engagements

  • Lecturer, “The Regulatory Landscape”, Certificate in Privacy Law & Information Management in Healthcare, Osgoode Hall Law School, January 16, 2024.
  • Lecturer, “Overview of Health Privacy Laws”, Certificate in Privacy and Cybersecurity Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, February 2, 2023.
  • Panelist, “Canadian Privacy Law Update”, PrivacyConnect Toronto, September 25, 2020.

Publications

  • Working Group Member and Co-Author, “Proposed amendments to de-identification and anonymization provisions in the Digital Charter Implementation Act, 2022 (Bill C-27)”, Canadian Anonymization Network (CANON), May 24, 2023.
  • Author, “A Discussion with Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner”, Ontario Bar Association, December 22, 2020.
  • Author, “Blocked Twitter Handles and the Identifiability Standard”, Ontario Bar Association, March 10, 2020 [republished by the Canadian Bar Association on June 11, 2020].

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