Blakes has one of the largest and fastest-growing communications practices in Canada. Our Communications Group, which has expanded to include the Vancouver office, advises many of the largest telecommunications and broadcasting companies in Canada. We have numerous international clients who rely on Blakes for a wide range of legal services relating to the Canadian communications industry. We also have specialists with outstanding skills in regulatory, commercial and litigation issues relating to communications to assist as required.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Domestic:
The Blakes Communications Group provides strategic and regulatory advice with respect to the policy and practices
of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Industry Canada (which manages and regulates spectrum allocation and usage) and the Department of Canadian Heritage (which deals with the broadcasting
sector). Members of the group appear in regulatory proceedings before the CRTC on telecommunications-related
matters. Blakes also specializes in handling appeals from decisions of regulatory tribunals, such as the CRTC
and the Competition Tribunal, to the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. With the Blakes Competition Group, the Communications Group provides unparalleled expertise in regulatory and competition law clearances in all types of transactional work involving telecommunications companies.
Our lawyers are regularly called upon by Bell Canada and Bell Aliant, the largest and third-largest wireline carriers in Canada, respectively, to provide regulatory advice, prepare regulatory submissions and deliver regulatory clearances for major transactions. For example, Blakes provided a broad range of regulatory advice and support in the creation of Bell Aliant Income Trust (completed in 2006) and acted for BCE in the sale of Telesat Canada (completed in 2007). More recently, Blakes has advised BCE in the context of its pending C$35-billion privatization.
Blakes also provides regulatory advice regarding spectrum licences and annual reporting requirements with Industry
Canada for several wireless and satellite-based operators in Canada. For example, Blakes recently counselled Bell
Canada regarding the pending Advanced Wireless Spectrum Auction. We frequently deliver regulatory support to major
investment firms looking to complete investment and financing transactions in telecommunications companies.
Additionally, our lawyers furnish regulatory advice to numerous independent telephone companies across Canada.
International:
Internationally, Blakes has recently advised some of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, including AT&T, T-Systems (an affiliate of Deutsche Telekom), Telecom Italia and China Telecom-Americas. The group has represented NR Communications (a U.S. company owned by Craig McCaw) and Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (a member of the India-based Tata Group of companies) in its purchase of Teleglobe, and represented Vodafone in the purchase of the European wireless operations of Telesystems International Wireless. We also continue to provide strategic and regulatory advice to a number of international telecommunications carriers, as well as to several international satellite service providers.
BROADCASTING
Domestic:
The Blakes Communications Group provides a wide range of strategic and regulatory advice to Canadian broadcasters, broadcasting distribution undertakings, as well as program developers and distributors. We recently represented a group of seven independently owned broadcasters in the CRTC's public hearings called to review the regulatory framework for
broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs or cable, satellite and Internet protocol video distributors) and discretionary programming services (specialty and Pay services). On the programming side, we regularly advise the National Hockey League (NHL) on distribution arrangements and other regulatory issues. Blakes was counsel to the NHL in its creation and licensing of the first all-hockey specialty television service in North America, The NHL Network Canada.
We also represent several radio and television services and were counsel to Canadian Multicultural Radio in its successful licence bid to operate a multicultural radio station in Toronto.
Blakes has advised many broadcasting licensees on restructurings, mergers and acquisitions. With the Firm's Competition Group, the Communications Group has a depth of knowledge and experience on transactions and regulatory clearances that puts it at the forefront of law firms in Canada.
Members of the Blakes Communications Group are among the leaders in broadcast and media litigation in Canada, and have represented broadcasters and distributors before a variety of courts, arbitrators and tribunals, including the Copyright Board of Canada.
International:
Our communications lawyers have represented many foreign broadcasting and specialty program service providers in either obtaining a Canadian broadcasting licence with a Canadian partner or becoming registered on the list of eligible foreign satellite services for distribution by Canadian broadcasting distribution undertakings and the entering into of programming agreements with Canadian broadcasters. For example, we have been counselling a number of Asia-based broadcasters on licensing and distribution arrangements in Canada for their third-language services and programming.
Blakes has also represented domestic production companies on international television and other new media distribution arrangements for licensing their programming outside Canada.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright issues and the copyright tariffs administered by the Copyright Board are critical to the Canadian communications industry. Blakes has advised clients on commercial and policy issues relating to copyright licensing, intellectual property transactions and copyright reform. One of our lawyers has served as external drafting adviser to the federal government in its drafting of Bill C-60, An Act to amend the Copyright Act. Our lawyers have extensive experience before the Copyright Board and the Federal Court of Appeal on matters involving several broadcasting and Internet tariffs, including Pay Audio services, Tariff 17 (specialty television), Tariff 22 (Internet) and Tariff 23 (hotel and motel services). We also represent manufacturers, such as Sony Canada, and provide a range of regulatory and intellectual property advice relating to software and content distribution in Canada.
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Industry Recognition
Blakes communications lawyers have been recognized in the following publications:
The Best Lawyers in Canada 2010 – Since the inaugural edition published in 2006, our communications lawyers have been consistently recognized in the area of communications law. Two of our lawyers are also listed for technology and IT law.
Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business 2010 - is ranked as a leading communications firm, and has been since 2001.
PLC Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2009 – is highly recommended in the area of telecommunications.
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2009 – Blakes is “repeatedly recommended” in the area of telecommunications. Blakes is also recognized as a leading firm in technology law, and computer and IT law.
The 2009 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada – A Blakes IT lawyer has been listed as a leading practitioner in technology.
Professional Activities
Members of Blakes Communications Group have held key positions with and actively participate in the following organizations:
- Canadian IT Law Association
- Computer Law Association
- Information Technology Association of Canada
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce
- Canadian Women in Communications
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