Christopher Oates

Career

Chris Oates is a Toronto-based Gowling WLG partner practising in the Advertising & Product Regulatory Group, particularly focusing on privacy and e-commerce issues. His practice includes advising clients on privacy and consumer protection law, including drafting and reviewing privacy policies and advising on privacy in the context of financial institutions, social media, consumer marketing campaigns, e-commerce and Canada's anti-spam legislation (CASL). Chris advises organizations on the collection, use, and disclosure of consumer information, including credit reporting, risk management and behavioural advertising and tracking. His experience includes reviewing the adoption of new website analytics tools and tracking programs and the attendant privacy obligations, as well as reviewing and revising data transfer and processing agreements. Chris also advises on all matters pertaining to direct-to-consumer marketing, including advertising, packaging and labelling review; contest design and review; advertising in social media; drafting and reviewing talent, media, and sponsorship agreements, and regulatory law pertaining to foods, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics and drug products. Among other recognitions, Chris was named an “Acritas Star” in 2019 and 2020.