Brent Arnold

Brent J. Arnold, a distinguished partner at Gowling WLG, plays a pivotal role in the Advocacy department with a keen focus on cyber security and commercial litigation. He leads the firm's Commercial Litigation Technology sub-group, demonstrating his deep involvement in the intersection of technology and law. Brent's contributions to the legal field include co-authoring the Canada chapter of the Chambers Global Practice Guide: Data Protection & Cybersecurity, 2nd edition in 2019, and similarly, the Canada chapter of Chambers FinTech 2022: Trends and Developments report.

His expertise spans a wide array of areas including cyber breach response, analyzing cyber risks, defending class actions, and navigating disputes related to emerging technologies like Web3, cryptocurrency, and the metaverse, alongside traditional areas such as administrative law, insolvency, shareholders' rights, and general contractual disagreements.

Brent's legal acumen has been recognized across various court levels in Ontario, from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. Notably, in 2011, he represented a position before the Supreme Court in a constitutional reference regarding the Canadian Securities Act. His commitment to adapting the legal profession to current challenges was evident in 2020 when he played a key role in the E-Hearings Task Force. This initiative, formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, aimed to enhance virtual court access, culminating in the creation of Best Practices for Remote Hearings.

Beyond his courtroom achievements, Brent is actively involved in numerous professional organizations. He serves as a Director and Corporate Secretary for the Internet Society (Canada Chapter) and chairs the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy section of the US-based Defence Research Institute (DRI). His leadership extends to the Ontario Bar Association's Privacy and Access to Information Law section and he holds a vice-chair position at the Cyber Security, Data Privacy and Technology Committee of the International Association of Defense Counsel.

Brent's influence also reaches into educational efforts. He co-authored The Advocates' Society's Paperless Trials Manual and frequently shares his knowledge on cyber security, courtroom technology, and electronic trials as an author and speaker. His membership in the Canadian Technology Law Association and the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) further underscores his dedication to both technological advancement and privacy protection within the legal profession.