At the midpoint of our Section year, it is worth taking a moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished thus far.
Members of the Section alongside our dedicated CBA staff have been energetically organizing and participating in myriad events – the annual fall conference held in person for the first time in three years, numerous brown bags and town halls and moots. At the same time, we are also prolific producers – creating insightful podcasts, publishing our impressive Canadian Competition Law Review, developing thoughtful submissions on ISED’s discussion paper on modernizing the Competition Act, drafting comments on the Competition Bureau’s draft guidance on wage-fixing/no-poach agreements, and offering our perspectives on proposed amendments to the Investment Canada Act.
We can be rightly proud of our significant contributions to legislative and policy debates in Canada and to developing the next generation of competition and foreign investment review lawyers.
And we’re not done yet – see below for the many events and initiatives in which you can get involved.
Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot
Our Section is a proud sponsor of the Adam F. Fanaki Competition Law Moot. This annual event gives Canadian law students the chance to tackle timely, complex civil or criminal issues in a growing field of law that strives to balance private economic incentives with the public interest. Participants can obtain feedback from top law enforcers, judges and specialist practitioners. This year, the moot will be held on March 24 and 25 in Toronto.
Spring Conference: Evolution or Revolution? (April 27, 2023)
Join us in-person at the CBA Competition Law Spring Conference, April 27, 2023 (Toronto, ON). We will discuss and debate what the future of Canadian competition and foreign investment law should look like, including reference to Canada’s peer jurisdictions. This year’s spring conference is chaired by Michael Kilby of Stikeman Elliott LLP.
The government has set the table by issuing an important consultation paper covering all aspects of the Competition Act, which may lead to far-reaching amendments. Mergers, unilateral conduct, competitor collaborations and the very role and powers of the Competition Bureau and the Competition Tribunal are all up for grabs. This year’s expert faculty will feature outstanding speakers discussing potential changes in Canada, and the international state of play.
Check out the spring conference agenda and register. We look forward to seeing you there!
Missed last year’s fall conference? Recordings are available on-demand.
Save the date: Fall Conference – October 26 and 27, 2023
Mark your calendars for the upcoming CBA Competition Law Fall Conference, chaired by Debbie Salzberger of McCarthy Tétrault LLP. The annual fall conference will be held in-person in Ottawa.
Committees and upcoming events
Join the committee listservs to participate in our committees and join us on LinkedIn to stay up-to-date! The committees put together dozens of successful CLE, networking and social events – an easy (and free) way to keep abreast of the latest developments. They also give you an opportunity to contribute to the Section’s commentaries on proposed developments in competition law and foreign investment review.
Mark your calendars and register for: What Competition Law Issues Impact Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises? (March 16, 2023)
Counterfactual podcast
The Podcast Committee is cooking up fresh Counterfactual content! Stay tuned for coverage of the Adam Fanaki Moot, episodes about environmental claims and national security review powers, interactive content with Competition Bureau officials and more! The Podcast Committee listserv is now established – be sure to sign-up for news on the latest developments.
Canadian Competition Law Review (CCLR)
Stay tuned for upcoming editions of the Canadian Competition Law Review, including the spring 2023 edition and a Special Edition regarding amendments to the Competition Act. The Editorial Board is also preparing the fall 2023 edition. The CCLR is traditionally published twice annually and submissions are accepted year-round.
Submissions may be original articles, case comments, book reviews, and essays on significant current issues in competition law and economics. The deadline for submissions for the fall edition is June 30, 2023.
Check out the articles in our latest publication: Fall 2022 edition, Volume 35 No. 2!
James H. Bocking Memorial Award
Are you a law student or early career lawyer working on a scholarly paper on Canadian competition law or policy? Submit your paper today! Established in memory of the late James H. Bocking, the award is presented annually and comes with a $2,500 monetary prize.
Check out the eligibility requirements! Deadline: May 2, 2023. Please share this opportunity with your networks!
See you all at the Spring Conference!
Sandy Walker
Dentons Canada LLP
Chair, CBA Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review Section 2022-23