Profile

Bruno Soucy operates a specialized business law practice that is complemented by significant experience in the public sector.

An honours graduate in commerce, specializing in international management, human resources management, public policy and management, and management information systems, Bruno practices in the areas of intellectual property and technology law, commercial law (with an emphasis on E-Commerce and information technology) and government procurement (with an emphasis on information technology procurement).

Born in Montreal and fluently bilingual, Bruno practices in both official languages. Having obtained Bachelor of Law degrees in Civil as well as in Common Law, he is sometimes called upon to work alongside Quebec counsel in transactions having a Quebec component.

Bruno has represented a wide variety of Internet and other technology companies in various commercial matters. More particularly, he has negotiated and drafted agreements relating to the exploitation of technology and the conduct of business via the Internet. This includes the negotiation and drafting of the following agreements:

• development agreements (website, software, database)
• licensing agreements (website, software, database)
• collocation agreements
• facilities agreements
• hosting agreements
• disaster recovery agreements
• interactive services agreements
• data storage agreements
• linking agreements
• co-marketing agreements
• distribution agreements
• VAR agreements
• fee processing agreements
• EFT and Point of Sale networks
• cost sharing agreements
• co-development agreements
• terms & conditions of use & disclaimers
• terms & conditions of online sale
• online privacy policies
• acceptable use policies
• data processing agreements
• outsourcing agreements
• maintenance and support agreements
• technology escrow agreements

This also includes identifying unique legal issues applicable to online businesses and providing advice to minimize exposure arising from having a web presence or otherwise conducting business via the Internet.

Bruno's prior studies in Management Information Systems allow him to provide legal advice tailored to the specific business requirements of his IT clients.

Bruno has also counselled clients and documented transactions regarding the protection, enforcement, licensing and transfer of intellectual property rights (such as copyrights, trade-marks, patents and industrial designs). Much of this involves the commercialization and protection of intellectual property. In addition, Bruno helps organisations conduct intellectual property, trade secret and privacy audits and due diligence.

Bruno also advises clients on federal and provincial government procurement processes. He helps them draft proposals and advises them throughout the tendering process. He also provides counsel to clients who wish to contest government decisions relating to the tendering process or government procurement generally.

During his university studies, Bruno worked in the Office of the Corporate Secretary of the federal Department of Public Works and Government Services for almost eight years, gaining valuable insights into the government procurement process, the tendering and the administration of major Crown contracts, and the internal procedures regarding departmental investigations and responses to complaints filed with the Canadian International Trade Tribunal (CITT). He also gained a thorough understanding of federal and provincial access to information and privacy legislation.

Publications

• "Letting the Genie Loose", Canadian Consulting Engineer, January/February 2003