PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Roll of Solicitors of England and Wales, 2008

Ontario Bar, 2004


EDUCATION

Candidate: LLM (International Law), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

LLB, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

MA (History and International Relations), University of Toronto

BA (History and English), University of Toronto


PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Canadian Technology Law Association (CAN-TECH)

Internet Law Leadership Summit (ILLS)

International Bar Association (IBA)

Canadian Bar Association (CBA)

Ontario Bar Association (OBA)

Toronto's Top Lawyers - Technology 2023 & 2024 - Post City Magazine

Dimitri is an experienced commercial lawyer and trusted advisor with particular expertise in technology, Internet, and international law. He has a broad commercial practice, advising clients on complex domestic and international transactions across a wide range of industries, with a focus on technology. 

Dimitri has extensive experience negotiating and drafting high-impact technology contracts, especially in the context of international and cross-border deals, including licensing, hosting, and maintenance agreements (such as master service agreements (MSAs) and statements of work (SOWs)), development and implementation agreements, cloud computing agreements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) agreements, data processing agreements (DPAs), e-commerce agreements, outsourcing, procurement, and supply agreements, technology acquisition agreements, email marketing agreements (including email service provider (ESP) agreements, list management agreements, and affiliate marketing agreements), media buying agreements, and Internet agreements (including click-through agreements, acceptable use policies (AUPs), website terms of use, and privacy policies). 

Dimitri has worked on innovative transactions with leading companies in Canada and the United States and most of the major Canadian chartered banks, international banks, financial institutions, and insurers. He has worked on high-value projects in Canada and the United States as well as Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and South-East Asia, advising on complex cross-border matters. He also advises clients on corporate organization and structuring, shareholder matters, corporate financings, strategic partnerships and joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, financings, projects, privacy and data security, and intellectual property.

Previously, Dimitri served as General Counsel at a top-100 Canadian public company and leading international Fintech where he managed a group of four lawyers and negotiated and drafted some of the company’s most valuable long-term contracts with North America’s leading financial institutions. Before that he worked in the Global Projects Group at an international law firm in London, UK and in the Finance Group at two national Canadian law firms in Toronto and Calgary. 

Dimitri is a frequent speaker and panelist on topics related to law, technology, and business, including Internet law and international law. He is a guest-lecturer at the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, and he has a certificate in Negotiating and Drafting IT Agreements from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Representative Work

TECHNOLOGY

  • Advised a leading Canadian service provider to the financial services industry in respect of a master services agreement with a major Canadian chartered bank for the licensing of a proprietary lending portal and provision of related collections, repossession, debt and asset recovery, and resale services.

  • Advised a Canadian technology company in respect of a master services agreement with a major Canadian chartered bank for the development, integration, licensing, and hosting of a software-as-a-service (SaaS) aggregation platform for use in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

  • Advised a Canadian technology company regarding the licensing, resale, and distribution of its proprietary electronic design automation (EDA) software for hardware and test design simulation.

  • Advised a leading U.S. reseller and distributor of telecom products and related payment and financial services regarding a reseller and distribution agreement to service markets across Canada.

  • Advised a leading Canadian operator of online digital customer acquisition platforms in respect of a master services agreement with a Canadian chartered bank for the licensing and hosting of a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for lead generation.

  • Advised a Canadian Insurtech company in respect of a master services agreement with an AI-powered enterprise software provider to implement AI and machine learning in the insurance marketplace to enhance customer experience and improve marketing ROI. 

  • Advised a leading Canadian provider of automobile lending technology in respect of a master services agreement with a Canadian chartered bank for the development, implementation, licensing, and hosting of an automobile loan origination and underwriting platform.

  • Advised a Canadian technology company in respect of a master services agreement with a major international insurer for the development, licensing, and hosting of a customized software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution for use in Canada and the US.

  • Advised a leading Canadian emergency management consulting company with respect to a strategic joint venture with a Canadian technology provider on the development of a proprietary technology platform for the deployment of emergency management preparedness tools.

  • Advised a Canadian Internet ad buyer in respect of a services agreement with a major U.S. media buying company for the purchase and re-sale of Internet advertisements and management of media buying accounts.

  • Advised a Canadian technology company in respect of a fork licence agreement with a leading U.S. email marketing company for a licence to a proprietary email marketing platform and associated software, source code, and documentation.

  • Advised a leading U.S. manufacturer and seller of innovative pet care technology products in respect of their Internet agreements for use with their Canadian website.

  • Advised a leading Canadian provider of automobile underwriting services in respect of a licence and services agreement with a Canadian vendor for the licence of a proprietary application program that provides online management of automotive loans.

  • Advised a leading Canadian online pharmaceutical company in respect of their Internet agreements for use with their website and online platform connecting consumers with pharmacists and medical practitioners.

  • Advised a leading Canadian creative and advertising agency in respect of a master services agreement with a major international technology company.

  • Advised a Canadian start-up consulting services provider in respect of their Internet agreements for use with a website and online program focused on supporting women entrepreneurs.

  • Advised a Canadian start-up technology company in respect of its Internet agreements for use with an online platform for connecting businesses with work spaces.

  • Advised a Canadian technology start-up in respect of its Internet agreements for use with an online website and platform where consumers can purchase wills.

  • Advised a Canadian technology company in respect of its Internet agreements for use with an online B2B community platform for connecting businesses.

  • Advised a leading Canadian email marketing company in respect of an affiliate marketing agreement with one of the largest affiliate marketing companies in the United States.

  • Advised a Canadian Insurtech in respect of a services agreement to develop, implement, host, and maintain a data analytics solution for a major international insurer for use in Canada.

  • Advised a Canadian technology company in respect of the licensing of a mobile application in Canada and the United States.

  • Advised a Canadian Fintech start-up in respect of a master services agreement with a Canadian financial institution for originating and financing point-of-sale (POS) lending.

  • Advised a leading international Fintech and services provider in respect of a master services agreement with a Canadian chartered bank for the development, licensing, and hosting of a technology platform for mortgage origination and underwriting and provision of related services.

  • Advised a Canadian provider of lending technology in respect of a master services agreement with a major Spanish bank for the development, licensing, and hosting of an automobile loan origination and underwriting platform in Canada.

  • Advised a leading international Fintech in respect of a master services agreement with a major US bank for the development, licensing, and hosting of a commercial loan processing platform.

  • Advised a leading Canadian provider of proprietary lending technology in respect of an application service provider (ASP) agreement with a major US technology solutions provider for the licensing and hosting of a proprietary ASP solution for use in Canada.

  • Advised a leading service provider to the Canadian financial services industry in respect of a master services agreement with a Canadian chartered bank for the provision of a comprehensive PPSA service package, including registration, enforcement, and support services.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

  • Advised the seller with respect to the share acquisition of a leading Canadian genetics technology company specializing in cellular agriculture.

  • Advised a Canadian email marketing company in respect of the divestiture of two subsidiaries, including a proprietary technology email marketing platform.

  • Advised a Canadian brewery, as seller, in respect of a share acquisition involving complex shareholder matters and rectification of minute books.

  • Advised a Canadian brewery, as seller, in respect of a share acquisition.

  • Advised a Canadian brewery, as purchaser, in respect of an asset acquisition of a brewing facility and several beer brands.

  • Advised a Canadian uranium mining company, as seller, in respect of a share acquisition.

  • Advised one of Canada's largest vitamin and supplements manufacturers in respect of the asset sale of one of its brands.

  • Advised Kinder Morgan, Inc. on the CAD $6.9 billion acquisition of Terasen Inc. completed as a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).

FINANCE & PROJECT FINANCE

  • Advised a joint venture between a leading international petroleum company and mining company, each acting as both sponsor and lender, in respect of a USD $2 billion financing of an industrial-scale hydrogen-fired power generation project in Abu Dhabi, whereby hydrogen fuel is created from natural gas to produce clean electricity and the associated CO2 is used in carbon capture and storage (CCS) for enhanced oil recovery purposes.

  • Advised a UK-based financial institution in respect of a €9.79 million facility agreement in connection with the financing of the acquisition, construction, and operation of a portfolio of solar energy farms in Germany.

  • Advised a major Japanese bank in respect of its participation in the USD $2.75 billion financing of the 2000MW Fujairah F2 Independent Power & Water Project, a greenfield power generation and seawater desalination plant located on the Gulf of Oman coast in the Emirate of Fujairah, UAE.

  • Advised a leading South African bank in respect of the USD $75 million senior debt financing of the construction and development of the 15,000km SEACOM submarine fibre optic cable system connecting South Africa, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Tanzania with India, Egypt, and Europe. The project provided the first access to fixed international broadband connectivity for many countries in East Africa. Awarded "Communications Deal of the Year" by Project Finance magazine.

  • Advised a US investment bank as offtaker of all of the production from a new Pakar Open Cut Coal Mine located in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, the USD $135 million financing of which was financed by the same bank together with two hedge funds. The project was the first greenfield coal mine development in Asia to be backed by hedge funds and featured an unusual financing structure in that the bank’s position as offtaker was senior secured and ranked pari passu with the debt finance.

  • Advised the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in respect of the financing by the IFC and a syndicate of international lenders and export credit agencies of the development and implementation of a 500,000-ton eucalyptus kraft pulp production facility in Uruguay.

  • Advised a major UK bank in respect of a US $60 million pre-development credit facility provided to a Canadian petroleum exploration company to finance the development of facilities and infrastructure required to exploit strategic petroleum assets located in the Athena field in the North Sea.

  • Advised a leading French bank in respect of a £25 million borrowing base facility provided to a UK petroleum company to finance the development of facilities and infrastructure required to exploit petroleum assets located in the Wissey, Schooner, and Trym fields in the North Sea.

  • Advised a major Canadian chartered bank in respect of a loan agreement provided to a leading Canadian film production company to finance the acclaimed television series “The Tudors” starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and the feature film “Watching the Detectives” starring Cillian Murphy.