Matthew Wanford

Matthew Wanford is a Partner at Dentons, practicing in the Technology Law group. He focuses on strategic outsourcing, procurement processes, commercial technology transactions, complex licensing arrangements, intellectual property, privacy and data management, cybersecurity, and digital assets and blockchain.

Matthew has extensive experience advising clients in the banking and financial services, payments and open banking, fintech, pensions, security, agribusiness, and gaming sectors. Notable matters include advising a leading Canadian bank on the renewal of its contact centre operations and related systems; advising on the implementation of bank‑wide security solutions, audio‑visual systems, and payment systems; advising on the outsourcing of applications maintenance, support, and IT security functions for a major utility; and advising on cloud, SaaS, and licensing deals for leading financial institutions, retailers, and start‑ups. He regularly leads complex negotiations, advises on practical risk mitigation, and implements related strategies. He has significant experience interpreting and writing complex requirements for system implementations in liaison with technology specialists and business teams, and also advises on intellectual property licensing and protection.

He holds an LL.M from the University of London (Queen Mary & Westfield College) (2006) and an LL.B from the University of Hull (1997). He was admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales (2000), and to the Alberta Bar (2008) and Ontario Bar (2011).

Matthew has been recognized in The Legal 500 Canada in Technology, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in Computer & IT Law and Technology Transactions, and Best Lawyers in Canada in Technology Law.