Mike (Michael) G. Beairsto

Mike (Michael) G. Beairsto is a Partner in the Business Law Department of Dentons Canada LLP, based in Toronto, practising corporate commercial law and specialising in technology and e-commerce/internet matters. His practice focuses on Technology Law.

Mike heads the Technology Law Group practice in the Toronto office and is a member of Dentons' Technology Group.

He has extensive experience in technology and corporate transactions, including software licensing and development, technology acquisition, service agreements and outsourcing arrangements. He also advises on intellectual property licensing matters and protection of intellectual property and information. Mike regularly advises clients with respect to e-commerce matters and internet-based channels of business, including privacy-related issues and internet law matters. He also represents clients on technology acquisitions, financing and corporate mergers and acquisitions in the technology field.

His experience includes advising Advanced Chemistry Development Inc. on its sale to Revvity Signals Software Inc.; advising Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. on its acquisition of Nova Scotia-based video game developer HB Studios Multimedia Limited; advising Teledyne Technologies Incorporated on its acquisition of the CARIS business and on its CA$337 million acquisition of DALSA Corporate by plan of arrangement; acting as counsel to a large multi-site health services organisation in the procurement and contracting for Oracle cloud services; advising one of Canada's most innovative medical supply companies on its US$5 million sale of its intellectual property division; advising Nokia Solutions and Networks on the acquisition of the business and assets of Nakina Systems Inc. and Nakina Systems USA, Inc.; advising Premier Aviation Overhaul Centre Inc. on the sale of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Ontario and Quebec; advising a Canadian-based digital media company on its acquisition by Google; and advising LexisNexis on its acquisition of Quicklaw and on its acquisition of PCLaw and Alumni Computer Group.

He holds an LLB and a BBA from the University of New Brunswick (1987 and 1985 respectively). He is recognised by Chambers Global and Chambers Canada for Information Technology Law, by The Legal 500 Canada for Technology, by The Best Lawyers in Canada for Information Technology Law, Technology Law and Venture Capital Law, by The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Computer and IT Law and Technology Transactions, and by IAM Licensing 250 as one of the World's Leading Patent and Technology Licensing Lawyers. He was named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for Venture Capital Law, Toronto (2021), and received a Client Choice Award for IT & Internet (2017).

He is a member of the Canadian IT Law Association, the Ontario Bar Association's Information Technology and E-Commerce Section, Entertainment, Media and Communications Section and Business Law Section, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and is Dentons' Representative on the Intellectual Property & Licensing Practice Group of the Pacific Rim Advisory Council.