Stephen
Zolf
Partner
Stephen is Co-Leader of the firm's Communications & Media Group, Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group and Sports & Entertainment Group. He advises clients operating in the communications and digital media sector in areas including public policy, the legislative framework governing foreign streaming services in Canada and foreign ownership restrictions in the media and telecom sectors. As a principal in the Competition/Antitrust Group, Stephen regularly assists clients on obtaining merger clearance under the Competition Act and compliance under the Investment Canada Act. His expertise encompasses international trade regulation and sanctions. Stephen is currently Co-Chair of the Firm’s Sports, Media & Entertainment Group.
Stephen is recognized as an industry expert in communications and media law. He represents domestic and international clients on Canada’s media regulatory framework, including contribution rules under the Online Streaming Act, Canadian content rules, tax credits, programming rights and copyright. Stephen also advises clients on the CRTC’s regulatory framework for the provision of telecommunications services and on Industry Canada wireless spectrum licensing matters.
Stephen has experience before many administrative tribunals and agencies, including the CRTC, the Canadian Copyright Board, the Competition Bureau and Industry Canada. He has also acted as regulatory/legal counsel in a number of major high profile Canadian media/telecom transactions. Stephen has strong communication skills and a personable approach, and publishes and speaks frequently on regulatory law and policy.
He has been consistently recognized as a leading practitioner of communications and media law by Chambers and Partners, Lexpert, Best Lawyers and Legal Media Group. Stephen was the Telecommunications Contributor to Legal Alert (Carswell) for over 20 years.
Before becoming a lawyer, Stephen worked as an economist and policy advisor for the Canadian government in the area of competition policy, regulatory reform and telecommunications.
Professional Involvement
Memberships
- Canadian Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Professional Activities
- Canadian Bar Association (Ontario) - Executive Committee, Entertainment, Media and Communications Section (1995-2015) (Past Chair)
- Legal Alert (Carswell), Editor (Telecommunications) (1997-2017)
"International Sanctions, Trade Restrictions, and Their Impact on North American Businesses," ABA 2025 ILS Annual Conference, April 28-May 1, 2025.
"Litigation Landscape: Developments in Canadian and International Communications and Media Legal Cases," IIC Canada 2024 Conference, October 21-22, 2024.
"Telecommunications: Re-examining Facilities-Based Competition," CBA Competition Law Fall Conference, October 26-27, 2023 (Moderator).
"Examining Bill C-19: The Criminalization of Wage-Fixing and No-Poaching Agreements in Canada," Aird & Berlis, May 2023 (Webinar).
"Lessons from Cineplex v. Cineworld – A Case Study," CBA Competition Law Spring Online Symposium, May 2022.
Canadians Doing Business in Cuba: Implications Under the Helms/Burton Act, June 2019 (Webinar).
Malware, Adware and Spyware – Legal and Regulatory Issues, June 2018 (Webinar).
Copyright Act Reform: Key Issues for the Five-Year Review, International Institute of Communications Canadian Chapter Annual Conference, November 14-15, 2017 (Moderator).
Foreign Participation on the Market – Change is in the Air, Insight Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa, February 24-25, 2014 (Conference Co-Chair).
What’s New for Fixed and Mobile Networks, Insight Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa, February 24-25, 2014 (Conference Co-Chair).
Copyright, content and filtering/blocking: how can we ensure open access to the Internet while protecting IP (Chair), International Institute of Communications (IIC), Telecommunications and Media Forum, Washington, DC (2012).
Perspectives on Canada’s New Copyright Laws: Bill C-11 and the Canadian Supreme Court’s Copyright Pentalogy, ABA Section of International Law International Intellectual Property Rights Committee, Canada Committee, teleconference (2012).
Lawful Access to ISP Data – what the new legislation will mean for you, Insight 9th Annual Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa (2012).
CRTC Wireless Code of Conduct: Constitutional Law Issues, Insight 9th Annual Telecommunications Forum, Ottawa (2012).
Understanding Fair Dealing: Copyright Primer for CLE Providers, Association of Canadian Legal Education Directors (ACLED), Toronto (2012).
The Copyright Modernization Act (Bill C-11): Striking the Balance to Foster Innovation and Digital Rights Management (DRM), Heenan Blaikie 8 Minute Updates: Protecting Innovation, Toronto (2012).
New Rights for Performers and Makers of Sound Recordings, Osgoode Professional Development Understanding Bill C-11: The Copyright Modernization Act, Toronto (2012).
International Institute of Communications (IIC) (Canadian Chapter), 2011 Conference: Towards a Digital Economy for Canada, Plenary Panel, “Copyright and the Digital Economy,” November 2011.
"Facing the Music: Copyright Controversy in Olympic Figure Skating," Aird & Berlis LLP, The Spotlight, March 2026.
"Lights, Camera, Acquisition: Analyzing Netflix and Paramount’s Bidding War to Acquire Warner Bros.," Aird & Berlis LLP, The Spotlight, February 2026.
"Investing in Canadian Sports Teams: Private Capital and the Investment Canada Act," Aird & Berlis LLP, The Spotlight, December 2025.
"Glencore’s Acquisition of Teck: Impact on the Future of Mining Transactions in Canada," Aird & Berlis LLP, August 2024.
"Employers, Take Note! Amendments to the Competition Act Have Criminalized Wage-Fixing and No-Poaching Agreements," Aird & Berlis LLP, May 2023.
"Bill C-11 Proposes to Regulate Canada’s Online Streaming Services," Internet and E-Commerce in Canada, April 2022.
“Government Releases Plan for Auction of Spectrum in 600MHz Band,” Legal Alert, December 2017.
“Blame Licensing, Not CRTC for Streaming Restrictions,” The Lawyers Weekly, March 2016.
“CRTC’s Revised Regulatory Framework for Wholesale HSA Services,” Legal Alert, December 2015.
“Recent Changes to the Investment Canada Act Will Affect Investments by Non-Canadians,” Corporate Financing, Volume XIX, No. 4, 2015.