Casey Chisick

Partner

 | Toronto

Casey Chisick* is a partner at Cassels, serving as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and as Chair of its Intellectual Property and Entertainment, Media & Sports practices. Certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Intellectual Property (Copyright), and having worked as a law professor, a jazz producer, a concert promoter, and a musician, Casey offers his clients a rare combination of recognized expertise in copyright and other IP matters and first-hand experience in the business of entertainment. He provides transactional advice and litigation counsel to clients in a wide array of industries, including music, film, television, broadcasting, theatre, video games, advertising, publishing, software, visual arts, new media, fitness and leisure, health care, fashion, and higher education. He also advises general business clients with IP needs and consults on negotiation strategy for businesses of all kinds.

As a transactional lawyer, Casey serves as a trusted advisor to clients on deals ranging from the purchase and sale of music, film, television, broadcasting, and new media assets to the development, financing, production, and distribution of TV programs, feature films, and theatrical productions. He has also negotiated a host of recording, management, publishing, appearance, branding, and employment agreements for well-known artists and executives. Beyond the creative industries, Casey has conducted IP audits, developed IP policies, and served as chief outside counsel to companies in various fields, including IT outsourcing, interactive advertising, fitness and nutrition, and functional genomics.

As litigation counsel, Casey has appeared in seven seminal copyright appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada: SOCAN v. Bell Canada, Entertainment Software Association v. SOCAN, Rogers Communications v. SOCAN, Alberta v. Access Copyright, CBC v. SODRAC, York University v. Access Copyright, and, most recently, SOCAN v. Entertainment Software Association. His submissions to the Federal Court of Appeal in TekSavvy Solutions Inc. v. Bell Media Inc. et al. were instrumental to upholding Canada’s first website-blocking order in a copyright infringement case. Casey is well-known for his expertise in the collective administration of copyright, having served as lead counsel in many rate-setting proceedings before the Copyright Board of Canada. He has also represented clients in IP and entertainment matters before the Federal Court of Appeal, the Federal Court, the courts of Ontario and British Columbia, and the Competition Tribunal.

Clients frequently seek Casey’s specialized expertise in relation to special projects and studies involving the exploitation and monetization of IP for emerging business models. Casey has also authored influential submissions and testified before Parliamentary and Senate committees as an expert witness on copyright and broadcast-related issues.

Casey is also very active in the international legal community, including as President of the Copyright Society (formerly the Copyright Society of the USA), one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to the advancement of copyright law awareness and education, and as counsel to a number of top international trade associations. He has also been recognized repeatedly by Managing Intellectual Property as Canada’s outstanding copyright law practitioner (2020, 2022, 2023).

Casey was the gold medalist in law at the University of Manitoba, earned an LL.M. as a Fulbright scholar at Harvard Law School, and served as law clerk to The Hon. Mr. Justice Frank Iacobucci of the Supreme Court of Canada. He has taught at several Canadian law schools, sat on the boards of leading theatre companies and jazz festivals, and served as executive producer of award-winning recordings.

*denotes Professional Corporation

  • Best Lawyers in Canada (Intellectual Property Law, Entertainment Law)
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Entertainment, Intellectual Property, Litigation: Intellectual Property)
  • Chambers Canada (Intellectual Property; Media & Entertainment)
  • Chambers Global (Intellectual Property)
  • Law Society of Ontario, Certified Specialist in Intellectual Property Law (Copyright)
  • Lexpert, Rising Stars Award (2011)
  • Lexpert, Top 10 Business Decisions of 2021/2022 (Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v. Entertainment Software Association)
  • Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Intellectual Property)
  • Lexpert Special Edition, Technology & Health Sciences
  • Legal500 Canada (Intellectual Property | Media & Entertainment) (Leading Individual)
  • Legal Media Group Guide to the World’s Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyers (Media)
  • Managing Intellectual Property, IP Star (Copyright)
  • Managing Intellectual Property, ManagingIP Awards, Impact Case of the Year (2023)
  • Managing Intellectual Property, ManagingIP Awards, Outstanding Copyright Practitioner (Canada) (2020, 2022, & 2023)
  • Martindale Hubbell, Distinguished™ Rating
  • Who’s Who Legal (Entertainment)
  • Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Intellectual Property; Sports & Entertainment)\
  • Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Elite (Intellectual Property)
  • World Intellectual Property Review (WIPR), WIPR Leader
  • “Casey is an important adviser and provides strong leadership to his team.” – Chambers Canada (Media & Entertainment)
  • “He is a fantastic partner to work with – he’s incredibly knowledgeable with a good bedside manner.” – Chambers Canada (Media & Entertainment)
  • “He really is an all-star; he has a great combination of legal expertise, industry knowledge and is the epitome of a relationship partner. He is always there and reliable, and makes you feel like you are the only client he’s working for.” – Chambers Canada (Media & Entertainment)
  • “Prepared and knowledgeable lawyer who gets to the heart of the issues and is a fierce advocate for his clients.” – Chambers Canada (Media & Entertainment)
  • “Strong reputation as a ‘fantastic’ copyright practitioner.” – Chambers Global (Intellectual Property)
  • “Absolutely one of the biggest names in copyright.” – Chambers Canada (Intellectual Property)
  • “One of the top experts in the country.” – Chambers Canada (Intellectual Property)
  • “Absolutely one of the biggest names in copyright.” – Chambers Canada (Intellectual Property)
  • “Conscientious and dedicated.” – Chambers Canada (Intellectual Property)
  • “He has a very deep understanding not only of the law but of the way we interact.” – Chambers Global (Intellectual Property)
  • “He is one of the best.” – Chambers Global (Intellectual Property)
  • “Very experienced and understands the nuances of the law.” – Chambers Canada (Intellectual Property)
  • “His practical application is fantastic.” – Chambers Canada (Intellectual Property)
  • “Very knowledgeable of the intricacies of the Canadian Copyright Act and his practical application is fantastic.” – Chambers Global (Intellectual Property)
  • “I trust his instincts as a negotiator.” – Chambers Global (Intellectual Property)
  • American Bar Association, Chair, International Copyright Laws & Treaties Committee
  • Canadian Friends of Hebrew University, Past National Board Member
  • Chai Folk Ensemble, Past Former Artistic Director
  • Copyright Society (formerly Copyright Society of the USA), President
  • Copyright Society International Chapter, Founding Co-Chair
  • International Trademarks Association (INTA), Member, Copyright Policy Committee
  • IPIC/McGill Copyright Master Class, Past Course Director
  • LSO Entertainment & Media Law Symposium, Co-Chair
  • Soulpepper Theatre Company, Board of Directors
  • TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Past Director and Officer
  • TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Past President
  • Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, Past Vice-President
  • LL.M. , Harvard University
  • LL.B. (Gold Medal), University of Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • ALAI Canada
  • Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
  • American Bar Association, Entertainment, Dispute Resolution, and Intellectual Property Sections
  • Beverly Hills Bar Association
  • Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS)
  • Canadian Association of Law Teachers
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA)
  • Copyright Society (formerly Copyright Society of the USA)
  • Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)
  • International Trademark Association (INTA)
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Ontario Bar Association
  • The Recording Academy