Matthew Castel

Prior to the firm’s founding, Matthew held various managerial roles at high-growth emerging technology companies (Fiix Software, Clio). In addition, Matthew was also part of the intellectual property and commercial law groups at Fasken Martineau and Davis Polk.

Matthew’s research on the societal impacts of emerging technologies has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada. His analysis was heavily featured and cited in the context of Haaretz.com v. Goldhar (2018 SCC 28). In this landmark case, the Supreme Court of Canada grappled with whether an Ontario court should assume jurisdiction over an internet defamation suit against an Israeli newspaper. His work was specifically utilized in the judicial breakdown of “comity” (the mutual recognition of legal jurisdictions) and how to fairly determine the “presumptive connecting factor” when a tort occurs via digital infrastructure.

You can download the full-text PDF of his extensive paper exploring the societal and legal shifts caused by advanced AI, titled “The Road to Artificial Super-Intelligence: Has International Law a Role?” on the Schulich Law Scholars website. You can download the full-text PDF of his extensive paper International and Canadian Law Rules Applicable to Cyber Attacks by State and Non-State Actors published by the Canadian Journal of Law and Technology.

Matthew has both an LL.B. and B.C.L. from McGill University’s Faculty of Law. Prior to studying law, he obtained an Honours Baccalaureate in International Development and French Literature, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Western Ontario. He has also completed a diploma of International Affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva as well as certificates from the Northwestern University School of Law, the Stephen M. Ross School of Business and the Wharton School of Business.