Maanit Zemel
Partner
E maanit@canadatechlaw.com
T +1 647 426 2270
D +1 416 937 9321
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Ontario Bar, 2005
New York Bar, 2004
EDUCATION
LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, 2003
B.A. (Humanistic Studies and International Relations), McGill University, 2000
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Internet Law Leadership Summit (ILLS)
Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
Ontario Bar Association (OBA)
Toronto’s Top Lawyers 2022 & 2023, Civil Litigation - Post City Magazine
Maanit is a leading Canadian litigator and Internet lawyer with 20 years of experience in Internet law and civil and commercial litigation, with particular expertise in Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), online defamation and cyberbullying, and privacy and cyber security.
Maanit has successfully represented clients before all levels of Canadian courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. Her extensive litigation experience earned her a position on the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board, where she adjudicated disputes between residential landlords and tenants.
Maanit is also a part-time Adjunct Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Toronto, where she teaches courses on Internet Law, International Business Law, and Cybercrime.
Prior to co-founding Zemel van Kampen LLP, Maanit was a partner at a leading national law firm on Bay Street in Toronto, and before that, she was an Associate at a top international law firm on Wall Street in New York City.
Representative Work
ANTI-SPAM
Regularly consults and advises on CASL compliance for businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and charities.
Drafts CASL compliance policies for businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and charities.
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Monumental summary judgment against one of the world’s most prolific internet trolls, who was held responsible for waging a campaign of cyber harassment, cyber stalking and cyber defamation of 53 people residing in Canada, the United States and Europe for almost a decade.
Successful appeal of a trial decision at the Ontario Court of Appeal on behalf of secured debtors whose assets were unlawfully seized by creditors and successful appeal of the trial judge’s judgement, awarding more than $350,000 in damages and costs to ZvK’s clients.
An order for the removal of hundreds of defamatory postings from the Internet and prohibiting the posting of new defamation due to the cyberbullying of Maanit’s 50 clients.
An Anton Pillar Order, which is an extraordinary civil search and seizure order, successfully obtained and executed in an online defamation case.
Obtained civil disclosure orders (Norwich Orders) resulting in identifying and prosecuting anonymous defendants in multiple online defamation cases (unreported).
Advocated on behalf of a victim of cyber-bullying for the criminal conviction and sentencing of her cyber-bully. This resulted in one of the first cases where a cyber-bully was sentenced to jail time in Canada. Click here to read the reasons for the 6 month jail sentence.
Successful application for judicial review of a decision of an aboriginal band council, brought on behalf of one of the members of the band.
Successful motion for security for costs, and successful denial of motion for leave to appeal.
Successfully obtained Norwich Orders and worldwide Mareva Injunctions in case involving multi-million dollar fraud (unreported).
Successful dismissal for delay of a multi-million dollar claim.
Successfully obtained summary default judgment against a defendant, arising out of a fraudulent investment securities scheme.
Successful motion to stay action for lack of jurisdiction and forum non conveniens in a complex offshore shareholders dispute.
Successfully defended an injunction to shut down clients’ e-commerce website. The case involved novel issues of internet and e-commerce law.
Successful application for judicial review brought on behalf of a mentally disabled WWII veteran.
Successful appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada brought on behalf of a small Canadian pharmaceutical drug company, allowing it to sell its innovative cancer drug.
ADJUDICATION