My story
How Johann Kwan Law came to be.
In late 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak. As we all continued to work from home, many of us began to start re-evaluating our priorities, pursue side gigs, and find new things to occupy ourselves.
I was at a firm in Markham at the time, after having spent a few years doing public interest work at the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC). As people began to start doing their own thing, I had an increasing number of questions about complex issues of running a business in the online age.
I realized that I could help people with these issues. I, too, ran a small portrait and wedding photography business before law school. I had experience representing the interests of small contractors before the Supreme Court of Canada in Uber Technologies Inc v Heller from my time at CIPPIC. I knew the legislative frameworks that affected small businesses operating online, and knew my way around the complex terms and conditions that could navigate that world.
Moreover, I realized I wanted that challenge and freedom my clients were facing of building their own thing once again. So I let my firm know I was leaving, and started my own practice.
Besides appearing before the Supreme Court of Canada, I’ve also spent a good deal of time in the policy-making space, helping municipalities draft and implement effective policies for adopting smart technologies into their infrastructure.
I can now turn this experience around for my clients. I can help you draft contracts and policy documents like privacy and data retention policies that not only tell your customers what to expect, but actually reflect your practices. If you don’t have practices in place, I can help you figure those out, so that you can be compliant with the law in a way that supports your business.
My practice runs almost entirely remotely and online. Like many of my clients starting their own business from their home offices, I realized during the pandemic that this was the perfect opportunity to avoid some of the overheads that came with operating a law practice in Ontario, like rent.
I want to help my clients’ businesses succeed. Spending my efforts to streamline my practice with the very best of modern practice systems and online tools, rather than paying for a plush office, is one of the best ways I know to do this.
I am happy to book a consultation with you to answer questions and see if I’m the right lawyer for you. It’s hard for me to say right away if I will be the right lawyer for you. We may get along great, but I may or may not be the best lawyer for the job. I could be your ideal lawyer, there are skill sets I have that may help you I have not here, like my time working in the Senate or my training in the handling of First Nations data under the OCAP Principles, or everyday things I can do for you like contract drafting or Ontario or federal business incorporation. Or your issue may be outside my expertise, but I might know someone better suited to handle your issue.
Let’s book a meeting. If your issue doesn’t fall under my umbrella, don’t worry. I work with many solo lawyers and small law firms of many different specializations to give our clients the widest range of services possible without the heft and cost the big firms, and will do my best to find the best lawyer for you.
Contact
Please contact me by e-mail or with the form to the right with any questions you may have. I will respond as soon as possible.
If your question is of a legal nature, I will respond to set up a consultation. Note that prior to a consultation and the signing of a retainer agreement, I do not represent you and cannot act as your lawyer.
Do not hesitate to ask questions that may be outside my realm of expertise. If I cannot help you, I may still be able to help you find a lawyer who can help you with your needs.
