Gowling WLG was named Law Firm of the Year at the 4th Annual Canadian FinTech & AI Awards, presented last night at The Carlu in Toronto. The award recognizes Gowling WLG as the Canadian law firm that has been the most impactful in the FinTech and AI space.

Hosted annually by the Digital Finance Institute, the FinTech & AI Awards celebrate the very best in Canadian financial technology and artificial intelligence innovation, recognizing a diverse range of industry participants who are advancing the sector through pioneering work.

In recent years, Gowling WLG has distinguished itself as a leading law firm when it comes to all things tech - particularly in the areas of FinTech, emerging technologies, AI, big data, blockchain and InsurTech.

The firm is known for helping its clients pursue their ambitious - and often game-changing - goals in the technology sphere. Its dedicated tech groups work with clients to navigate complex regulatory and operational challenges, enabling them to take advantage of the innumerable opportunities available in the burgeoning tech sector.

Last year, Gowling WLG became one of the first law firms to launch dedicated practice groups for InsurTech and blockchain, bringing together legal professionals with diverse backgrounds in securities, technology, e-commerce, privacy, cyber security, regulatory, intellectual property and tax law, litigation, and a number of other key areas.

Gowling WLG holds particular strength in the blockchain field. The firm is a co-founding member of the Blockchain Research Institute, was instrumental in the public listing of the very first blockchain company in the world, and is home to experts who are currently authoring The Law of Blockchain Technology (scheduled for publication by Thomson Reuters in 2018).

Earlier this year, Gowling WLG announced a strategic alliance with Decentral Inc. - led by Anthony Di Iorio, who was named FinTech Leader of the Year at the awards ceremony. The alliance aims to optimize the many commercial and legal applications of blockchain technology.