Wendy J. Wagner

Wendy J. Wagner is leader of Gowling WLG’s Regulatory Practice Group, head of the firm’s International Trade Group, and co-leader of its Cyber Security & Data Protection Group in Canada. A respected advisor and advocate, she helps organizations navigate high-stakes regulatory environments—managing cross-border trade and sanctions risk while strengthening cyber and privacy resilience in an increasingly complex and fast-moving landscape.

Recognized among Canada’s top international trade lawyers by Legal 500, Chambers Global, Lexpert and Best Lawyers in Canada™, Wendy advises on tariffs and customs compliance, import and export controls, controlled goods, and sanctions. She regularly represents clients before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and courts in matters ranging from customs appeals to anti-dumping and countervailing investigations.

Wendy currently serves on the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Advisory Committee and is a member of the Planning Committee for the Canadian Council on International Law (CCIL) Annual Conference. In 2022, she was named Lawyer of the Year for International Trade and Finance Law by Best Lawyers, and in 2026 she was recognized in Lexpert’s Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada.

In her cyber security and data protection practice, Wendy helps clients manage digital risk and meet evolving regulatory expectations. She advises on and drafts policies, data processing agreements, and privacy impact assessments, and provides strategic counsel on complex issues such as de-identification, AI-enabled tools, biometrics, and automated decision-making. Wendy also acts as a trusted breach coach, guiding clients through breach response and incident management.

Her broader data governance work includes advising on data retention and security programs and supporting clients with access to information requests. She complements this advisory work by representing clients in investigations before privacy commissioners and navigating appeals before information and privacy commissioners, as well as the courts.

Wendy is a member of the steering committee of the Cambridge Forum on Cyber Security, a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), and the Canadian delegate to the International Network of Privacy Professionals (INPLP). She was also selected to participate in the Sedona Conference WG6 drafting team on Cross Border Data and Information Governance. Wendy holds a CIPP/C designation and is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in Technology Law and Data Privacy & Cyber Security by Legal 500 and Lexpert.

Beyond her cyber security and international trade focuses, Wendy maintains a broad litigation practice, representing clients before the Federal and Ontario courts in judicial reviews and appeals. Her work spans administrative law, constitutional challenges, and defamation matters, and she is recognized for her expertise in these areas by Best Lawyers in Canada™ (Administrative and Public Law) and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (repeatedly recommended for Litigation – Defamation & Media).

A sought-after thought leader and media commentator, Wendy is frequently invited to provide insight and expertise in top-tier outlets, including the Globe and Mail, Financial Post, CTV News, and BNN Bloomberg.

Prior to joining Gowling WLG, Wendy clerked for the Honourable Mr. Justice Bastarache of the Supreme Court of Canada. She received her LLB from the University of Ottawa and was awarded the University Gold Medal. She holds an MA in International Affairs from Carleton’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs.