Aarij S. Wasti

Aarij Wasti is a Toronto-based Gowling WLG partner in the Corporate Commercial, Funds and Private M&A group and member of its Sports & Entertainment Group.

With over 20 years of international legal experience spanning private practice, in-house leadership, and major global sporting events, he advises clients across three core practice areas: sports and entertainment law, cross-border business law, and in-house legal services.

In his sports and entertainment practice, Aarij assists clients with bidding for and planning major sporting events, negotiating sponsorship arrangements, and helping navigate associative marketing campaigns. He advises on the full spectrum of sports law matters, including commercial agreements, governance, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance. A recognized voice in the Canadian legal market on mega-event hosting, Aarij is a leading commentator on issues related to the FIFA World Cup 2026, drawing on his first-hand experience as a key member of the core management team that delivered the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

Aarij also maintains an active cross-border business law practice focused on corporate and commercial transactions and private M&A, with particular strength in Middle East markets. His client work in this area includes strategic intellectual property matters, Islamic finance, and corporate governance and advisory. He holds an Islamic Finance Qualification from the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Additionally, Aarij offers in-house legal services, including providing client support during general counsel leave periods, leveraging the decade he spent serving as in-house counsel on complex, high-profile projects.

Aarij is an active member of the Sports Lawyers Association, serving on its International Committee. He is a frequent speaker and thought leader, with recent engagements including the Sports Lawyers Association Fall Symposium in London (2025), the ABA Forum on Entertainment & Sports Industries in Las Vegas (2023 and 2025), the PrimeTime Sports & Entertainment Conference in Toronto (2024 and 2025), the International Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting in Quebec City (2025), and a keynote address at the International Advertising Association in New York City (2025). He is also the co-producer of Sideline Conversations, a monthly podcast series covering the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Qualified in Canada (Ontario and Alberta), England & Wales, and Pakistan, Aarij brings a rich global perspective to his work, helping clients forge strategic connections and make inroads into exciting new markets.

The Legal 500 Middle East named Aarij on its GC Powerlist in 2023, 2022, and 2019.

Aarij offers legal services in both English and Urdu.