​
Health Research
Health research aims to find better ways to treat, prevent and cure disease.
This vital component of healthcare can take multiple forms and present a variety of risks and opportunities. Whether it is a clinical trial, secondary data research, research ethics board protocol review, or a material transfer agreement, we keep the aims of the study top of mind while advising researchers, funders, and health care organizations. We also advise on deidentification of data for research purposes, and questions of research versus quality.
Our services include:
-
Agreements - Material transfer, clinical trial, data sharing, basic science
-
Research ethics board advice
-
Research misconduct
-
Protocol reviews
-
Informed consents
-
Deidentified data
Connect with our team
Mary Jane Dykeman
Samara Starkman
​
Our People
Meet the dedicated team behind INQ.
JD, MSc (Hons)
MANAGING PARTNER
Carole Piovesan
Contact
Practices
Global Privacy
Cyber Preparedness
Incident Response
Data Governance
Artificial Intelligence
Risk Management
Health Professionals
Medical Devices
Carole is Managing Partner at INQ Law, focusing her practice on privacy, cyber incident response, data governance and artificial intelligence (AI) risk management. She regularly counsels clients on a wide range of matters related to privacy, cyber readiness and breach response, data governance, ethical AI and responsible innovation. Prior to founding INQ Law, Carole was co-lead of the national Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Management group at a leading law firm. A seasoned litigator, she has represented clients before all levels of court in Ontario as well as at the Supreme Court of Canada. Carole is ranked by Chambers Canada as a leading lawyer in Privacy & Data Protection, and by Best Lawyers in Technology Law and Health Care Law.
Carole plays an active role in shaping data law, policy and standards in Canada and globally. She is a member of the OECD.AI Policy Observatory, and has contributed to numerous organizations including in the Global Partnership on AI, the Global Task Force to Promote Trusted Sharing of Data at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Standards Council of Canada’s Data Governance Collaborative, and the National Advisory Council on AI in Healthcare.
Carole regularly teaches, speaks and writes on topics related to cybersecurity, privacy, and AI. She has testified before Canada’s House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics and the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology on matters of technology and privacy law. Carole is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law where she lectures on AI regulation. She is the co-editor of Leading Legal Disruption: Artificial Intelligence and a Toolkit for Lawyers and the Law, published by Thomson Reuters (2021). She has been featured by the CBC, the Globe and Mail, The Logic, and Betakit.
Carole was appointed by the federal Minister of Innovation to serve as one of six Digital Leaders in the national data and digital transformation consultations. In this role, she led consultations with businesses, academics, civil society and industry associations to inform the first national Digital Charter. Announced on May 21, 2019, the Digital Charter has led to significant proposed reforms to Canada’s federal private sector privacy law.
​
Recent Experience
-
Developed GDPR compliance program for international delivery service
-
Regularly provide legal opinions on matters of privacy and data security
-
Served as breach coach to assist clients during data breaches
-
Drafted privacy governance programs for various health technology companies and health associations
-
Developed data governance framework and AI ethics framework for provincial health authority
​
Insights & Recognition
-
Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized by her peers in Health Care Law (2022-2025), Technology (2024-2025)
-
Co-editor, Leading Legal Disruption: Artificial Intelligence and a Toolkit for Lawyers and the Law, published by Thomson Reuters (2021)
-
Regulating automated decision systems in Canada: What it means for your business
-
Privacy Law for the digital economy: The new Digital Charter Implementation Act
-
97 things about ethics everyone in data science should know
-
Cybersecurity comparative guide
-
Cyber breach planning: Lessons from the Equifax breach
-
How privacy laws are changing to protect personal information
-
Adjudicating by algorithm: The risks and benefits of artificial intelligence in judicial decision-making
Affiliations
-
Canadian Technology Law Association of Canada (Board of Directors)
-
American Bar Association
-
Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence
-
Standards Council of Canada, Data Governance Working Group
-
Canadian Bar Association
-
Covid Alert App Advisory Council
Community involvement
-
Pro bono legal services to VentureKids Canada
​
​
​
​