Meet Nadia Jandali Chao

Nadia is a trusted and strategic adviser on matters relating to privacy law, commercial agreements, risk management, and corporate governance.  She has almost two decades of experience working in demanding and complex private practice and in-house environments, with a proven track record in senior legal and business management roles.

Nadia offers a unique and well-rounded perspective developed from her experience in litigation and corporate law. She is a demonstrated leader driven to manage risk, add value, build high performing teams, control costs and create strategic alliances with organizational leaders to effectively align with and support key business initiatives.

Nadia advises clients in both the public and private sector on a variety of corporate and privacy matters, including drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, workplace investigations, data sharing agreements, privacy program management (risk assessments, policies and procedures, training), board governance, communications with regulators, enterprise risk management, incident management and response, privacy assessments, and access to information requests. She has also served clients as a Fractional General Counsel and/or Privacy Officer

Nadia  is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (Canada), issued by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, and working towards a Master of Laws in Privacy and Cybersecurity from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Nadia is the Vice Chair of the board and Chair of the Governance Committee for the Youth and Philanthropy Initiative Canada.  YPI implements a social service program that directs grants to charities across Canada, 100% through the choices of informed and empowered secondary students.  The award-winning program grows compassionate communities by connecting high school students to social issues, local charities, and philanthropy at a pivotal stage in their adolescence.

• Certified In-House Counsel – Canada (CIC.C) Designation, Rotman School of Management
• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) Designation, International Association of Privacy Professionals

• Annual ReCCOgnition Award - Rooted in Integrity, Cancer Care Ontario (2018)

• Presenter, “A 360 Degree View of Vendor Privacy Risk Management”, IAPP Canada Privacy Symposium, May 26, 2023
• Presenter, “Beyond Hearsay: Putting Demonstrable Accountability into Practice”, IAPP Canada Privacy Symposium, May 27, 2022
• Presenter, “Health Information Privacy in a Changing Landscape”, Privacy and Data Security Compliance Forum, The Canadian Institute, January 30, 2019
• Presenter, “Beyond Compliance: How to Elevate the Privacy Discussion in Your Organization”, PHIPA Connections Summit, December 4 2018

• Partner, Lerners LLP (2024)
• Founder and Principal Lawyer, Bespoke Law Professional Corporation (2020-2024)
• Head of Privacy and General Counsel, MindBeacon (2020)
• Assistant General Counsel and Director, Legal & Privacy, Ontario Health (2015-2020)
• Acting General Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer and Corporate Secretary, Cancer Care Ontario (2017)
• Senior Legal Counsel, Cancer Care Ontario (2015-2016)
• Lawyer, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (2006-2015)

• Admitted to the Ontario Bar (2006)
• LLM Candidate, Privacy and Cybersecurity Law, Osgoode Hall Law School (2019-Present)
• Certified In-House Counsel – Canada (CIC.C) Designation, Rotman School of Management (2018)
• LL.B, University of Western Ontario (2005)
• B.A. (Hons), Psychology, University of Western Ontario (2001)