About Us

Chetan Phull

Principal Lawyer, LLM, JD, FIP, CIPM, CIPP/C/US/E

Overview

Chetan Phull is the Principal Lawyer at Smartblock Law. He has been practicing law since 2013, and dedicated to helping commercial parties with technology deals, high-stakes litigation, and digital regulation since 2018. His work history is published on his LinkedIn profile.

He brings broad experience to his clients, having worked as General Counsel for an international fiber optic components manufacturer, corporate and privacy counsel for Canada’s largest casino operator, digital-laws counsel for the largest global “Big Four” accounting firm, and litigation counsel for a variety of commercial/investment clients and “crypto whales”.

Recent Wins as General Counsel

Chetan was recently engaged as General Counsel for an international fiber optic components manufacturer. His wins in that role include a complex jurisdiction motion—with $60k awarded costs—against a U.S. multinational in a litigation with $7M+ in dispute (see here and here).

For the same client, Chetan also secured full-value settlement of a high-value machine contract against an international distributor, on confidential terms at mediation.

Corporate & Privacy Experience

Chetan has worked as corporate and privacy counsel in complex data ecosystems involving foreign PE-firm shareholders, statutory Crown operators, national service subcontractors, international commercial partners, and a multitude of regulators.

His work on breach response, privacy impact assessments, and related digital infrastructure mandates has involved renegotiating MSAs, SLAs and SOWs for energy providers, financial institutions, ships at sea, a national casino chain, hospitals and technology manufacturers.

He also has extensive experience with LOI negotiation, software licensing, M&A due diligence of digital operations, financial arrangements with secured lenders, and employment contracts.

In addition, Chetan has worked extensively on global blockchain, privacy and AI operations within constantly evolving regulatory environments.

Litigation Experience

Chetan has represented multiple public companies in $40M+ international disputes, and secured favorable outcomes on key issues of jurisdiction and evidence.

In addition to his recent wins (above), his courtroom experience includes matters involving debt-priority against a Schedule I bank (see here), corporate governance malfeasance, and insurance coverage.

He has also successfully won motions for evidence production against global technology companies and internet service providers.

Publications & Speaking

Written works by Chetan include BIG DATA LAW IN CANADA, a book on privacy law for digital organizations. Related speaking engagements on privacy and AI have followed (for example, see here).

Chetan has also authored various works for the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry (see here). This work has led to legal education talks for other lawyers, across Canada and in foreign jurisdictions including Dubai (for example, see here).

Chetan’s early publications include peer-reviewed work on international dispute resolution in English (here) and Thai (here).

Industry Credentials & Bar Admissions

Chetan is an IAPP Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP), with designations including CIPM, CIPP/C, CIPP/US, and CIPP/E. He is also a CipherTrace Certified Examiner (CTCE) for blockchain forensic work.

Chetan is admitted to the Bars of Ontario, New York State and Massachusetts (all 2013), and is a former law clerk of the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal (2011-2012).

His law degrees were earned from Queen’s University (Juris Doctor 2010) and University College London (Master of Laws 2011). His undergraduate degree was earned from the University of Toronto (Bachelor of Music 2007).

Qualifications

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario (2013, license # 63189E)

  • New York State (2013, license # 5157565)

  • Massachusetts (2013, license # 687225)

Industry Certifications

Clerkships

  • Nova Scotia Court of Appeal (2012)

Education

  • Master of Laws in International Business Law, University College London (2011)

  • Juris Doctor, Queen’s University (2010)

  • Postgraduate Diploma in International and European Law, Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3 (2009)

  • Bachelor of Music in Composition, English minor, University of Toronto (2007)