Biography Photo of Wendy Hulton

Wendy G. Hulton

Partner
Toronto

Wendy has over 30 years of experience in the area of product regulation. She provides advice on cannabis, dietary supplements, natural health products, foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and a wide range of consumer products. She is retained by clients throughout Canada, the US and internationally to assist with a broad range of regulatory and marketing law matters.

Wendy is often called upon to assist clients with ever increasing complexity of Canada's federal and provincial privacy legislation. She advises clients on their privacy and cyber security policies and procedures, requests for disclosure of personal information, surveillance issues and other matters arising under Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, Access to Information Act and Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).

Wendy has a diverse civil litigation practice which encompasses employment and business law, product liability and advocacy before all levels of Courts in Ontario including the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal and before a variety of administrative tribunals and arbitrators. Whether the client is an individual or corporation, Wendy strives to resolve conflicts creatively, practically and efficiently.

She provides advice to manufacturers, importers and retailers on a broad range of regulatory and marketing law issues including: Advertising & Promotions, Regulatory Compliance, Product Liability & Product Recall, Contracts & Agreements and E-Commerce.

As a member of Dickinson Wright's Canadian employment law group, Wendy provides employment law advice to a wide range of employers on a variety of workplace issues, including discipline and wrongful dismissal matters, workplace privacy, human rights management and litigation and health and safety issues. She also provides advice and assistance on employment agreements, workplace policies, severance packages and the resolution of workplace disputes. Wendy is looked upon as a trusted advisor to senior human resource professionals who are engaged in maintaining employee relationships that support their organization's business objectives.

Wendy has provided advice to a wide variety of companies from the following industries:

  • Cannabis/marijuana/hemp
  • e-Cigarettes/tobacco
  • Foods
  • Natural Health Products
  • Cosmetics
  • Dietary supplements
  • Direct sellers
  • Drugs
  • Consumer products
  • Hazardous products
  • Contests/Loyalty programs
  • Medical devices
  • Pest control products
  • Pet products
  • Textiles
  • Jewelry/ Precious metals
  • Toys and infant products
  • Art and craft supplies
  • Automotive 

Ms. Hulton's significant experience is applied to achieving the goals of each client in a timely, cost-effective manner.

Education & Credentials

Education

Osgoode Hall Law School

LL.B., 1988

University of Toronto

B.A., 1985
  • with honors

Bar Admission

  • Ontario

Areas Of Practice

Labor & Employment Administrative & Regulatory Commercial & Business Litigation Health Care Health Care Design & Manufacture of Medical Equipment Entertainment, Sports and Media Gaming Food & Agribusiness Cannabis Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Corporate Health Care Research & Academic Institutions USMCA

Acknowledgements

  • Winner of the Niagara Cup Mooting Competition

Prominent Assignments

  • Retained by one of Canada's leading co-packers to provide counsel with a national product recall.
  • Assisting clients in obtaining records from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada for U.S. lawsuits relating to food contamination.
  • Representing a pet products company and assisting them with their expansion operations to Canada.
  • Retained by a major insolvency firm to handle the firm’s corporate, tax, employment, and regulatory matters.
  • Representing a broad-based pharmaceutical and fine chemical company and are engaged to provide a range of services from corporate to employment.

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Canadian General Standards Board Textiles Technical Committee, 2023
  • Dickinson Wright’s Toronto Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, Co-Chair
  • Council for Federal Cannabis Regulation
    • Advisory Committee, Member 
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • County of York Law Association
  • International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization
  • International Association of Privacy Professionals
  • Direct Sellers Association
  • Canadian Association of Regulatory Affairs

Publications/Presentations

Presentations

  • Co-Presenter, “Health Care Data Privacy: When Nightmares Become Reality,” Dickinson Wright Healthcare Webinar, November 2023
  • Presenter, “Compliance with Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Act, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation and Canada’s Privacy Laws”, Direct Sellers Association’ Doing Business in Canada Virtual Seminar, October 18, 2023
  • Speaker, "PSP Academy: Privacy and Security in Patient Support Programs," Health Loyalty Webinar, April 2023
  • Speaker, "Keeping Up To Date - The Essential Guide to Privacy and Security," IT World Canada, MAPLESEC, October 2022 
  • Presenter, "Wait, Wait...Don't Sell Me! FDA and Other Pre-Market Considerations for Commercial Products," Dickinson Wright Annual Health Law Summit, November 2021  
  • Presenter, “Canadian Privacy Law/Employment Agreements” Direct Sellers Association of Canada’s Legal and Regulatory Virtual Seminar, February 10, 2021 
  • Panelist, “Exploring Key Issues Impacting Direct Sellers,” Direct Sellers Association of Canada’s Pivot Virtual Summit, November 2020.
  • Presenter, “Preparing for USMCA Day Episode 5 – Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Competition and Regulatory Alignment”, Dickinson Wright Webinar, June 2020. 
  • “OVERVIEW OF EMPLOYEE PRIVACY: U.S. – CANADA – CROSS-BORDER” Joint Webinar with Sara Jodka for LAW Lawyers Associated Worldwide, March 10, 2020. 
  • "2020 Insight for the Direct Selling Industry: Privacy, Misleading Advertising and Consumer Product Safety Act Update”, Direct Sellers Association Legal & Regulatory Seminar 2020, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Etobicoke, February 12, 2020.
  • “State of the Industry: What We Learned, What We Gained and What It’s Cost”, GrowUp Cannabis Conference (Niagara Falls, Ontario, September 12, 2019)
  • “Canada Hot Topics: What is New and Exciting on the Regulatory Front”, Association of Corporate Counsel, 15th Annual Nutrition Law Symposium, (Lehi, Utah, September 13, 2019)
  • Employment Standards Educational Program: Part 5  for the Canadian Franchise Association, (Webinar, May 2, 2019)
  • IDG on Cannabis’ Impact on the Canadian Pharmaceutical Market, Cold Chain Global Forum (Toronto, March 1, 2019) 
  • “Cannabis: From Due Diligence to Growth at Light Speed,” Capital Connection 2018, ACG Toronto, (Toronto, November 14, 2018) 
  • “Effective Compliance with the Competition Act and MLM Regulation,” Direct Sellers Association of Canada, Doing Business in Canada Seminar, (Arlington, VA, November 12, 2018) 
  • “Beyond Growing: Its Complicated”, GrowUp Conference and Expo, (Niagara Falls, September 8, 2018) 
  • “Getting Workplaces Ready for Legal Pot” Interview on Global TV’s Morning Show, (Local markets Saskatoon to Halifax, August 9, 2018) 
  • “Jobs and Joints” City TV interview on Cannabis in the workplace (City’s Toronto, Edmonton and Winnipeg evening news shows August 7, 2018) 
  • “Raise Your Regulatory IQ - Compliance and the New Regulatory Climate: Current Best Practices, Potential Future Challenges” Direct Sellers Association Webinar, December 4, 2017
  • Canada and the U.S.: Cross-Border Partnerships, Investments & Opportunities, MJBizCon, Las Vegas, November November 16, 2017
  • “CASL 2.0: The Class Action Lawyers Are Coming: Are You Ready?” Dickinson Wright Client Webinar, Toronto, May 31, 2017 
  • “Breakfast with Brands Automotive Sector” WBE Canada, Dickinson Wright Roundtable Participant, Royal York Hotel, Toronto, April 13, 2017 
  • “Patient Support Without Privacy Breaches”, Keynote Speaker at HealthLoyalty Seminar, Markham, Ontario, November 24, 2016
  • “General Counsel/Outside Counsel Forum” Direct Sellers Association’s 2016 Business & Policy Conference: Insights from the United States and Europe, Washington D.C., October 25, 2016
  • “Doing Business with Canadians: What Your Clients Don’t Know Might be Costly”, DW Internal Webinar, Toronto, May 17, 2016
  • “U.S. – Canada Cross Border Product Recalls – Before, During and After the Recall or What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You” International Consumer Product Health & Safety Organization (ICPHSO) 2016 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium, Washington, D.C, February 29, 2016
  • “What’s Keeping Food Producers Awake at Night” Michigan Agri-Business Association 83rd Annual Winter Conference, Lansing, Michigan, January 11, 2016
  • “Beyond the Legal Duty to Accommodate” Federated Press, 10th Annual Employer’s Duty to Accommodate, Toronto, ON, December 10, 2015
  • “Everything You Need To Know to Legally Sell and Promote Your Products in Canada” Direct Sellers Association of Canada, 2015 DSA Global Strategies Summit, Washington, DC, October 14, 2015
  • “Doing Business Across the Border” 15th Annual Great Lakes Women’s Business Conference, Novi, Michigan, September 29, 2015
  • "Brand Protection: Time to Step it Up”, We Have the Power, DSA Conference, Niagara Falls, June 23, 2015
  • "Canada-US in the Era of Global Trade" Presentation to PNC's International Advisory Board Meeting with Dan Ujczo, September 11, 2014
  • "Super Summary - The Top 10 Canadian Health Law Decisions," Presentation to DW Health Law Group, July 27, 2014
  • “CASL Webinar: Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation” Dickinson Wright Webinar presented jointly with Dan Ujczo, June 12, 2014
  • "Canada's Anti-Spam Law: Are You Ready?" CASL Webinar, CFA Society Toronto, May 20, 2014
  • "US - Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council: A Government and Industry Perspective" Panel Moderator, The Food and Drug Law Institute's Canada & U.S. Food, Drug, Cosmetic & Devices Regulations: Key Developments and Comparisons, Trump Tower, Toronto, May 15, 2014
  • "Food and Cosmetic Advertising, Labeling & Health Claims Regulation" The Food and Drug Law Institute's Canada & U.S. Food, Drug, Cosmetic & Devices Regulations: Key Developments and Comparisons, Trump Tower, Toronto, May 15, 2014
  • "An Information Session on Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)" Webinar for the Direct Sellers Association of Canada, April 30, 2014
  • "Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) is coming - Are you Ready?" Canadian Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA) Webinar, March 27, 2014
  • "Business Law - Raising the Bar" The Fifth Annual Women's Leadership Symposium, University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce, Toronto, March 7, 2014
  • "Practicing Law - Five Minutes with Dickinson Wright Lawyers" University of Toronto, Explore it Program, Toronto, February 11, 2014
  • “Vital Legal Update – Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation and Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Act” Direct Sellers Association, Global Regulatory Summit, (Washington, D.C. October 3, 2013)
  • “How to Avoid Contest & Advertising Disasters” – Dickinson Wright LLP (Toronto, ON September 26, 2013)
  • “LinkedIn 101” - Dickinson Wright LLP (Toronto, ON May 23, 2013) 
  • “Internet Sales and Services in Canada” - Business in Americas Conference - Multilaw Americas Regional Conference (Cincinnati, Ohio, April 20, 2012)
  • “Data Privacy Law Breakout Session” - Business in Americas Conference - Multilaw Americas Regional Conference (Cincinnati, Ohio, April 20, 2012)
  • “US Export of Goods and Services to Canada” - Business in Americas Conference - Multilaw Americas Regional Conference (Cincinnati, Ohio, April 20, 2012)
  • “The New Anti-Spam Legislation and Internet Privacy Update - How to stay ahead of the curve”, Webinar for CCTFA members, along with Fraser Mann (Toronto: March 27, 2012)
  • “Overview of Canada's New Anti-Spam Legislation and the Proposed Regulations”, Business Law Group, Miller Thomson (Toronto: September 27, 2011)
  • “Regulatory Compliance for Selling Products in Canada”, Direct Selling Association's Looking Forward Conference (Washington, D.C.: September 15, 2011)
  • “Regulatory Compliance for Advertising and Promotional Labeling”, International Pharmaceutical Academy Packaging and Labelling Conference (Toronto: May 19, 2011)
  • Chair, Canadian Institute’s 16th Annual Marketing and Advertising Law Conference (Toronto: January 21-22, 2010)
  • “Working under a Tougher Regime for Deceptive Marketing: What Advertisers and Marketers Need to Know” (co-presented with Andrea Rosen, Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Fair Business Practices Branch), Canadian Institute's Conference on Canada's New Competition Act (June 23, 2009)
  • “Bill C-6: The Proposed Consumer Product Safety Act”, Direct Sellers Association’s Government Relations Conference (Richmond Hill, ON: April 29, 2009)
  • “Supplying Products for the Locavores”, OBA Conference on the Business of Farming (University of Guelph, ON: April 28, 2009)
  • “Substantiating Advertising and Marketing Claims for Cosmetics and Complying with the Competition Act”, Canadian Cosmetics Fragrance and Toiletry Association’s Spring Regulatory Workshop (Ottawa, ON: April 22, 2009)
  • “Your Passport to Global Success”, Direct Selling Association's 2009 International Seminar Expansion to Canada (National Harbour, MD: March 4, 2009)
  • “Everyone's Doing It - Practice Safe Cross Promotions”, Canadian Institute's 15th Annual Advertising and Marketing Law Conference (January 23, 2009)

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