David Elder practices communications, competition and privacy law in the Ottawa office of Stikeman Elliott LLP. He is a highly-regarded practitioner with over 20 years’ experience gained in private practice, government and corporate settings. David was formerly Vice President, Regulatory Law with Bell Canada, as well as serving as Legal Counsel to the CRTC.

David has provided legal and strategic advice with respect to a wide range of broadcasting and telecommunications proceedings, including those relating to licensing, policy matters and competitive disputes. In various written, oral, expedited and dispute resolution proceedings he has advocated before the CRTC, Industry Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and several Parliamentary Committees.

He serves a broad range of clients in the communications industry including broadcasters, broadcasting distributors, Internet content providers, software-as-a-service providers, property developers, governments, industry associations and telecommunications service providers employing Internet, wired, wireless and satellite technologies.

David is editor of CanadianCommunicationsLaw.com, Stikeman Elliott’s blog on legal and policy developments relating to communications.

He has been recognized in The 2011 Chambers Global’s The World’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a recommended lawyer in Telecommunications & Broadcasting, and noted as a lawyer that “comes highly recommended for his substantial knowledge of telecoms, broadcasting, privacy and lawful access issues.”

David is currently the Vice Chair of the National Entertainment, Media & Communications Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and a Member of the Steering Committee for the biennial Law Society of Upper Canada / Canadian Bar Association Communications Law and Policy Conference.