Hélène Deschamps Marquis

National Co-Leader, Privacy & Cybersecurity

Montréal
[email protected]
514.954.3102

Hélène has over 25 years of market-leading experience in advising many of Canada’s major institutions on managing complex legal and business risks, in respect of cybersecurity, information technology, privacy, and artificial intelligence. Her practice includes breach and incident response, regulatory compliance, and global data and privacy frameworks, as well as the negotiation of complex cross-border technology arrangements and transactions.

Hélène excels at assisting board members and general counsel grasp complex IT issues and related regulatory requirements, hence contributing to organizational resilience through informed decision-making. Her clients span multiple sectors, including energy, financial services, public sector, health care, and transportation.

Among other areas, her strategic advice to leadership covers:

  • cyber governance
  • risk assessment and mitigation, including privacy impact assessments
  • regulatory compliance
  • incident response plans and breach coaching
  • AI tool planning and responsible deployment
  • technology-related policies, procedures, and training
  • the drafting of various technology agreements, including in contexts of electronic commerce, outsourcing, research and development, mergers and acquisitions, and financings

An active speaker and lecturer both in Canada and internationally, Hélène contributes to an innovative legal landscape in digital and technology law, privacy protection, and artificial intelligence ethics.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Law Society of Ontario
  • Member, Barreau du Québec
  • Board member, Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)
  • Board and Executive Committee member, ITech Law
  • Instructor (Board liability and cyber risks), Collège des administrateurs du Québec

Awards & Recognition

  • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2014) of Best Lawyers in Canada (Information Technology Law; Technology Law).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2013) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Computer & IT Law; Data Protection & Privacy).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition of The Lexpert® Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Technology and Health Sciences Lawyers.
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2016) of the Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Telecommunications Media & Technology; Information Technology and Data).
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2019) of the Who's Who Legal's Thought Leaders: Data.
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2015) of The Legal 500 Canada (Technology).

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 2024
  • Québec, 1998
  • LLM, International Business and Technology Law, McGill University, 2000
  • LLB, Université Laval, 1996