Bram Abramson is an associate in our Business Law Group in Toronto. His practice focuses on telecommunications, media, and technology matters. Mr. Abramson provides advice to private and public-sector clients on a wide range of commercial and regulatory issues related to the communications sector.
Prior to his legal studies, Mr. Abramson worked as senior financial analyst for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and as a senior analyst and research director for a prominent Washington, DC telecom industry research firm.
Mr. Abramson's experience includes work on behalf of:
· Astral Media Inc., including proposed revisions to the CRTC's dispute resolution framework;
· BCE Inc., in its acquisition of 85% of CTVglobemedia Inc. and proposed acquisition of Astral Media Inc.;
· Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) in numerous regulatory, policy proceedings and, with other Canadian creators' groups, at the Federal Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of Canada on whether the Broadcasting Act applies to certain activities of ISPs;
· GlassBOX Television Inc., in securing various specialty television licences and amendments, acquiring travel + escape from CTV, and the company's acquisition by Blue Ant Media Inc.;
· Globalive Investment Holdings Corp. on various regulatory and competitive issues, including its landmark Canadian ownership and control proceedings;
· H&R REIT, in a dispute relating to telco access to commercial buildings;
· Ontario Ministry of Culture, in key CRTC regulatory policy proceedings;
· Pelmorex Communications Inc., on distribution agreements and various regulatory matters;
· Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), in drafting abuse of dominance guidelines for the telecommunications sector;
· Score Media Inc. in respect of distribution agreements, regulatory requirements, and numerous licensing and policy proceedings, including new media and network neutrality;
· Sirius Canada Inc. and Sirius XM Canada Inc., in proceedings before the CRTC and Copyright Board;
· calling centres and premium-rate service providers, on tariffs, billing arrangements, and telemarketing and do-not-call compliance;
· device and equipment manufacturers on spectrum allocation; international electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), packaging, and labelling compliance; and emergency calling and first-responder issues;
· network builders ranging from small start-ups to large utilities, on regulatory, contractual, and municipal issues;
· international broadcasters, including many South Asian services, on Canadian market entry;
· international submarine cables, on licensing and various Canadian regulatory matters;
· satellite companies, on spectrum allocation and telecom regulatory matters; and
· voice-over-IP and web hosting providers on Canadian market entry and ongoing compliance.
Mr. Abramson was rated a telecommunications and broadcasting "Associate to Watch" in the 2011 and 2012 editions of Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, which said that he is "recognised for his diligence and creativity". He is an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, where he teaches communications law; has published articles in journals such as the Canadian Journal of Communication, Telecommunications Policy and Television & New Media; and is co-author of the Regulatory Guide to Canadian Television.
Mr. Abramson received his BA in Communications from Concordia University and his BCL and LLB from McGill University, and has practiced at McCarthy Tétrault since his call to the Ontario bar in 2008. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and of the Canadian Bar Association, whose national Entertainment, Media and Communications Law section he chairs. Mr. Abramson is fluent in English and French.