Samara Starkman

Samara is a partner of INQ Law, concentrating her practice on privacy, data governance, health and technology. She is also the Managing Partner of INQ IQ Consulting.

Samara regularly advises clients on a wide range of matters related to privacy, compliance, health law and technology licensing. In her work, Samara provides both practical and strategic advice to assist organizations with responsible, compliant innovation.

Prior to joining INQ Law, Samara was a sole practitioner with clients that included major Ontario hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, health-tech start-ups and multinational telecommunications companies. Previously, she led the privacy department at CancerCare Ontario (now Ontario Health).

In addition to her practice, Samara has taught privacy law at Windsor Law School, and regularly speaks and writes on topics related to privacy and health law. She is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/C) and a Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM). Samara also holds a certificate in negotiating and drafting IT agreements from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Recent Experience

• Developed a legal data sharing, research and technology licensing framework for an AI health technology company, working with hospitals and pharmaceutical companies across Canada
• Created privacy programs for prescribed entities and prescribed registries in Ontario
• Negotiated major data sharing agreements with hospitals in Ontario
• Advised OHTs on appropriate data governance and data sharing structures

Insights & Recognition

• Host: Practicing Privacy During a Pandemic and Beyond, (October 2020)
• Co-presenter: PHIPA Conference 2019, “Consumer health applications - Practical tools for privacy officers to assess privacy risks within their organizations” (December 2019)
• Co-presenter: IAPP Canada Symposium 2019, “Reduce privacy risk in health care: Integrating advances in AI/machine learning” (May 2019)
• Panel member, OBA Health Law Institute 2019, “Privacy: From Guidelines to Best Practices” (February 2019)
• Co-presenter: IAPP Canada Symposium 2018, “Leading a privacy management program within different sectors,” Toronto, Ontario (May 2018)
• Panel moderator: Ontario Bar Association Privacy and Access to Information Law Summit, “Beyond PHIPA: What other legislation do you need to consider?” (April 2017)
• Presenter: The 2016 legal guide to privacy and information management in health care, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, “Using privacy impact assessments to identify and reduce organizational risks” (April 2016).
• Co-presenter: Privacy Law and Compliance Forum 2016, Canadian Institute, “Accountability remains a constant throughout the evolution of privacy,” Toronto, Ontario (March 2016)
• Presenter: IAPP Canada Symposium 2015, “Embedding privacy risk assessment: How to get your project manager on board,” Toronto, Ontario (May 2015)
• Presenter: PHIPA Summit 2014, “A practical approach to embedding privacy risk assessment into projects,” Toronto, Ontario (December 2014)
• Hospital News, “The myth of the circle of care for sharing personal health information,” (December 2014)
• Presenter: IAPP Canada Privacy Symposium 2014, “Implementing privacy accountability in a provincially funded agency,” Toronto, Ontario (May 2014)
• Presenter: PHIPA Summit 2013, “Beyond breaches: Making privacy metrics meaningful,” Toronto, Ontario (November 2013)

Affiliations

• Canadian Technology Association of Canada (Member)
• Canadian Bar Association (Member)
• Ontario Bar Association (Member)
• International Association of Privacy Professionals (Member)
• Law Society of Ontario (Member)

Community involvement

• Past Chair and Board Member, Street Health