Torkin Manes: Roland Hung Torkin Manes Privacy Chair, AI Co-Chair

• Roland Hung has been appointed chair of Torkin Manes’ privacy, data, and cybersecurity group and co-chair of its new AI and innovation group.
• Hung's extensive background includes guiding organizations on privacy compliance, cybersecurity, data governance, and technology issues across diverse sectors.
• Lisa R. Lifshitz, who launched the privacy group, will co-chair the AI and innovation group with Hung and continues to chair the technology group.
• Sondra Rebenchuk has been named the firm's first director of AI and innovation, responsible for integrating emerging technologies into Torkin Manes' operations.
• The new AI and innovation group, announced August 31, combines expertise from various legal fields to address complex technology-related challenges.

This proactive approach by Torkin Manes highlights the growing market demand for sophisticated legal services in these areas.

Torkin Manes has announced significant leadership changes aimed at bolstering its expertise in critical and evolving legal domains. Partner Roland Hung has been appointed to two key positions: chair of the firm’s privacy, data, and cybersecurity group, and co-chair of its newly established artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation group. This dual role underscores the firm's commitment to addressing complex legal challenges at the intersection of technology and data.

Alongside Roland Hung, Lisa R. Lifshitz, who originally launched Torkin Manes’ privacy, data, and cybersecurity group, will now co-chair the AI and innovation group. She also continues to chair the firm's technology group, ensuring continuity and integrated leadership across these interconnected practice areas. The formation of the AI and innovation group was publicly announced on August 31, signaling a proactive response to the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.

Further enhancing the firm's strategic focus on emerging technologies, Sondra Rebenchuk has been named Torkin Manes’ first-ever director of AI and innovation. In this pioneering role, Rebenchuk is tasked with integrating AI and other advanced technologies into the firm's operational framework, reflecting an internal commitment to innovation that complements its client-facing legal services.

Roland Hung brings a wealth of experience to his new leadership roles, particularly as the Roland Hung Torkin Manes privacy chair. His practice has involved guiding diverse organizations through intricate matters concerning privacy compliance, cybersecurity, data governance, and breach response, as well as broader technology-related issues. His client base spans financial institutions, manufacturing, pharmaceutical companies, information technology providers, municipalities, educational and medical institutions, and not-for-profit organizations.

Hung's expertise extends to assisting clients with the complex legal and privacy compliance requirements associated with new products and technologies, both within Canada and internationally. He has addressed a wide array of issues, including those related to AI, social media, surveillance, identification and authentication measures such as biometrics and electronic signatures, vehicle and device telematics, drones, online behavioral advertising, big data and data analytics, and data monetization. His work also encompasses handling privacy requests, complaints, cross-border transactions, privacy audits, breach notifications, and court actions for damages.

Beyond his advisory work, Hung has a strong litigation background, having litigated intellectual property disputes, including trademark infringement issues. He has appeared before various legal bodies, including administrative boards, privacy regulators, provincial and federal courts, and mediators, notably before the Federal Court. His professional affiliations include chairing the Ontario Bar Association’s privacy and access to information law section and serving on the Canadian advisory board of the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Prior to joining Torkin Manes, Hung gained valuable in-house experience as a senior legal counsel and global privacy officer at Finning, and as chief legal officer and chief privacy officer at Vivametrica, where he also served on the board, according to LinkedIn. He is recognized as a recommended lawyer in Lexpert’s data privacy and cybersecurity category and was featured in the 2026 Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Technology Lawyers. Additionally, Hung is fluent in Cantonese, alongside English.

The establishment of the AI and innovation group, co-chaired by Roland Hung and Lisa R. Lifshitz, represents a significant expansion of Torkin Manes' capabilities. This new group comprises lawyers with specialized knowledge across various legal disciplines, including technology, privacy, cybersecurity, intellectual property, corporate/commercial law, employment law, litigation, and regulatory matters. This multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive support for clients navigating the complexities of emerging technologies.

These appointments and the formation of the new group solidify Torkin Manes' cybersecurity leadership and its growing Canadian legal AI practice. The firm is strategically positioning itself to offer specialized expertise in areas that are increasingly critical for businesses and organizations. The integration of Sondra Rebenchuk as director of AI and innovation further underscores the firm's commitment to not only advising clients on these technologies but also leveraging them internally to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.

The strategic appointments of Roland Hung as Roland Hung Torkin Manes privacy chair and co-chair of the Roland Hung AI innovation group, alongside the broader expansion of Torkin Manes' technology-focused practice areas, reflect a keen understanding of the evolving legal landscape. These moves signal the firm's enhanced capabilities in critical and rapidly developing fields such as privacy, data, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence law.

This proactive approach by Torkin Manes highlights the growing market demand for sophisticated legal services in these areas. It suggests that legal professionals and compliance officers should anticipate increased regulatory scrutiny and potential new legal developments, particularly within the Canadian legal AI practice. The firm's investment in these specialized groups positions it to provide essential guidance for clients facing complex compliance and litigation challenges in an increasingly data-driven and technologically advanced world.

This appointment signals Torkin Manes' enhanced capabilities in critical and evolving areas of privacy, data, cybersecurity, and AI law, offering specialized expertise for clients navigating complex compliance and litigation challenges in Canada. It highlights the growing market demand for legal services in these fields, indicating that lawyers and compliance officers should anticipate increased regulatory focus and potential legal developments in these areas.

Source: Original reporting via Canadian Lawyer Magazine