Sonali User
@sonaliuser
Technology, media, and IP lawyer advising on SaaS, data privacy, and commercial contracts.
CanadaWhat I'm looking for
I am a licensed lawyer in Ontario with deep experience advising on technology, media, and intellectual property law, including SaaS and cloud agreements, licensing, and regulatory compliance.
I have led high-value commercial negotiations, streamlined contract templates for new revenue models, and overseen data protection compliance with frameworks such as PIPEDA and GDPR, supporting business stakeholders and mitigating contractual risk.
My background includes in-house and firm roles across media and broadcasting, delivering legal strategy, dispute support, and compliance programs, and contributing to sector knowledge through volunteer leadership in bar association practice sections.
Experience
Work history, roles, and key accomplishments
Contract & Legal Affairs Professional
Freelance
Jul 2023 - Present (2 years 3 months)
Lead negotiations and drafting of high-value commercial agreements including MSAs, SOWs and SaaS contracts; streamlined templates for new revenue models and negotiated commercial terms to support cashflow and global customers. Oversaw data privacy policies and ensured compliance with PIPEDA and GDPR while advising senior stakeholders on IP, IT and regulatory risks.
Legal Advisor
ANM Global Law Firm
Aug 2021 - Jan 2023 (1 year 5 months)
Assisted in-house legal teams for media clients including OTT platforms; drafted and negotiated media IP, licensing and SaaS agreements and implemented streamlined approval processes to reduce turnaround time. Advised on liability, indemnity and regulatory compliance for broadcasting and media transactions.
Legal Manager
Arha Media and Broadcasting Pvt. Ltd.
Dec 2020 - Jul 2021 (7 months)
Reviewed, negotiated and structured IP and service agreements, led disputes and regulatory compliance efforts, and concluded high-stakes MSAs and SOWs with international partners. Implemented IT rules, SOPs and a grievance redressal mechanism to ensure operational compliance.
ZLAssistant Legal Manager
Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited
Nov 2019 - Nov 2020 (1 year)
Served as primary legal liaison for business units, managing end-to-end contract lifecycle for production, licensing and artist agreements and ensuring compliance with ASCI and media regulations; negotiated IP acquisitions for channels.
Assistant Legal Manager
Reliance Broadcast and Network Limited
Nov 2018 - Nov 2019 (1 year)
Provided legal support for IP creation and licensing, reviewed broadcast advertisements for ASCI compliance, managed contract drafting and execution, and prepared legal opinions to support production and media projects.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) — Federation of Law Societies of Canada
Certificate of Qualification, Legal Accreditation
Awarded the NCA Certificate of Qualification in 2022 validating legal credentials for practice in Canada.
IIIndian Law Institute
Diploma / Certificate, Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law
Completed a diploma/certificate course on IPR and Information Technology in the Internet Age in 2019.
UUUniversity of Petroleum and Energy Studies (College of Legal Studies, UPES)
Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws (BA LL.B Hons), Law
2011 - 2016
Completed an integrated BA LL.B (Hons) program with focus on foundational legal education and practice skills from 2011 to 2016.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
CanadaAuthorized to work in
Job categories
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