Richards Buell Sutton LLP Business Law Clinic provides law students with an educational opportunity to use their substantive understanding of business law in a clinical setting for the benefit of the public. This clinical setting offers students a unique opportunity to develop a number of practical and legal skills. In addition to providing a client facing experiential learning environment for students, the Clinic serves another important purpose by expanding access to legal services for a range of business and non-profit organizations.
The Clinic provides business-oriented legal advice to small businesses, entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, and individuals who cannot otherwise afford such legal advice. The purpose of the Clinic is to provide law students with an opportunity to use their substantive understanding of law in a clinical setting for the benefit of the public. This clinical setting allows students to gain practice skills along with a deeper understanding of professional ethics and professional responsibility.
In addition to the experiential learning component of the Clinic, students also participate in seminar discussions led by Clinic Adjunct Professors, Ryan J. Black, Tyson Gratton, and Maneesha Dakha.
Meet the Clinic Adjuncts
Ryan J. Black
Ryan J. Black is a partner at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, practicing in its Vancouver office. His work includes mergers and acquisitions, technology outsourcing, service provisioning, venture capital funding, high-technology employment, licensing and commercial contracting. Ryan works with companies across Canada and internationally who are systems integrators, consultants, developers, retailers, publishers and service providers, particularly in the software, information technology and video game industries.
As a former software and Internet developer, Ryan has a unique insight to emerging technology matters important to today's businesses, such as cybersecurity, blockchain technologies, open source software, cloud computing, and social media. Ryan is a frequent speaker on a wide variety of legal matters including Canada's Anti-Spam Law, video game law, technology law and intellectual property issues, and is also the co-organizer of the Video Game Bar Association Summit North conferences, which held its inaugural conference in October 2017. He was named as one of Canada’s leading lawyers in Lexpert’s annual Rising Stars 2017 edition, and was ranked for his work in Technology transactions in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2018.
Read Ryan's Dean's Advisory Committee Member Profile
Tyson Gratton
Tyson is an associate at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP and is located in their Vancouver office. He has a business law practice which is focused on advising video game, virtual and augmented reality, information technology, and ecommerce businesses. Tyson’s practice also includes assisting emerging and growth stage companies in a variety of industry sectors.
Tyson leverages his expertise to advise clients on managing corporate governance matters, negotiating contracts and licensing agreements, navigating growth financing, and facilitating corporate commercial matters. He also advises clients on the drafting of employment agreements, negotiating contractor relationships, and managing privacy issues.
In his practice, Tyson works alongside companies from across Canada, the United States, and abroad who are creators, developers, integrators, innovators, distributors, and service providers. As a former television executive, Tyson knows what it takes to bring a diverse team of creatives, trades, and professionals together to bring a product to market.
Tyson received both his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
Maneesha Dakha
Maneesha is an associate at DLA Piper (Canada) LLP and is located in their Vancouver office. She has a business law practice which is focused on general corporate commercial matters, purchase and sale transactions, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance matters.
Maneesha regularly assists clients in the technology industry whether it is reviewing commercial agreements, drafting term sheets or advising on key deal terms for negotiations.
Maneesha has considerable experience guiding clients in heavily regulated industries through complex regulatory landscapes. In particular, Maneesha has extensive operational experience with gaming and liquor regulations, including licensing. While practising at a prominent business law firm, Maneesha was seconded as corporate counsel to Canada’s largest publicly traded gaming, entertainment, and hospitality company, where she provided legal advice to the various business teams and acted as assistant corporate secretary.
Having gained insight into the daily operational and legal challenges facing companies, coupled with her business background, Maneesha is able to leverage her experience into practical targeted solutions for clients. Maneesha has worked with clients at all stages of the business life cycle, including a number of emerging and growth stage companies.
Former Student Clinicians
The Clinic is generously supported by:
