“On legal matters involving the Internet, Michael Geist’s opinion has become nearly as ubiquitous as the medium itself,” writes Christopher Guly, author of the feature. “He’s the go-to guy on techno-law for a vast array of media outlets, from the CBC and the BBC to The New York Times. He’s delivered numerous papers and lectures on the subject, written or edited five books covering either Internet law or copyright law, and is quoted extensively in the blogosphere.”
While he initially pursued a career in legal studies relating to international trade and commercial issues, Professor Geist quickly noticed the potential for the Internet to transform business and communications and became one of the first law professors in Canada to focus on the Internet and e-commerce. “They have such a broad impact on everything from labour and employment law to commercial-related issues,” he says. “There’s a strong chance they will affect a lawyer’s practice area no matter what it happens to be.”