MLT AIKINS LLP | MLTAIKINS.COM
Kristél Kriel
Partner • (she/her)
Kristél co-leads the firm’s privacy, data protection & cybersecurity area. Her experience with complicated cybersecurity, privacy, freedom of information and technology matters makes her a valued asset to clients. Kristél is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (Canada).
Education & Qualifications
- Certified Information Privacy Professional (Canada, 2022)
- Certificate in Privacy and Cybersecurity (Osgoode, 2021)
- Saskatchewan Bar (2013)
- JD with great distinction (Saskatchewan, 2012)
- B.Sc. with first class honours (Alberta, 2009)
Languages
- English
More about me
Kristél provides practical and strategic advice to public and private organizations across all industries. Kristél’s practice focuses on the following areas:
- Privacy, cybersecurity and freedom of information laws, including matters such as interpretation, compliance, policy development, education, training and risk management as well as incident response. She helps organizations implement creative solutions for privacy issues affecting their customers and workplaces. Kristél also provides strategic advice to organizations on provincial and federal access requests and complaints, as well as reviews by privacy regulators across Canada. Kristél has helped clients develop innovative and effective privacy compliance programs and manage and respond to a full range of cyber and privacy incidents, and regularly assists clients with cybersecurity compliance and breach counselling. Kristél also acts as a third-party privacy officer, providing a wide range of cybersecurity and data privacy services. Learn more about virtual privacy officer services.
- Online operations and technology matters such as e-commerce and electronic contracting, terms of use, online marketing and contests, domain name disputes, and the use of AI, social media, surveillance, personal devices and more.
- Arts and entertainment law including contracting, licensing, intellectual property and related transactions in music, film, television, live theatre, games and books.
- Director, United Way (Regina, 2019-present)
- Campaign Cabinet Law Division Chair, United Way (Regina, 2013-2019)
- GenNext Cabinet Chair, United Way (Regina, 2016-2019)
- Member and Ambassador, United Way (Regina, 2013-2019)
- Director, Globe Theatre (2018-2022)
- Member, Organizing Committee for Mid-Winter Meeting, Canadian Bar Association (Regina, 2017; 2019)
- Member, Selections Committee, YWCA Regina Women of Distinction Awards (Regina, 2016-present)
- Chair, Privacy and Access Law, Canadian Bar Association (South Saskatchewan, 2016-2020)
- Chair, Young Lawyers, Canadian Bar Association (South Saskatchewan, 2014-2015)
- Volunteer Mentor, Mother Teresa Middle School (2013-present)
- President, Regina Bar Association (2016-2017)
- Treasurer, Regina Bar Association (2015-2016)
- Director, Regina Bar Association (2013-2021)
- Volunteer, Pro Bono Students Canada and Pro Bono Law (Saskatchewan, 2009-present)
- “Navigating Privacy Changes in Saskatchewan Health Care,” MLT Aikins Webinar (September 2023)
- “Cybersecurity 101,” Harvard Developments Tower Talks (June 2023)
- “Helping your Organization Prepare and Stay Prepared for Cyber Incidents – An Overview of Key Considerations for In-House Counsel,” Canadian Corporate Counsel South, Canadian Bar Association (June 2023)
- “Privacy Considerations in a Hybrid Work World,” Labour Update, MLT Aikins (June 2023)
- “Legal Aspects of Remote Employees,” CUMIS Webinar (June 2023)
- “Data Protection in 2023,” ID&T Conference (June 2023)
- “Cybersecurity & Privacy for Boards & Senior Management” and “Cyberattack Workshop,” ID&T Expo (March 2023)
- “You’ve Been Attacked – Now What? A Mock Cyber Security Incident for Municipalities,” SUMA Webinar (November 2022)
- “Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Vendor Risk Management for Credit Unions,” CUMIS webinar (October 2022)
- Presenter and facilitator, “Cybersecurity Workshop,” Canadian Bar Association – Canadian Corporate Counsel Association National Conference (May 2022)
- “Anatomy of a Cyber Attack,” f12.net Webinar (April 2022)
- “Cyber Security: Trends in Saskatchewan,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Roundtable Series webinar (March 2022)
- “Cybersecurity Issues and Risks – What Healthcare Employers Need to Know,” MLT Aikins webinar (March 2022)
- “Cybersecurity Issues and Risks – What Senior Executives and Board Members Need to Know,” MLT Aikins webinar (January 2022)
- Various cybersecurity and privacy presentations to organizations on training, compliance and incident response
- “Top 10 Privacy Principles All Organizations Need to Know,” SARC HR Insights (July 2021)
- “COVID-19 Privacy and Cybersecurity Considerations for Lawyers,” Law Society of Saskatchewan (April 2021)
- “Cybersecurity and Mandatory Privacy Breach,” Canadian Lenders Summit (November 2020)
- “Cybersecurity and Mandatory Breach,” MLT Aikins Webinar (November 2020)
- “Canadian Corporate Counsel North/South: Cybersecurity and Data Protection,” Canadian Bar Association (November 2020)
- “Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Managing Compliance,” Saskatchewan Connections Conference, Public Service Information Community Connection (November 2020)
- “Privacy Compliance & Hot Topics,” MLT Aikins Workshop, Saskatchewan (October 2019)
- “Privacy Hot Topics,” Saskatchewan Connections Conference, Saskatoon (September 2019)
- “Access/Disclosing Information to CCTV Surveillance Cameras,” with Devin Wehrle, Manitoba Connections Conference, Winnipeg (September 2019)
- “Current Issues in Access to Information: The Art and Science of Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Legislation,” Information Sharing & Privacy Conference, Regina (May 2019)
- “Board Governance: Duties, Liabilities and Conflict of Interest” with Samer Awadh, Chartered Professional Accountants of Saskatchewan seminar (November 2018)
- “Top Issues in Privacy, Access and CASL,” with Nathan Schissel, Canadian Bar Association (Saskatchewan Branch) Mid-Winter Meeting (January 2018)
- “Technology and Information Protection Concerns for NPOs,” United Way Saskatoon (November 2017)
- “CASL and Privacy Considerations: What Non-Profits Need to Know,” United Way Regina (June 2017)
- “Primer on Procurement – the Canadian Free Trade Agreement,” with Danielle Graff, various presentations (2017-2018)
- “Online Raffles, Solicitation & Marketing (Online Contests),” with Nathan Schissel, Law Society of Saskatchewan, Corporate and Commercial Hot Topics (October 2017)
- “Google Ordered to Remove Search Results Worldwide,” with Nathan Schissel, Leading Internet Case Law, Cecile Park Media (July-August 2017)
- “Cybersecurity and Data Breach Risk Management,” Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) Saskatchewan, Cybersecurity and Privacy Conference (May 2017) with Nathan Schissel,
- “Emerging Issues in Freedom of Information,” with Erin Wolff, Saskatchewan Connections Conference (May 2017)
- “Privacy and FOI Framework for Educational Institutions in Saskatchewan” (March 2017)
- “MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying): In Canada,” with Erin Wolff and Lynsey Gaudin, Canadian Bar Association Saskatchewan Branch BarNotes (December 2016)
- “Key Issues in Access Requests,” with Erin Wolff, Saskatchewan Connections Conference (May 2016)
- “Freedom of Information and Transparency Strategies,” with Randy Brunet, MLT Workshop with the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Saskatchewan (April 2016)
- “Privacy Framework and Risks for Financial Institutions,” with Erin Wolff (January 2016)
- “Pharmacy Privacy Officer Re-certification,” with Randy Brunet and Brad Vance, Saskatchewan College of Pharmacy Professionals (September 2015)
- “Is there such a thing as ‘Internet Privacy’?” with Danielle Graff, Canadian Bar Association and Regina Public Library (April 2015)
- “Social Media in the Workplace,” with Jade Buchanan, Saskatchewan Association of School Business Officials (April 2015)
- “Federal Developments in Privacy and Access Laws,” with Nathan Schissel, An Update on Privacy & Access Law, Law Society of Saskatchewan, (April 2015)
- “Social Media & Privacy,” Saskatchewan Association of Human Resources Professionals (February 2015)
- Recognized in the 2025 edition of the Best Lawyers in Canada (Privacy and Data Security Law)
- Recognized as a 2025 Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer
- Recognized in the 2024 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Technology Transactions)
- Recognized in Autumn 2023 Mondaq Thought Leadership Awards (Canadian Technology)
- Recognized in the 2022 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Lawyer to watch – Data Protection & Privacy Law)
- C.H.J. (Claude) Burrows, Q.C. Scholarship for contributions to law school community (Saskatchewan, 2012)
- W.G. Morrow – R.C. Carter Prize, Indian and Aboriginal Law (Saskatchewan, 2012)
- G. Murray Forbes Memorial Bursary for academic achievement and community involvement (Saskatchewan, 2011)
- Dean’s Silver Medal, Science (Alberta, 2009)
- Undergraduate Scholarships (Alberta, 2008 – 2009)
