Building Canadian Legal Tech: A Fireside Chat with Clio CTO Jonathan Watson
Join the Legal Innovation Zone (LIZ) and Clio during Toronto Tech Week for an up-close conversation on building legal solutions in Canada.
As AI and tech continue rapidly transforming the world of law, what does it actually take to build, scale, and sustain game-changing legal tech solutions? Join us for an insightful and exclusive discussion with Clio's Chief Technology Officer, Jonathan Watson, about legal innovation, building for tomorrow and what the future holds.
What to Expect:
🔥Fireside Chat
Gain invaluable insights and a global leadership perspective from this candid conversation with Jonathan Watson, CTO of international legal tech leader Clio, moderated by TMU’s Legal Innovation Zone Director, Dr. Sasha Saunders. Drawing on Jonathan’s 20+ years of experience leading large-scale SaaS and engineering teams, the discussion will bridge the gap between technical strategy and industry-wide innovation.
Discussion topics will include:
➡️ Building in Canada: The unique opportunities and challenges of the Canadian legal tech ecosystem.
➡️ Successful Scaling: Lessons in product development, user experience and maintaining best-in-class customer retention.
➡️ Future Forecast and Takeaways: Where legal tech is headed and what today’s emerging innovators should be considering.
🎤 Audience Q&A
Have your voice heard! We’ll let the “campfire cool” with a dedicated Q&A session for the audience.
🤝Networking & Refreshments
Enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up of coffee, tea, and light snacks while connecting with fellow innovators, professionals and Toronto’s vibrant legal tech community.
Whether you are an innovator, legal professional, student, or law tech enthusiast, request your spot today!
Meet the Speakers:
Johnathan Watson
Chief Technology Officer, Clio
Jonathan is the Chief Technology Officer at Clio. With over 20 years of leadership experience in AI transformation, large-scale SaaS, and live gaming solutions, Jonathan’s unique approach and passion for intertwining product development, design, user experience, and engineering has accelerated Clio’s product growth while earning Clio best-in-class NPS and customer retention rates. Outside of the office, he’s an endless tinkerer who is always exploring creative pursuits including 3D printing, cooking, and making his daughters laugh.
Dr. Sasha Saunders
Director, Legal Innovation Zone
Sasha is the Director of the Legal Innovation Zone at Toronto Metropolitan University. She has over a decade of experience building innovation ecosystems in the UK and Canada, including creating, leading and growing a university-wide venture support service from the ground up. As a champion of the intersection of law, technology, and entrepreneurship, Sasha is passionate about empowering innovators to develop the skills and solutions to create meaningful impact. Outside of the office, you can find her on Lake Ontario in a sprint kayak—ideally right-side up.
Request your spot today—we can't wait to see you there!
About Toronto Tech Week
Toronto Tech Week is a citywide celebration of the people building what’s next. From May 25–29, 2026, founders, investors, and builders come together for hundreds of community-led events across Toronto, connecting tens of thousands of people around Canadian tech. Torontotechweek.com
About Clio
Clio is the global leader in legal AI technology, empowering legal professionals and law firms of all sizes to work smarter, faster, and more securely. Trusted by hundreds of thousands of users in over 130 countries, Clio’s Intelligent Legal Work Platform combines powerful technology with industry-leading security to define the future of legal work. Learn more at Clio | The Industry's #1 Legal Software | Try it for free!.
About The Legal Innovation Zone
The Legal Innovation Zone (LIZ) at Toronto Metropolitan University is a global hub empowering innovators to transform the future of law. Through a range of entrepreneurial programming, we support individuals and teams to develop solutions for the consumers of legal services and the justice system. At the heart of our offering is the LIZ's incubation program—the world's first legal tech incubator. Learn more about us.