Mark Warner participated in a panel on cross-border commerce, COVID-19, and strengthening regional economies at the International Legislators’ Forum sponsored by the Consensus Council. (October 26, 2021) Mark is a Canadian and U.S. lawyer who has practiced trade, investment and competition law in leading law firms in Toronto, Washington, D.C, New York and Brussels and has advised governments on competition law and policy. As counsel at the OECD Trade Directorate in Paris, Mark participated in the negotiations of the proposed Multilateral Agreement on Investment and represented the OECD at meetings of the WTO Working Groups on Trade and Competition Policies and Trade and Investment Policies.
Mark has also served as Legal Director of the Ontario Ministries of Economic Development & Trade, Research & Innovation and Consumer Services. He led Ontario’s legal team for trade negotiations (including the Canada-EU Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Canada-U.S. Agreement on Government Procurement), advised on trade disputes (including the Green Energy Act and softwood lumber) and various NAFTA Chapter 11 investor-state disputes (including the Ambassador Bridge, Adam’s Mine and St. Mary’s Cement claims). Mark also led the Ontario’s legal team for the insolvency / restructuring of General Motors and Chrysler, and various grant and loan agreements to leading automotive and automotive parts companies and advised the Auto Parts Manufacturing Association on NAFTA renegotiation issues.
Mark has assisted pharmaceutical clients in the global distribution of HIV / AIDS anti-retroviral drugs and the development of innovative patient access programs in the developing world. In the negotiations of the CETA Mark advised Ontario including on IP, patent litigation and drug reimbursement issues as well as Cross Border Trade in Services; Temporary Entry and Stay of Natural Persons for Business Purposes; Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications; and Regulatory Cooperation.