About Alana Scotchmer

Financial institutions and service providers from Canada and abroad come to Alana Scotchmer for advice on Canadian regulation, compliance and governance, and FinTechs get the same help with their own regulatory and compliance needs. Alana is a Toronto partner at Gowling WLG and part of the firm's Financial Services Regulation Group. Banking, insurance and reinsurance, and anti-money laundering sit at the centre of the work, and payments in Canada are another area Alana advises on.

Alana was called to the Ontario bar in 2010. Before coming to Gowling WLG, Alana worked at Royal Bank of Canada as senior counsel, giving advice on federal bank regulation. Along the way Alana has built working relationships with industry groups and with regulators at the federal, provincial and territorial levels. A Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) designation from ACAMS and a risk management certificate round out the credentials.

Alana writes and speaks regularly about how financial regulation in Canada is changing. In 2025 Alana talked with The Globe and Mail about why some Canadians were having bank accounts closed unexpectedly, and with the Financial Post about potential U.S. tariffs and the banking sector, and later about competition after EQB agreed to buy PC Financial from Loblaw. Canadian Lawyer has interviewed Alana on the financial crime measures in the 2024 federal budget and on how wildfires are reshaping insurers' risk assessments.

Alana works in English and Ukrainian, and belongs to both the Ukrainian Canadian Bar Association and Canadian Lawyers for Ukraine.

Practice areas

Administrative & Regulatory Law

Financial institutions regulation and licensing

Regulatory, compliance and governance questions for financial institutions form the core of Alana's practice. That includes licensing work for money services businesses, FinTechs and financial services intermediaries anywhere in Canada.

Insurance and reinsurance regulation

Insurance and reinsurance are a central part of Alana's regulatory work. Alana has also spoken publicly about how wildfires and severe weather are changing the way insurers weigh catastrophic risk.

Anti-money laundering and financial crime

Alana has commented on Ottawa's continued focus on financial crime, including the federal government's proposed amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

Deals in regulated sectors

Alana works on deals where a regulated entity is involved, on commercial arrangements in regulated sectors, and on consumer issues.

Payments

Alana advises on payments matters in Canada and was one of the Gowling WLG partners on a 2023 webinar about the new Retail Payment Activities Act regime for payment service providers.

Education & credentials

  • JD, Western Law (2009)
  • BA (Hons.), University of Toronto (2006)
  • Called to the bar of Ontario (2010)
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), ACAMS
  • Certificate in risk management, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

Awards & recognition

Publications & speaking

Memberships & affiliations

  • Ukrainian Canadian Bar Association: Alana is a member of the Ukrainian Canadian Bar Association.
  • Canadian Lawyers for Ukraine: Alana is a member of Canadian Lawyers for Ukraine.

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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm Alana Scotchmer’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗

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