François Fontaine, Ad E

François Fontaine was the lead counsel in the negotiations of the first-ever deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) to be entered into in Canada.

He has a great deal of experience in fraud and anti-corruption matters, business ethics compliance and crisis management. He has advised on and led several investigations, including cross-border investigations involving multiple jurisdictions, in connection with allegations of fraud and corruption in which he conducted interviews and examinations, investigated the facts, provided legal opinions and advised clients on legal and reputational risks.

François counsels clients on compliance matters, as well as on the Canadian Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, AML and Financial Sanctions, and has significant experience in matters involving misappropriation of confidential information, fraudulent financial transactions and tracing and recovering stolen funds. Regarding such matters, he interacts with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, as well as with multiple foreign authorities. François also collaborates with numerous foreign legal counsel to ensure coordinated approach with authorities.

He has a wealth of experience as a litigator in civil, corporate and commercial litigation and penal procedure, including white-collar crime and regulatory investigations, before all Quebec courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. He also defends corporations in environmental matters.