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Important Information for Our Clients

December 2008

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The Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and each of its provincial member law societies, are introducing new regulations that enlists lawyers in the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud involving legal services.  Ultimately, every lawyer in Canada will be required to abide by his or her governing law societies “Know your Client” rule in order to act for clients.  The Law Society of Upper Canada will be one of the first law societies to implement the new procedures commencing December 31st, 2008.  Minden Gross LLP will implement new file opening processes to ensure that we efficiently collect the information that is required.

When you contact us with a new matter, we will confirm the following with you:

For clients who are individuals - your full name, your business address and business telephone number, your home address and home telephone number, and your occupation.

We will also need to view and copy a piece of your identification, such as a passport or driver’s licence.

For clients that are organizations - the organization’s full name, the business address and business telephone number, the incorporation or business identification number and place of issue, a general description of the organization’s business activities, and the name, position and contact information for the individual(s) authorized to give instructions on the matter.

We are also required to collect information about any third parties whose interests you are representing in the matter.

For organization clients, if your matter involves receiving, paying or transferring money, securities, negotiable instruments, or other financial instruments, we may also need to verify further details about your (or your organization’s) identity.  We may ask for the following:  the name and occupation(s) of each director; the name, address and occupation(s) of each person who owns 25% or more of the organization or its shares; or a document verifying the organization’s existence, such as a certificate of good standing, a certificate of status, or a partnership agreement.

We may need to arrange to view and copy an identity document such as a driver’s licence or passport for each of the people authorized to give instructions on the matter.

We thank you for your co-operation in collecting this information.  If you have any questions about how these new rules will affect you, please contact your Minden Gross LLP lawyer.