Beware!

Before you hire a lawyer, make sure that he or she is a member in good standing of the Barreau du Québec and has a license to practise law. This free and easy verification can save you time, money and most importantly, many problems.

To check whether a person is a member in good standing of the Barreau du Québec and does have the right to exercise the profession of lawyer:

  1. First confirm the identity and contact information of the person whose services you wish to retain.
  2. Validate the information by consulting the Directory of lawyers of the Barreau du Québec, ensuring that the telephone number, e-mail address and professional address provided correspond to those indicated in the Directory.
  3. If you do not find the person’s name in the Directory or in case of any doubt, contact Info-Barreau: 514 954-3411 (Montreal area) or 1 844 954-3411 (toll-free) or infobarreau@barreau.qc.ca.

Examples of acts reserved for lawyers

Here are some examples of acts that only a lawyer can perform on behalf of others, which are frequently reported or complained of to the Bar of Montreal, since they are performed by non-lawyers. Notaries can also perform some of these acts for others:

  • to give legal advice and consultations on legal matters (notaries as well);
  • to prepare and draw up a document (notice, motion, proceeding) intended for use in a case before the courts (notaries as well, but only for non-contentious proceedings);
  • to plead or act before any tribunal, with exceptions (see section 128. 2) of an Act respecting the Barreau du Québec for a complete list of exceptions) (notaries as well, but only for non-contentious proceedings);
  • to incorporate a legal person (notaries as well);
  • to make collections or make any claim with costs or to imply that judicial proceedings will be taken.

ATTENTION! This list is not exhaustive. For a complete list of acts that are the exclusive prerogative of the practising lawyer, please refer to section 128 of an Act respecting the Barreau du Québec.

TO FILE A COMPLAINT

Consult the page File a complaint.


Questions?

infractions@barreaudemontreal.qc.ca

Good to know

Fake Lawyers and Fake Lawyers’ Websites

Fake lawyers’ websites look real, are well-designed and look polished. The so-called lawyers are courteous, polite and convincing. Some will even use the name of a person registered in the Directory of lawyers and invite you to check it. If in doubt, call the person back at the number listed in the Directory of lawyers or write to the e-mail address listed in the Directory (not the contact information the person gave you).

The fake lawyers and the administrators of fake lawyers’ websites use many other strategies to lend credibility to their operations:

  • They are active on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
  • In immigration law in particular, they use the official logos of the governments of Québec and Canada or other official organizations.
  • They post positive testimonials on websites (e.g., user communities, blogs, Google) and social media platforms.
  • They reply systematically to victim testimonials and warnings, are reassuring and respond that services are provided by qualified and competent people.
  • They make people sign credible administrative documents.

Warning lists of fake lawyers’ websites with an address in Québec and of fake lawyers reported to the Barreau de Montréal

Those lists are not exhaustive. They contain only the names of websites and so-called lawyers that we have received complaints about and whose owners or so-called lawyers have refused to cooperate with the Bar of Montreal. Some fake lawyers’ websites or so-called lawyers are not included in this list either because they have not yet been brought to our attention or their names have been modified. Stay informed!

Fake lawyers and/or cases of identity theft of real lawyers:
Name(s) usedContact InformationOther details
« David Jean-Louis »

Usurps the identity of David Jean-Louis, a true Belgian lawyer.

Use the contact information of the real David Jean-Louis, Belgium lawyer, except the phone number and email address.

Phone : (450) 497-4986

Courriel :
david.jeanlouis120@gmail.com

Operating Mode: in connection with false advertisements offering purebred dogs on several sites in Quebec (advertiser’s tel: (450) 235-0964).
The potential buyer is advised to pay additional amounts up front.

When the buyer refuses, he receives an email from the fake “David Jean-Louis” demanding payment and threatening to prosecute.
In some cases, the fake “David Jean-Louis” calls to pressure the buyer to pay the amounts.

Letter from the real lawyer David Jean-Louis confirming the usurpation of his professional identity.

Fake Lawyers’ Websites

Name(s) usedContact InformationWebsite(s) and other details
www.alexanderhudsonllp.com

Alexander Hudson
Alexander Hudson LLP
Address used :
Garage de l’OACI
629 Saint-Antoine Street W
Montreal, Qc H3C 6J7, Canada
 
Autre adresse indiquée sur le site :
Philip Heymans Alle 17,
2900 Hellerup, Copenhagen, Denmark
 
Phone : +1-705-2431-383
Fax : +1-705-4008-248
 
Email : info@alexanderhudsonllp.com
www.alexanderhudsonllp.com

Operating mode : La personne qui opère ce site envoi des lettres où il s’identifie comme Alexander Hudson avocat à Montréal.

Warning: ce site utilise le nom de véritables avocats pratiquants aux États-Unis 
Cabinet Immigration Canadienne
Me Abbeh Delp (fake lawyer)
Address used :
2101 rue Sainte-Catherine O
Montréal (Québec)  H3H 1M6 Canada
Phone : (+1)  438 795 9515
(438) 488-5391
(438) 255 3318 (not in service)

Email : contact@cabinetimmigrationcanadienne.com
cabinetimmigrationcanadienne.com
(fake)
Desjardinlaw.com
anciennement :
www.deefactolegal.com
www.postelnikassociates.com
Phone: (514) 545-6176
Phone: (438) 500-4550
Email: info@desjardinlaw.com
Warning: ce site utilise le nom et l’adresse de véritables avocats : seuls les numéros de téléphone et l’adresse courriel sont faux.
Faux site : Desjardinlaw.com
Facebook (faux compte) : www.facebook.com/OdetteDesjardinsLaw?_rdc=1&_rdr
MEHREZ LAWAddresses used :
41 rue Saint-Paul Ouest, Montréal, Québec, H2Y 2Y6

1111, rue Saint-Urbain MO4, Montréal, Québec, H2Z 1Y6

Phone: (438) 500-4550
Phone: (514) 612-7845
Fax : (514) 612-7888

Email: inquiries@mehrezlaw.ca

Website: mehrezlaw.ca

Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/pg/MehrezLaw/about/


Usurps the identity of real lawyers (including Hazem Mehrez and Nicolas Aubin), none of whom practice at the addresses used by “Mehrez Law”.
LLOYD & HOLMES
SOLICITORS LLP

Other names used:Peter LLOYD
Peterson LLOYD
Yvonne SMITH HOLMES

Phone : +1 581 704 1804

Address (non-existent) :
45, rue Saint-Laurent, 

Bureau 202, Montréal, QC
H2Y 2Y3

Emails:
plloydjohan@gmail.com
lloydholmessolicitor@gmail.com

info@lloydholmeslawfirm.com
lloydholmeslawoffice@gmail.com
pl.attorney.22@gmail.com
llopeter.attorney@gmail.com
petersonlloyd55@gmail.com

Site Website (hosted in Russia): www.lloydholmeslawfirm.com

Documents used to legitimize activities:

Use of the name of a legitimate financial company :


LLOYD & SHAKESPEARE
LAW OFFICE LLP

Other names used:Peter LLOYD
Peterson LLOYD

Tél.: +1 438 299 6770

Address:
600 de Maisonneuve West,
Suite 1910, Montreal, Quebec H3A 3J2 Canada

2100 – 1075, West Georgia LLP
Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 Canada

Email:
plloydjohan@gmail.com
info@lloydshakespearellp.com 
lloydshakespearellp@gmail.com
pl.attorney.22@gmail.com
llopeter.attorney@gmail.com
petersonlloyd55@gmail.com
Website : www.lloydshakespearellp.com

Documents used to legitimize activities:

Use of the name of a legitimate financial company :

SHAKESPEARE
LAW FIRM LLP

Autre(s) nom(s) utilisé(s):Peter LLOYD
Peterson LLOYD

Address: 
2100 – 1075, West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 3C9 Canada

Emails:
lloydpeterf@gmail.com
lpeterfredrik@gmail.com

procanadamigrate.com
Other name used :
procanada.net
Whatsapp +1 438 300 1537
Phone: +1 514 613 5413 ​
Email: info@procanadamigrate.com
www.procanadamigrate.com
Facebook: procanadaofficiel

IMMIGRATION LAW

ATTENTION! Several fake lawyers’ websites target an international clientele seeking professional immigration assistance. In Quebec, only the following people can represent or advise you in an immigration process:

  • Lawyers who are members in good standing of a law society of a province of Canada;
  • Regulated immigration consultants who are members of the ICCRC;
  • Notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec;
  • Any other person acting on a gratuitous basis.

Precautions to be taken

If the person identifies himself or herself as a regulated immigration consultant member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC), make sure that his or her contact information matches those appearing on the ICCRC registry. If in doubt, call the person back at the number on the ICCRC registry (not the one he or she gave you). The ICCRC has developed a web page on fraud prevention.

As for lawyers, if the person claims to be a notary, make sure that he or she has a licence to practice as a notary by consulting the Roll of the Order of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. To verify if a person is a member in good standing of the Chambre des notaires, call the following number: 514 879-1793 or 1 800-263-1793 (toll-free).

If the person mentions that he or she will represent you free of charge, make sure that this is really the case. The person should not ask you to pay more than the administrative fees necessary to process your application, as provided by the government concerned :

  • Fee list (in Canadian dollars) for submitting applications to the Government of Canada (federal); or
  • Fee list (in Canadian dollars) for submitting applications to the Government of Quebec (provincial).

If a person asks for a donation or gift or offers to barter or volunteer for their services, they are not doing so for free.

Other useful resource is the Government of Canada’s Department of Immigration and Citizenship’s Internet, email and telephone scams help page, which reads:
It’s easy for criminals to copy a real website or build one that looks professional. Websites may claim to be official Government of Canada sites or their partners. Others may claim to offer special immigration deals or guaranteed high-paying jobs. They do this to trick people into paying them money.