If you suspect fraud and assets may be moving, the early days matter. Ontario courts can grant urgent orders to freeze and preserve assets — but those remedies depend on acting before the trail goes cold. Call (905) 904-6003 to discuss your options.
KLF acts for individuals and businesses that have been victims of serious fraud, Ponzi schemes, and other white-collar or civil misconduct. These matters frequently require immediate legal action to preserve assets and maximize the prospects of recovery. Clients turn to KLF for practical, strategic advice on how to protect their interests when they have suffered or suspect significant financial harm.
Fraud matters range from targeted commercial fraud between businesses to large-scale Ponzi schemes affecting many victims. KLF advises on the civil remedies available to victims of serious fraud, including causes of action in deceit, fraudulent misrepresentation, knowing receipt, and unjust enrichment. Where appropriate, we advise on the coordination of civil proceedings with any parallel criminal or regulatory investigations.
When fraud is discovered, speed is often critical to preserving assets that might otherwise be dissipated or moved beyond the reach of the courts. KLF advises on urgent interlocutory relief and the procedures available in Ontario courts to preserve assets pending the resolution of litigation. Urgent relief matters require experienced counsel who can move quickly and effectively.
KLF has experience with appeals to the Divisional Court from interlocutory orders and from decisions of administrative tribunals. Appeals from interlocutory orders in complex commercial and fraud matters require a careful understanding of appellate procedure and of the applicable standards of review.
Asset recovery in fraud matters is rarely straightforward. KLF advises clients on the full range of available strategies for recovering losses, including tracing assets through corporate structures, pursuing third parties who received or assisted in the dissipation of funds, and enforcing judgments domestically and internationally. Practical judgment about what is achievable is as important as legal knowledge in these matters.
KLF also advises clients on legal mechanisms and contractual arrangements that can reduce exposure to fraud risk in commercial relationships. Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before fraud occurs is always preferable to pursuing remedies after the fact.
Every matter begins the same way: conflicts and intake completed first, then a candid read of the position, then a focused plan for resolution. The steps are the same whether a file settles or is tried.
A Mareva injunction (also called a freezing order) is a court order that prevents a party from disposing of or moving assets to avoid satisfying a potential judgment. It is an urgent remedy typically obtained without notice to the other party.
In genuinely urgent cases, a Mareva motion can be brought to the court on short notice — sometimes without notice to the other side where warning them would risk assets disappearing. The court controls the timing, and the strength of the evidence determines how quickly relief can realistically be obtained, which is why early preparation matters.
Preserve everything. Keep all records, communications, account statements, and transfer details, and avoid alerting the person you suspect, as notice can prompt assets to be moved or hidden. Do not delete anything or confront anyone before getting advice. The sooner you speak with counsel, the more options remain available to trace and preserve funds.
Ontario courts have several urgent tools. A Mareva injunction (freezing order) can prevent a party from moving or dissipating assets pending litigation. An Anton Piller order allows the search and preservation of evidence before it can be destroyed. A Norwich order can compel a third party, such as a bank, to disclose information needed to identify wrongdoers or trace funds. Which remedy fits depends on the facts of your matter.
KLF works from a clearly scoped mandate with the fee arrangement agreed in writing before work begins, so you understand the basis of our fees from the outset. Urgent matters are often handled in defined stages — for example, an initial assessment, then any urgent court steps — so the scope and cost of each phase are clear. We discuss the approach with you before proceeding.
Urgent injunctive relief can be sought from the court on short notice, and in genuinely urgent cases a motion can be brought without notice to the other side where giving notice would risk assets being moved. How fast a matter proceeds depends on its facts, the evidence available, and the court's schedule. The earlier counsel is engaged, the more readily these urgent steps can be pursued.
No forms required. We complete conflicts and intake before we act, so please do not send confidential details about a fraud, asset recovery and urgent remedies matter until we have confirmed we can.
Contacting us does not create a solicitor-client relationship. We must complete our conflicts and intake processes before we can act for you. Do not send confidential information through this form until we have confirmed we are able to act.
