Danielle Ferron

Ad. E.
Partner
Key practice areas
Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Extraordinary Remedies, Internal and Regulatory Investigations, Compliance and White Collar Defence, Financial Institutions and Financial Services Law
Québec Bar 1993

Danielle Ferron, Ad. E., has been practicing civil and commercial litigation for over 30 years. She focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation files, fraud, anti-piracy, cybercrime, banking litigation, class actions, intellectual property and technology claims. She also has expertise in insolvency, restructuring and insurance law. Over the years, Danielle has developed a high level of expertise in injunctions, seizures and other urgent and extraordinary remedies such as Anton Piller orders (civil search), Mareva injunctions and Norwich orders. She coauthored the book L’injonction et les ordonnances Anton Piller, Mareva et Norwich, an essential reference in this area. Today, Danielle is widely recognized as an authority on the subject.

Her extensive experience in fraud cases has led her to develop a solid expertise in cybersecurity. She acts as a breach coach following cybersecurity incidents but also advises clients upstream to help them prepare for managing crises.

Danielle is also interested in advances in artificial intelligence, particularly the ethical issues it raises as well as the legal framework. She has published a number of articles and is a frequent speaker on the subject.

Her professional career path and experience sitting on various boards and governance committees have made her a trusted legal advisor on governance and litigation prevention, particularly in cybersecurity matters. For instance, Danielle sits on the board of La Financière agricole du Québec and on its governance, ethics, and information resources committee, and chairs its human resources committee. She is also a board member and secretary of the Fondation Marie-Vincent and chairs its governance committee.

Danielle has received many distinctions over her career. Amongst them: Chambers Canada, Best Lawyers in Canada, Benchmark Canada (Top 100 Women in Litigation in Canada, 2022 and 2023) and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. She was selected by the prestigious International Women’s Forum (IWF) as one of the 2014-2015 fellows in its Leadership Program. Each year, the program brings together 35 women leaders from around the world, offering them personalized leadership training and supporting them on their path to senior management positions. In 2018 she was named a Fellow of the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), a select society whose membership is limited to less than 0.5 percent of North American lawyers, judges and scholars. Members are chosen through a selective process based on  excellence and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation.

Extraordinary remedies 

  • Danielle is a recognized authority on injunctive relief (both as plaintiff and defendant), seizures and other urgent and extraordinary remedies, such as Anton Piller and Norwich orders and Mareva injunctions.

Anton Piller orders

  • Danielle has piloted and executed numerous Anton Piller orders in cases involving fraud, trade secret theft, counterfeiting and breaches of privacy.
  • She has notably designed and executed anti-piracy enforcement strategies for satellite television providers, including various Anton Piller orders.
  • She acted as officer of the court, specifically as Independent Supervising Solicitor, in connection with numerous Anton Piller orders. She has also been called upon to act as amicus curiae in Lavallée orders, including to protect documents covered under professional secret seized in the context of penal or criminal cases.
  • She was also a guest speaker at the Divisional Assembly of Judges of the Superior Court of Québec on Anton Piller orders.

Fraud

  • Danielle has acted as counsel for numerous clients (banks, insurance companies, private companies, government corporations, multinationals and U.S. corporations) who had fallen victim to multimillion-dollar fraud schemes. In this type of case, in addition to Anton Piller orders, Danielle has obtained numerous seizures before judgment as well as Mareva injunctions and Norwich orders.
  • She has worked for many years with private investigators and police forces to track down and recover electronic data and missing assets.
  • She was retained by the Université de Montréal Continuing Education Faculty to develop and teach a class on civil investigation for the fall 2018 and winter 2019 sessions as part of a new certificate program on investigations and information.

Class actions

  • She has acted on behalf of financial institutions in class action files regarding the legality of certain practices and the terms of variable credit contracts under the Consumer Protection Act.

Governance

  • She advises corporate directors on their duties and obligations and boards of directors on best governance practices and has given numerous workshops on these topics.

Other representative work

  • Danielle has pleaded before several administrative tribunals and all levels of Québec courts. She has represented banks, high-tech enterprises, telecommunications companies, bankruptcy trustees, receivers and interim receivers, secured and ordinary creditors, insurance companies, businesses of all sizes, construction industry actors and individuals in trials, seizures, injunctions, class actions, hypothecary recourses, proposals and bankruptcies.
  • Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.), Québec Bar, 2016
  • Chambers Canada – White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2023-2024
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – Commercial Litigation, 2017-2022
  • 2013 Lexpert Zenith Awards celebrating Women Leaders in the Legal Community
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada:
    • Litigation Star, 2019-2024
    • Top 100 Women in Litigation in Canada, 2022-2024
    • Local Litigation Star, 2014-2018
  • Best Lawyers in Canada – Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2013-2025
  • Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, 2018, 2022-2023
  • Legal Influencer for Corporate – Canada, Lexology Content Marketing Awards, 2019
  • International Women Forum (IWF) Leadership Fellows Program, 2014-2015
  • Women of Influence (recognized as one of the 300 Canadian Diversity Champions), 2012
  • Recognition award from the Association of Québec Women in Finance (AFFQ), 2012
  • Listed among the top 100 women leaders in Québec by the Entreprendre magazine, 2006

Professional associations

  • International Women’s Forum (IWF) Canada-Montréal:
    • President, Programming and Member Relations, 2020-2022
    • Member, since 2018
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow in the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, since 2018
  • The Advocates’ Society, Member, since 2017
  • Association of Québec Women in Finance (AFFQ):
    • Co-Chair of the Careers Committee 4.0, 2022-2023
    • Chair of the Special Events Committee, 2014-2016
    • Member of the Board of Directors, 2006-2016
    • Vice-Chair and Member of the Executive Committee, 2008-2014
    • Acting President, September to November 2012
    • Member, since 2002
  • Canadian Bar Association, Québec Branch:
    • Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Women Lawyers Forum, 2021-2023
    • Member of the Executive Committee of the Women Lawyers Forum, since 2011
    • Member, since 1993
  • Québec Bar:
    • Member of the Justicia project for the retention and advancement of women lawyers in private practice, 2011-2022
    • Arbitrator of the Legal Fee Arbitration Committee, 2009-2010
  • Commercial Chamber, Member of the Liaison Committee with the Superior Court, 2002-2003 and 2007-2011
  • Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Member of the Montréal Chapter, since 2004
  • Young Bar of Montréal, Member of the Board of Directors (Head of the Professional Development Committee), 1998

Community Involvement

  • La Financière agricole du Québec:
    • Member of the Human Ressources Committee, since 2023, and Chair, since January 2024
    • Member of the Governance, Ethics and Informational Resources Committee, since 2023
    • Member of the Governance, Ethics and Human and Informational Resources Committee, 2016-2023
    • Member of the Board of Directors, since 2016
  • Marie-Vincent Foundation:
    • Chair of the Governance Committee, since 2019
    • Member of the Executive Committee as Secretary, since June 2015
    • Member of the Board of Directors and the Governance Committee, since 2014
  • Fondation Pleins Pouvoirs, Pro bono counsel, depuis 1996
  • Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada Québec Division’s WAMS (Women Against Multiple Sclerosis) Committee:
    • Chair, 2015-2017
    • Member, 2009-2017
  • Y des femmes de Montréal (YWCA), in charge of the collection of clothing for the Fringues & Cie Boutique, 2007-2010
  • Plein Soleil Elementary School, Member of the Establishment Committee, 2010-2011
  • Charles-Bruneau Elementary School’s Establishment Committee:
    • Chair, 2009-2010
    • Member, 2003-2010
    • Vice-Chair, 2003-2008

Teaching Engagements

  • Université de Montréal’s Continuing Education Faculty, as part of the Certificate in Investigation and Intelligence:
    • Guest Lecturer, The law of civil investigation course, since 2020
    • Lecturer, The law of civil investigation course, 2018-2020
  • Co-speaker: Encadrement de l’Intelligence artificielle : importance de l’éthique et votre rôle de leader [Legal framework for artificial intelligence: The importance of ethics and your role as leader], International Women Forum (IWF), webinar, January 28, 2025.
  • Co-speaker: Cap-midi : l’éthique et l’encadrement légal de l’intelligence artificielle [Ethics and legal framework for artificial intelligence], Association canadienne des parajuristes, webinar, May 15, 2024.
  • Moderator: Cybersecurity and data breach litigation mystery: Safeguarding Clients in a rapidly evolving technology landscape, as part of the Skilled Lawyers Series workshops, organized by the Canadian Bar Association, webinar, May 1, 2024.
  • Moderator: Thriving in an unstable world: Geopolitics, AI and sustainable development, panel organized by SKEMA, Montréal, April 24, 2024.
  • Co-speaker: L’éthique et l’encadrement légal de l’intelligence artificielle [Ethics and the legal framework of artificial intelligence], Barreau du Québec and Barreau de Montréal, Montréal, February 15, 2024.
  • Panelist: Seizures Before Judgment, Anton Pillar Orders and Mareva Injunctions, Barreau de Montréal, Montréal, February 9, 2023.
  • Panelist: Quelle est la clé de votre mieux-être et de votre réussite professionnelle [What is the key to your well-being and professional success?], organized by the Carriers 4.0 Committee of the Association of Québec Women in Finance, webinar, October 27, 2022.
  • Speaker: Breaking the Scam: Cross-Border Investigations & Recovery, as part of the 2022 ACFI Annual Fraud Conference, virtual event, October 3, 2022.
  • Speaker: Gestion des litiges et collaboration entre les services juridiques internes et les cabinets privés [Litigation management and cooperation between in-house legal departments and private firms], Barreau du Québec : Rendez-vous de la gouvernance, webinar, November 10, 2021.
  • Speaker: Pistes de solutions pour une relance durable [Solutions for a sustainable recovery], Conseil patronal de l’environnement du Québec (CPEQ), 2021.
  • Speaker: Directors’ duties and obligations, training provided to a client's board of directors, 2019.
  • Speaker: Overview of Special Proceedings: Anton Piller, Mareva, Norwich Orders, to members of the SPVM Financial Frauds Division, Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, April 11, 2018.
  • Speaker: Overview of Special Proceedings: Anton Piller, Mareva, Norwich Orders, to members of a financial institution's Legal Department, Montréal, April 11, 2018.
  • Speaker: Cyber-security, Association des femmes en finance du Québec, 2018.
  • Speaker: Cyber-fraud, to members of the Legal Department of a telecommunications client, Langlois Knowledge, Verdun, November 10, 2017.
  • Panelist: Emotional Dislocation, as part of the Corporate State Toronto: A Women’s CEO and Senior Management Summit, Toronto, 2017.
  • Speaker: The Path of a lawyer practicing in the field of Finance, Les Interprofessionnels – Finance et droit, Montréal, October 6, 2016.
  • Speaker: Few possible recourses in case of serious breaches from an employee and/or in case of fraud, as part of the breakfast conference entitled Les clauses de non-concurrence, Langlois Knowledge, Montréal, September 29, 2016.
  • Speaker: President fraud and possible recourses in case of cyber-fraud, as part of the Symposium on Civil litigation – insurance and cyber-risks, Langlois Knowledge, September 22, 2016.
  • Speaker: International Cyberfraud, Conférence annuelle de l’Association canadienne des professionnels de l’insolvabilité et de la réorganisation (ACPIR), Montréal, August 18-20, 2016.
  • Speaker: Overview of Special Proceedings: Anton Piller Order, Mareva, Norwich, Wellington, organized by CBA-Québec, 2015.
  • Moderator: Être femmes d’affaires : la clé du succès!, luncheon organized by Unies pour la SP, Montréal, 2015.
  • Honorary co-chair and moderator: At the Corporate State Québec: Future Casting, A Women’s CEO and Senior Management Summit, 2015.
  • Speaker: Vingt ans après le Rapport Wilson portant sur la condition des avocates au Canada, où en sommes-nous? Quelles sont les perspectives d’avenir? [Twenty years after the Wilson Report on the status of women lawyers in Canada, where do we stand? What are the future prospects?], Women Lawyers Forum, Canadian Bar Association, Québec Branch, Montréal, 2014.
  • Moderator: Femmes aux conseils d’administration : constats et pistes de solution, Women Lawyers Forum, Canadian Bar Association, Québec Branch, Montréal, 2014.
  • Speaker: Overcoming the challenges in seeking the appropriate balance between marketing, networking, clients' needs and the requirements of your organization, Women's Leadership Forum for Lawyers, The Canadian Institute, Montréal, 2014.
  • Speaker: Social networks, defamation and private life: Internet does not provide immunity, Institute of Internal Auditors, Montréal Chapter, 2014.
  • Honorary co-chair and moderator: Comment faire à peu près n’importe quoi sur votre imprimante 3D – Laboratoire de fabrication Fab-Labs [How to make just about anything on your 3D printer – Fab-Lab], as part of the Corporate State Summit Québec, 2014.
  • Panelist: Venting Renaissance, Corporate State Toronto: A Women’s CEO and Senior Management Summit, 2013.
  • Panelist: Venting Renaissance, Corporate State Vancouver: A Women's CEO and Senior Management Summit, 2013.
  • Speaker: Anton Piller, Mareva and Norwich Orders in Québec, Langlois Knowledge, 2012.
  • Speaker: Tools for fighting commercial fraud and industrial piracy: the hybrid remedies of Anton Piller, Mareva and Norwich injunctions, Jeune Barreau de Montréal, 2012.
  • Speaker: Anton Piller Orders, Electronic Training Program for Wilson & Lafleur, 2012.
  • Speaker: Tools for fighting commercial fraud and industrial piracy: the hybrid remedies of Anton Piller, Mareva and Norwich injunctions, Les Communicateurs du Vogue, Montréal, 2010.
  • Speaker: Tools for fighting commercial fraud and industrial piracy: the hybrid remedies of Anton Piller, Mareva and Norwich injunctions, Canadian Bar Association, Business Law Section, Montréal, 2010.
  • Speaker: Conference on Anton Piller Orders, Syndic du Barreau du Québec, Montréal, 2010.
  • Speaker: Recent developments re non-compete clauses: “Anton Piller orders: using this ‘nuclear weapon’ in non-compete situations, Congrès du Barreau du Québec, Montréal, 2009.
  • Speaker: Fraud: prevention, detection and some legal tools to combat it, as part of the monthly breakfast conferences of the Association of Québec Women in Finance, Montréal, 2009.
  • Speaker: The duty of loyalty, non-compete obligations, and injunctions, as part of a monthly breakfast conference of a national law firm's Labour Law group, Montréal, 2009.
  • Speaker: How to Conduct an Anton Piller Order: Search and Seizure, as part of the annual Investigative and Forensic Accounting Alliance Conference, Niagara Falls, 2008.
  • Speaker: Recent developments re non-compete clauses: “Anton Piller orders: using this ‘nuclear weapon’ in non-compete situations”, Recent developments in competition law, organized by the Canadian Bar Association, Montréal, 2008.
  • Speaker: Investigating and responding to employee fraud, Accountants Study Group, Montréal, 2007.
  • Speaker: Anton Piller orders - Recent developments, and advice and practical tips from experienced professionals, Insight E-discovery Conference, Montréal, 2007.
  • Speaker: Investigating and responding to employee fraud, 13th Annual Conference of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Montréal, 2007.
  • Speaker: Anton Piller orders: the ultimate civil procedure weapon, Annual Conference of the Canadian Bar Association, Québec Branch, Insurance Law and Civil Litigation Section, Montréal, 2007.
  • Speaker: Conference on Anton Piller Orders, Annual Conference of the Investigative and Forensic Accounting Alliance, Toronto, 2006.
  • Speaker: Conference on Anton Piller Orders, Association des huissiers du Québec, 2006.
  • Speaker: Conference on Anton Piller Orders, Congrès de l’Association du Barreau du Québec, 2006.
  • Speaker at the 6th Annual Symposium on Copyright, 2006.
  • Speaker: Civil remedies, such as Anton Piller orders, for combating financial fraud, as part of the monthly breakfast conferences of the Association of Québec Women in Finance, 2005.
  • Speaker: Conference on Anton Piller Orders, Young Bar of Montréal, 2005.
  • Speaker: Anton Piller orders and seizures before judgment, particularly of electronic data, Divisional Assembly of the judges of the Superior Court of Québec, Bromont, 2005.
  • Speaker: Anton Piller orders, the nuclear weapon of civil procedure (Annual Conference of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners); Shareholders' Agreements and Litigation (A conference of the Regroupement des jeunes gens d'affaires du Québec); Introduction to Bankruptcy and Insolvency and Anton Piller orders (organized by the Canadian Association of Legal Assistants (CALA)).

Certificate, Current issues and challenges for corporate governance that adds value, Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations (IGOPP) and Women in Governance, 2021.

Company Directors: Knowing how to avoid and detect risks linked to malicious acts, Collège des administrateurs de sociétés, 2020

Certificate, The essential issues in corporate governance, Institute for Governance of Private and Public Organizations (IGOPP) and Women in Governance, 2018

IWF Leadership Foundation Fellows Program, Business Leadership, Harvard Business School Executive Education, 2015

IWF, Women Leading Global Change Program, INSEAD The Business School of the World, 2015

LL.B., Civil Law, Université de Montréal, 1992