OSC Proceedings
Litigation Assistance Program
The OSC is participating in a one-year pilot Litigation Assistance Program (“LAP”) commencing on Monday, October 17, 2011, which is intended to provide volunteer legal counsel to unrepresented Respondents appearing in enforcement proceedings before the Ontario Securities Commission.
The LAP is provided by a roster of external volunteer counsel and not by the Commission. Although the Commission facilitates applications for assistance under the LAP, it cannot guarantee that legal services will be available in any particular instance.
Litigation Assistance
Under the LAP, any unrepresented Respondent may apply for volunteer legal advice subject to availability on a first-come, first-serve basis and the availability of volunteer counsel. Volunteer counsel do not provide complete litigation support for all aspects of a proceeding.
Volunteer counsel may provide litigation support to unrepresented Respondents only during one or more of the following stages of an enforcement proceeding: pre-hearing conferences; settlement conferences and / or hearings; sanctions and costs hearings, as agreed upon between the Respondent and the volunteer counsel. Respondents who wish legal advice outside the LAP must arrange their own legal counsel.
To learn more, see the Information Sheet and Terms and Conditions for further details.
Volunteer counsel participating in the LAP are drawn from legal counsel at the following participating law firms: Gowlings LLP, Torys LLP, Stockwoods LLP, Wardle Daley Bernstein LLP and Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
Further Information
To apply for the program or for additional information, please contact the program administrator: LAP@osc.gov.on.ca
