A seasoned trial lawyer and a man of action, Alexander De Zordo spends significant time pleading before courts of all levels in complex litigation cases, often dealing with impactful, urgent matters. His decades-long experience in successful advocacy also sees him lead the Montréal chapter of BLG’s Class Actions group.
Countless banks and other financial institutions, dealers and brokers (registrants), as well as national and multinational corporations (from the U.S. and EU) have already benefitted from his established reputation as a lawyer who can think on his feet, whether to prevent court appearances or represent companies in their most delicate commercial disputes. Alexander deals with matters related to banking, securities, cybersecurity, and real estate litigation; commercial agreements and contract disputes; fraud, investigations, and more.
Chambers Canada recognizes him in the Litigation: General Commercial (Québec) category. Benchmark Canada has been saluting his work for years as a Litigation Star under the Commercial, Insolvency, Intellectual Property, Professional Liability, and Securities categories, and recognizing him as a Local Litigation Star in Québec as well. Similar distinctions continue being awarded to Alexander each year, including by Lexpert, and he was named Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.) by the Barreau du Québec in 2016, as well as Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 2019.
A few of Alexander’s significant victories include:
- Salko v. Financière Banque Nationale Inc., where the Court of Appeal of Québec confirmed the dismissal at the authorization stage of a class action regarding foreign exchange conversion fees on securities transactions, resulting in a win for RBC Dominion Securities Inc. and other advisory brokerage firms.
- Bélanger v. Fédération des Caisses Desjardins du Québec, in which the Superior Court of Québec dismissed at the authorization stage a class action alleging discrimination against individuals and business entities operating in the cannabis industry in obtaining banking and financial services, including financing.
- Air Canada v. Aimia inc., where the Superior Court of Québec dismissed the application for injunctive relief filed by Air Canada and Aeroplan Inc. to enjoin Aimia Inc. and Kognitiv Corporation Inc. from closing their announced $500M merger, this at the onset of the COVID pandemic, in technologically challenging times.
In contrast with class action procedures in scale, scope, and sheer length, it’s his successful interventions in cases of fraud and corruption in the corporate and public sectors that have long been Alexander’s calling card, including in terms of detection, investigation, prevention, and recovery. He is no stranger to matters relating to fraudulent transactions and financial statements, embezzlement and corruption, counterfeiting, proceeds of crime, money laundering and asset tracing. Today, his repeated exposure to banking and broader financial contexts can be credited for his extended knowledge of securities, bills of exchange, letters of credit and other payment mechanisms, suitability of investments, and regulatory compliance in the field.
Within BLG, Alexander is Chair of Admissions on our Partnership Admissions Advisory Committee. He has also been a driving force behind our pro bono efforts, with a commitment to access to justice that extends well outside of our walls, as exemplified by his past Chair role at Justice Pro Bono.
Alexander provides legal services through a Law Corporation.
Experience
- Scotiabank and Tangerine Bank in the overlimit spending credit card class action (Pilon vs AMEX et al).
- Laurentian Bank of Canada in the NSF fees class action (Defrance vs Bank of Montreal et al).
- AIC Global Holdings Inc. in the market timing class action (Ravary vs CI Mutual Funds et al).
- ScotiaBank in the registration fee class action (Meilleur and Automobile Protection Ass. vs Bank of Nova Scotia et al).
- Stewart Title Guaranty Company in a claim under the Bills of Exchange Act and the CBA Clearing Rules for forged endorsement in relation to a property sale and mortgage fraud via identity theft.
- ScotiaBank and Tangerine Bank in the mortgage prepayment charge class action (Haroch vs TD Bank et al).
- ScotiaBank in the Visa/MasterCard merchant interchange fee class action.
- Canadian chartered bank in a data breach crisis, avoiding potential litigation and recovering all damages and costs.
- Scotia Capital Inc. and ScotiaMcLeod in a series of suitability lawsuits and related IIROC investigations.
- MUHC in relation to all investigations into allegations of corruption by former officials in the awarding of the PPP contract for the construction of their new $1.3 billion super hospital on the Glen site.
- ScotiaBank in the hostile takeover litigation between Goldcorp and Osisko.
- Cormer Group Industries Inc. in its $25M claim against Bombardier in relation to cancellation of the Lear85 program.
- RBC in the $40 million class action instituted by Virginia Nelles on behalf of investors/clients of Earl Jones. Acted for RBC Dominion Securities in a related lawsuit.
- Mr. Réjean Hinse, a victim of wrongful conviction, in his suit for over $10 million in damages against the Attorney General of Québec and the Attorney General of Canada.
- TD Bank against Group Sutton Royal Inc. and others in all litigation relating to a complex kiting scheme.
- RBS Bank in an action for $45 million resulting from a financing affected by means of a fraudulent bank guarantee.
- A sports equipment manufacturer in an ICC international arbitration against a Japanese multi-national, for breach of a distribution contract; obtained an award for more than $1.5 million.
- Scotiabank and Tangerine Bank in the overlimit spending credit card class action (Pilon vs AMEX et al).
- Laurentian Bank of Canada in the NSF fees class action (Defrance vs Bank of Montreal et al).
- AIC Global Holdings Inc. in the market timing class action (Ravary vs CI Mutual Funds et al).
- ScotiaBank in the registration fee class action (Meilleur and Automobile Protection Ass. vs Bank of Nova Scotia et al).
- Stewart Title Guaranty Company in a claim under the Bills of Exchange Act and the CBA Clearing Rules for forged endorsement in relation to a property sale and mortgage fraud via identity theft.
- ScotiaBank and Tangerine Bank in the mortgage prepayment charge class action (Haroch vs TD Bank et al).
- ScotiaBank in the Visa/MasterCard merchant interchange fee class action.
- Canadian chartered bank in a data breach crisis, avoiding potential litigation and recovering all damages and costs.
- Scotia Capital Inc. and ScotiaMcLeod in a series of suitability lawsuits and related IIROC investigations.
- MUHC in relation to all investigations into allegations of corruption by former officials in the awarding of the PPP contract for the construction of their new $1.3 billion super hospital on the Glen site.
- ScotiaBank in the hostile takeover litigation between Goldcorp and Osisko.
- Cormer Group Industries Inc. in its $25M claim against Bombardier in relation to cancellation of the Lear85 program.
- RBC in the $40 million class action instituted by Virginia Nelles on behalf of investors/clients of Earl Jones. Acted for RBC Dominion Securities in a related lawsuit.
- Mr. Réjean Hinse, a victim of wrongful conviction, in his suit for over $10 million in damages against the Attorney General of Québec and the Attorney General of Canada.
- TD Bank against Group Sutton Royal Inc. and others in all litigation relating to a complex kiting scheme.
- RBS Bank in an action for $45 million resulting from a financing affected by means of a fraudulent bank guarantee.
- A sports equipment manufacturer in an ICC international arbitration against a Japanese multi-national, for breach of a distribution contract; obtained an award for more than $1.5 million.
