Graeme leads BLG’s White Collar Criminal Defence and Corporate Investigations and International Trade and Investment groups. He is a very experienced trial and appellate advocate in the areas of white collar criminal defence, international trade and investment law, complex commercial disputes and public law.
Graeme is widely recognized as one of Canada's leading white collar criminal defence practitioners. He has been counsel in several of the most notable white collar and regulatory investigations and prosecutions in recent Canadian history, including the successful defence of one of the accused in the landmark bribery prosecution R. v. Barra, a precedent-setting FINTRAC enforcement action against a cryptocurrency exchange for alleged violations of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, and multiple high-profile securities regulatory proceedings. In addition, Graeme is frequently retained by companies to conduct internal investigations and instructed in related civil litigation.
Graeme additionally specializes in international trade law, where his practice encompasses litigation, investigations, transactional advice and compliance advice in regard to economic sanctions; import, export and technology transfer controls; defence trade controls; customs laws; anti-dumping, countervail and safeguard measures; and anti-corruption laws. Graeme regularly acts for Canadian and multinational companies in litigation before the Federal Court and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal; in audits, inspections and administrative proceedings conducted by the Canada Border Services Agency; and with respect to trade law issues implicated in domestic and cross-border transactions.
Graeme taught Trial Advocacy at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law for several years. He also previously taught Evidence at Osgoode Hall Law School as an adjunct professor. In addition, Graeme has testified as an expert witness on criminal and constitutional law issues before the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on multiple occasions.
White Collar Criminal Defence
- Counsel to leading cryptocurrency exchange in Ontario Securities Commission investigation.
- Counsel to leading cryptocurrency exchange in court application concerning seizure of alleged proceeds of crime.
- Acted in several Competition Bureau investigations regarding alleged price-fixing and misleading advertising.
- Successful defence of multinational aerospace company facing charges in relation to a workplace critical injury.
- Counsel to audit committee of a public company in internal investigation into certain related-party transactions.
- R. v. Barra – successful defence of an individual prosecuted under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act in landmark bribery prosecution.
- Counsel to an individual in a high profile investigation for alleged tax evasion arising out of the Panama Papers.
- Counsel to leading cryptocurrency exchange in Ontario Securities Commission investigation.
- Counsel to leading cryptocurrency exchange in court application concerning seizure of alleged proceeds of crime.
- Acted in several Competition Bureau investigations regarding alleged price-fixing and misleading advertising.
- Successful defence of multinational aerospace company facing charges in relation to a workplace critical injury.
- Counsel to audit committee of a public company in internal investigation into certain related-party transactions.
- R. v. Barra – successful defence of an individual prosecuted under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act in landmark bribery prosecution.
- Counsel to an individual in a high profile investigation for alleged tax evasion arising out of the Panama Papers.
International Trade and Investment Law
- Counsel to multinational corporation in enforcement action under the Customs Act.
- Successful defence of wholesale food distributor in prosecution under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.
- Represented individual founders of a technology company in internal investigation into alleged economic sanctions violations.
- Advised numerous companies with respect to compliance with economic sanctions imposed by Canada pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act.
- Advised numerous companies on blocking measures in relation to Cuba.
- Counsel to multinational corporation in enforcement action under the Customs Act.
- Successful defence of wholesale food distributor in prosecution under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act.
- Represented individual founders of a technology company in internal investigation into alleged economic sanctions violations.
- Advised numerous companies with respect to compliance with economic sanctions imposed by Canada pursuant to the Special Economic Measures Act and the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act.
- Advised numerous companies on blocking measures in relation to Cuba.
Public Law
- Counsel to a multinational company in an investigation by the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario into alleged violations of the Lobbyists Registration Act.
- Ontario (Attorney General) v. Bogaerts - counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association as intervener in a section 7 challenge to animal welfare legislation.
- Counsel to a multinational company in an investigation by the Office of the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario into alleged violations of the Lobbyists Registration Act.
- Ontario (Attorney General) v. Bogaerts - counsel to the Canadian Civil Liberties Association as intervener in a section 7 challenge to animal welfare legislation.
