Toronto Professional Regulation Lawyers Protecting Your Licence and Reputation
The professional regulation lawyers at Damien Frost & Associates LLP are dedicated to protecting your professional standing. Our team is comprised of expert regulatory compliance lawyers and professional discipline lawyers based in Toronto, Ontario.
Our regulatory lawyers will guide you through addressing and resolving any complaints or allegations that threaten your licence, your livelihood, and your reputation.
Based in Toronto, Ontario, we represent professionals across regulated industries, including optometrists , pharmacists, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists facing:
- Allegations of negligence, professional misconduct, fraud or criminal behaviour
- Disciplinary hearings, or Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committees (ICRC)
- The appeal process for decisions made by professional colleges
We support professionals with practical legal solutions across all types of regulatory proceedings. Our services include:
- Complaints & Investigations
- Discipline Hearings & Tribunal Defence
- Licensing & Registration Matters
- Quasi-Criminal Prosecutions
- Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (HPARB) Representation
- Judicial Reviews & Appeals
- Injunctions & Interim Relief
- Administrative Law & Regulatory Defence
- Employment & Human Rights Law (for regulated professionals)
- Investigation Services & Risk Management
Don’t wait until your matter is sent to a disciplinary hearing. Click here to schedule a free consultation.
30+ Years Experience: Customizing Defences To Your Circumstances
Everything you have worked hard for — your ability to make a living, your reputation, your way of life — may be on the line because of a regulatory matter. It is crucial to have regulatory defence lawyers on your side who understand what matters to you.
With experience as both prosecution and defence counsel, Damien Frost & Associates LLP understands the inner workings of the legal system and how to obtain the best results for its clients. Our litigation experience as both prosecutors and defence counsel will help you achieve your goals.
Effective & Discreet Professional Defence Representation
Being the subject of a professional investigation or facing criminal charges is a stressful matter. It can easily be made worse by receiving unwanted attention from the media, alerting colleagues, clients, employers, neighbours and the public to your situation.
We appreciate the need for privacy in certain matters, and work diligently to resolve criminal matters in a discreet, quiet fashion, seeking the most favourable outcomes for our clients.
Contact Professional Regulation Lawyers For A Personalized Defence Strategy
To learn more about our practice or to arrange for a free initial consultation, call Damien Frost & Associates LLP at 437-837-5346 or contact us via email here.
Frequently Asked Questions
01. What is Regulatory Law or Regulatory Offences in Canada?
Regulatory Law relates to the rules in place that govern lawful activities, ranging from environmental protection to workplace safety and traffic laws. Regulatory offences arise when there is allegation that the applicable rules or standards have been violated. The purpose of regulatory law is to enforce and protect public standards, and to ensure compliance. In contrast to criminal offences, regulatory offences are not meant to punish individuals for morally blameworthy conduct. There are a variety of regulatory offences, ranging from mens rea offences, to strict liability, to absolute liability. Regulatory law can involve complex legal frameworks regulating both the industry and the enforcement mechanisms/agencies.
02. What Types of Regulatory Cases Do You Handle in Toronto?
Damien Frost & Associates LLP handles all types of Provincial and Federal regulatory cases. We have experience dealing with prosecutions under the Environmental Protection Act, the Food and Drugs Act, the Highway Traffic Act, and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
03. What is Professional Discipline in Canada?
Professional Discipline refers to complaints, investigations, hearings, and appeals between a regulated professional and their regulatory body. For example, a Pharmacist may be the subject of a complaint for a dispensing error at a pharmacy and be investigated and/or disciplined by the Ontario College of Pharmacists for failing to meet the Standards of Practice. Professional Discipline is focused on whether a regulated professional has engaged in conduct that has breached the applicable Standards of Practice or engaged in conduct that would be relevant to their suitability to practice. Professional Discipline is distinct from other civil proceedings, such as medical malpractice or claims for damages.
04. What Types of Professional Discipline Cases Do You Handle in Toronto?
Damien Frost & Associates LLP represents a variety of regulated professionals, ranging from healthcare professionals such as physiotherapists and psychotherapists, to lawyers, paralegals, accountants, and engineers. We represent professionals dealing with investigations, complaints, discipline hearings, appeals and judicial reviews, as well as other matters such as Fitness to Practice Committee proceedings, health inquiries, and licensing matters before Registration Committees, which can include Good Character hearings.
05. Do I Need To Be Located In Toronto to Work With Damien Frost & Associates LLP?
No. Our office is fully paperless and we offer services to clients throughout Ontario. You can leverage our experience with your regulatory body without having to travel to our office or incur travel expenses if you are located anywhere in Ontario. We represent clients from Windsor to Ottawa and from Toronto to more remote locations in northern Ontario.
06. What Health Care Professionals Does Damien Frost & Associates LLP Represent?
We represent all 26 of the self-governing health professions listed in the Regulated Health Professions Act, ranging from Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologist to Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners. See our website for the complete list of health care professionals we represent.
07. Do I Need Legal Representation If I Have a Matter Before the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee ("ICRC")?
You should consult with a lawyer before providing written submissions or records as part of any complaint or investigation before the ICRC. The ICRC process is done entirely in writing and you want them to understand you as a personal and a professional, not just a file number. Any written submissions or records provided can be used against you at a discipline hearing. The ICRC has a wide range of options when making a decision that could have a significant and permanent impact on your professional reputation and standing. Your response should address both the allegations and issues, but also the legal framework and similar cases/outcomes. Most professionals have liability insurance that may cover your legal fees responding to a complaint or investigation. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation.
08. How Much Does a Professional Regulatory Lawyer Cost in Ontario?
The costs a professional might incur will depend on the complexity of their matter and the amount of time required. Our office is dedicated to providing exceptional legal representation without charging “Big Law” fees. Our hourly rates are competitive and we do everything we can to minimize legal fees and surprises. Many regulated professionals are covered by their professional liability insurance and we offer free 30-minute consultations. Contact us today to discuss your matter.
