
Welcome To Investigation Counsel PC
Contact UsFraud Recovery Assessments
While Fraud and Debt Recovery Litigation is the focus of our firm, Fraud Recovery Assessments are a service we provide to fraud victims on a fixed rate or complementary basis. Whether our assessment is fee based or complementary depends on the complexity of the matter and whether we are retained for the recovery litigation.
Class Action Litigation
Investigation Counsel regularly acts for Canadian consumers and investors in class actions. Whether you have been harmed by a defective product, a data breach, or an investment misrepresentation, Investigation Counsel provides knowledgeable and timely guidance and advocacy to protect your rights.
Anton Piller Orders
At Investigation Counsel, we as the ISS for law firms seeking to preserve evidence by way of an Anton Piller Order. Our policing experience and extensive networks ensure that Anton Piller Orders are executed peacefully and properly.
Due Dilligence
Fraud and Debt Recovery Litigation is the focus of our firm. We act as counsel to corporate, institutional and individual victims of fraud in the context of investment transactions, employer scenarios and in business or personal relationships
Meet Our Team
Norman J. Groot
Founder & Managing Director
Based on his police experience and his experience thereafter as a litigator, Norman has joined forces with other lawyers with police experience and created the law firm Investigation Counsel Professional Corporation.
Norman’s practice is focused on fraud recovery litigation for retailers, insurers, private companies and individuals who have incurred losses to rogue employees, officers or directors, or due to failed investments or contractual arrangements with ill intentioned third party service providers or others.
John Archibald
Principal
John is an experienced class action lawyer whose practice focuses on protecting consumer and investor rights. He regularly acts in cases involving dangerous or shoddy products; misleading advertising; improper billing practices involving hidden charges; breaches of trust and fiduciary duty; and misleading investor disclosure. He has a multi-jurisdictional practice and has appeared in matters before courts in British Columbia, Ontario, and California.
Erin Stoik
Associate Lawyer
Erin’s interest in legal issues related to investigations and privacy started during her internship on the Ipperwash Inquiry involving the OPP. Subsequent to the Inquiry, Erin has been a lawyer working with Investigation Counsel PC since its inception in 2007. Her practice has been focused on defending police officers and private sector investigators in all matters of civil, criminal and administrative litigation, as well as Investigation Counsel PC’s representation of industry associations.
Ashley Ferguson
Associate Lawyer
Ashley joined Investigation Counsel PC as an Articling Student in 2016 and completed her Articles with the firm before being called to the Bar in Ontario in June 2017. Ashley regularly represents clients in the Ontario Superior Court and has represented clients at other levels including Small Claims and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Geoff Keeble
Associate Lawyer
Geoff joined Investigation Counsel PC as a law student in 2016. His interest in fraud investigations and advocacy for victims of financial crime brought him back to the firm throughout his time in law school. In June 2019, Geoff completed his Articles with Investigation Counsel PC and was called to the Bar. Geoff represents clients in the Ontario Superior Court and has appeared before the Small Claims Court and Human Rights Tribunal as well.
Our Services
Fraud & Debt Recovery Litigation
Fraud and Debt Recovery Litigation is the focus of our firm. We act as counsel to corporate, institutional and individual victims of fraud in the context of investment transactions, employer scenarios and in business or personal relationships
Fraud Recovery Assessments
While Fraud and Debt Recovery Litigation is the focus of our firm, Fraud Recovery Assessments are a service we provide to fraud victims on a fixed rate or complementary basis. Whether our assessment is fee based or complementary depends on the complexity of the matter and whether we are retained for the recovery litigation.
Class Action Litigation
Investigation Counsel regularly acts for Canadian consumers and investors in class actions. Whether you have been harmed by a defective product, a data breach, or an investment misrepresentation, Investigation Counsel provides knowledgeable and timely guidance and advocacy to protect your rights.
Meet Our Team
Norman J. Groot
Based on his police experience and his experience thereafter as a litigator, Norman has joined forces with other lawyers with police experience and created the law firm Investigation Counsel Professional Corporation.
Norman’s practice is focused on fraud recovery litigation for retailers, insurers, private companies and individuals who have incurred losses to rogue employees, officers or directors, or due to failed investments or contractual arrangements with ill intentioned third party service providers or others
John Archibald
John is an experienced lawyer who maintains a broad commercial litigation practice with an emphasis on protecting investor rights. He regularly acts for shareholders in investor class actions, group actions, and individual actions involving primary market (prospectus) or secondary market liability, shareholder oppression, breach of fiduciary duty, insider trading and tipping, market manipulation, and professional negligence involving audits or technical reports under National Instrument 43-101. John also has experience acting for secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. He has appeared before all levels of the Ontario Court.
Erin Stoik
An academic at heart, Erin has written theses at both the undergrad and graduate level as well was working towards a PhD in Philosophy of Education before deciding to pursue a career in law. With an extensive background in analytical research and writing, Erin brings her research skills to bear on a wide variety of areas of law including torts, civil procedure and criminal law
Ashley Ferguson
Ashley joined Investigation Counsel PC as an Articling Student in 2016 and completed her Articles with the firm before being called to the Bar in Ontario in June 2017. Ashley regularly represents clients in the Ontario Superior Court and has represented clients at other levels including Small Claims and the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Geoff Keeble
Geoff joined Investigation Counsel PC as a law student in 2016. His interest in fraud investigations and advocacy for victims of financial crime brought him back to the firm throughout his time in law school. In June 2019, Geoff completed his Articles with Investigation Counsel PC and was called to the Bar. Geoff represents clients in the Ontario Superior Court and has appeared before the Small Claims Court and Human Rights Tribunal as well.
From Investigation Counsel PC’s Blog
A Novel Norwich (Tracing) Order in the Context of a Bank Account Phishing Fraud
The focus of our firm’s investigation and law practice is fraud recovery. We only act for victims of fraud. In this context, we frequently file applications for “tracing” orders – referred to “Norwich” orders in the civil law context, and “production” orders in the criminal setting.
Responding to a Mareva: The Recovery of Donor Funds in the Canadian Freedom Convoy Litigation
This paper is for our presentation at the Association of Certified Forensic Investigators of Canada on October 5, 2022. A corresponding power-point will be used at the presentation. The statements...
What Fraud Victims Should Know about… Striking a Rogue’s Defence in the Context of Mareva Injunctions
Many victims of fraud want their day in Court but often, due to the misconduct of the rogues they are suing, it is difficult to obtain. Instead, due to the inefficiencies of the Canadian justice system,
What Fraud Victims Should Know about Debts Not Discharged by Bankruptcy – False Pretences, Misappropriation of Trade Secrets and Breach of Confidence
The case of Shaver-Kudell Manufacturing Inc. v. Knight Manufacturing Inc., 2021 ONCA 925, released December 29, 2021, addressed the issue of whether a judgment for misappropriated trade secrets and...
2021 Update: Why the Criminal Process is Secondary in Fraud Recovery –Part II: Criminal Funding Rights Override Victim Mareva Recovery Rights
In August 2019, we published a blog entitled Why the Criminal Process is Secondary in Fraud Recovery – Part II: Criminal Funding Rights Override Victim Mareva Recovery Rights.[1] The recent Madan...
A 2020 Judicial Decision on Relationship Fraud
On November 16, 2020, Justice Eileen Adair of the Superior Court of British Columbia published a 75-page, 548-paragraph judgment in the relationship fraud case Huang v. Li, 2020 BCSC 1727. The trial...
Toronto Office:
350 Bay Street. Suite 1100
Toronto, Ontario.
M5H 2S6
416-637-3150
Vancouver Office:
1130 West Pender Street. Suite 1650
Vancouver, BC.
V6E 4A4
1-(800)213-8143