Practice areas

Criminal law

Since 1981, Louis Belleau, Ad. E., has represented persons charged with criminal offences before the Court of Québec, the Superior Court, the Québec Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. Representation covers every stage: arrest and interrogation, bail hearings, disclosure and preliminary inquiry, Charter applications, trial before judge alone or judge and jury, sentencing and appeal. The practice spans the full range of Criminal Code offences, including offences against the person, sexual offences, fraud and economic crime, drug offences, driving offences and complex investigations involving wiretaps or search warrants.

Penal and regulatory law

Beyond the Criminal Code, many provincial and federal statutes create penal offences carrying significant fines, licence suspensions and, in some cases, imprisonment. Corporations and their directors may be held liable. The practice covers prosecutions under the Québec Code of Penal Procedure, federal regulatory statutes (tax, securities, competition, environment, customs), Québec statutes (occupational health and safety, environment, consumer protection, provincial tax), corporate and director liability, and due diligence defences.

Disciplinary law

Professionals governed by the Québec Professional Code are subject to strict ethical rules, and a finding of guilt can lead to suspension or striking off the roll. Mr. Belleau advises from the moment a syndic's inquiry is received, accompanies professionals during meetings with the syndic, represents them before the disciplinary council and on sanction, and handles appeals before the Professions Tribunal, including cases where a criminal investigation proceeds in parallel.

Searches and investigations

Whether the police or a government agency (Canada Revenue Agency, Revenu Québec, the Autorité des marchés financiers, UPAC, CNESST and others) have taken interest in your activities or those of your company, or you are the target of a search warrant, the office intervenes at the investigation stage, before any charge is laid. Services include presence and advice during the execution of search warrants, protection of privileged documents, challenges to seizures, responses to production orders, and preparation for and accompaniment at interviews with investigators.

Appeals and the Supreme Court of Canada

Appellate courts intervene where an error of law was made, where the verdict is unreasonable or where the sentence is demonstrably unfit. Mr. Belleau has appeared many times before the Supreme Court of Canada and was appointed amicus curiae by the Court in four cases. He handles appeals before the Superior Court, the Québec Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, applications for leave to appeal and applications for release pending appeal. Appeal deadlines are short, generally 30 days, so consult promptly.

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice. Each situation must be assessed on its own facts.