Client Identification Requirements (By-Law 7.1 - Law Society of Ontario)

To combat fraud, the Law Society of Ontario (LSO), which governs lawyers and law firms practicing in the Province of Ontario, Canada, has amended its Bylaw 7.1 which now requires the identification and verification of Ridout & Maybee LLP’s clients.

The following information must now be obtained by us to comply with LSO identification requirements.

Individual:

Full name
Home address and home telephone number
Business address and phone number (if any)
Email address (if any)
Occupation(s)

Organization:

Organization’s full name
Organization’s business address and phone number
Organization’s incorporation or business identification number and the place of issuance, if applicable
The general nature of the type of business or businesses of activity or activities engaged in by the organization (not required if the organization is a financial institution, government body or a company that is not a private company)
Name, position and contact information of all individuals authorized to provide instructions on behalf of the organization

Exceptions:

Where we are acting as agent for another lawyer or paralegal licensed by LSO who has already identified the client
Where we are acting for a client who has been referred to us by another lawyer or paralegal licensed by LSO who has already identified the client

For more detailed information on By-Law 7.1 and its requirements, please visit the LSO website: https://www.lso.ca/getdoc/ae5feb9d-aa0e-4f25-ac51-6652de61e5de/identification-and-verification