Ronald Audette Partner


Speaks:  English, French

Year of Call: 1989 - Quebec

Primary phone: +1 514-392-9559

Fax: +1 514-876-9559

Email: ronald.audette@gowlingwlg.com

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Primary office:  Montréal



Ronald Audette

Ronald Audette is a Partner in Gowling WLG's Montréal office.

Ronald regularly represents financial institutions in cases involving banking transactions and banking matters, such as litigation involving fraud, international money seizures and transfers, letters of credit and bills of exchange, civil liability actions against banks, and the enforcement of their securities as well as class action proceedings.

He also regularly represents clients in complex commercial litigation matters, including shareholder disputes and extraordinary measures aimed at protecting the rights of businesses, such as injunctions and seizures before judgement, in a broad range of industries.

Ronald is a seasoned litigator who pleads regularly before first and appeal instances

Career & Recognition

Filter timeline:
  • 2021

    • Rankings & Awards
       2021
      Martindale-Hubbell High Professional Performance Distinction
    • Career
       2021
      Member of the Québec Bar Professional Fees Arbitration Committee
  • 2006

    • Career
       2006
      Member of the Bar of Montréal's liaison Committee with the Superior Court in commercial matters
  • 1998

    • Career
       1998
      Member of the Bar of Montréal's liaison Committee with the Superior Court in civil matters
  • 1989

    • Qualifications (Year of Call/Admission, etc.)
       1989
      Year of Call, Quebec
  • 1988

    • Education
       1988
      University of Montréal, LLB

Insights & Resources

Representative Work

  • In 2021, Ronald successfully defended RBC, in first instance, in appeal and in Supreme Court of Canada, against an Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action regarding over limit fees charged to credit cards holders, said case involving the interpretation of the Federal Credit Business Practices Regulation and the Québec Consumer Protection Act.
  • In 2021, Ronald successfully represented American Iron & Metal inc. in a major fraud claim filed by American Iron & Metal inc. against several Defendants.
  • In 2019, Ronald successfully defended RBC in first instance against an Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action with respect to mortgages prepayment charges.
  • Representing several financial institutions in multimillion-dollar cases involving fraud committed by employees, bank verification agreements, clients' obligation to verify cheques and to implement internal measures to prevent fraud.
  • Representing clients in multimillion-dollar fraud cases known as the "President Fraud" and implementing strategies and extraordinary recourses to trace and recover stolen funds.
  • Successfully defended the Royal Bank of Canada against one of the largest damages claims ever brought in Quebec: $95 million in principal and interest (the claim was filed by an ecclesiastical corporation in connection with the financing of Marché Central).
  • Successfully represented the MacEwan University in a $12 million fraud case involving international tracing and seizure of funds in Canada and China.
  • Successfully represented as Plaintiff American Iron & Metal LLP in obtaining the first Norwich Order issued by the Quebec Court of Appeal in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit involving the tracing of assets.
  • Represented Groupe Parim and Mr. Pierre Parent in connection with a special partners dispute related to a high-end real estate complex valued at more than $100 million known as Le Crystal de la Montagne.
  • Defending shareholders' rights in several shareholder disputes.
  • Successfully represented the Royal Bank of Canada in a dispute related to a fraudulent loan application and the seizure and recovery of the loan proceeds.
  • Represented a financial institution in a case involving a network of fraudsters cloning debit cards and the seizure of funds.
  • Successfully represented a financial institution in a dispute contesting the validity of a penalty clause imposed in the case of an accelerated repayment of a commercial loan.
  • Represented the Royal Bank of Canada in connection with a lawsuit concerning a seizure of funds under the American Cuban Assets Control Regulations.
  • Represented the Royal Bank of Canada in contesting an international seizure of one of its client's account in the Bahamas.
  • Represented a financial institution in connection with a Nigerian fraud claim; also represented a Quebec company in connection with this type of fraud.
  • Represented two creditors in connexion with a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the Caisse d'économie des Portugais de Montréal concerning COFO's banking operations.
  • Defended the Auger Group in a shareholders dispute involving 27 different lawsuits and millions of dollars.
  • Acting for Bank of Montreal in a case related to the recovery of fraudulent cheques deposited into a customer account.
  • Successfully defended a financial institution in a case involving a debit card fraud and a liability suit against the financial institution for closing the customer's account and for the credit rating of the customer.
  • Successfully defended Royal Bank of Canada with respect to a multimillion-dollar lawsuit in a case involving a damage claim related to a loan not granted by the financial institution.
  • In December 2019, speaker to members of the Montréal Bar Association – How to Protect your Enterprises from Fraud: Common Examples and Best Practices.

Cases in the last 12 months :

  • In 2021, Ronald successfully defended RBC, in first instance, in appeal and in Supreme Court of Canada, against an Application for Authorization to Institute a Class Action regarding over limit fees charged to credit cards holders, said case involving the interpretation of the Federal Credit Business Practices Regulation and the Québec Consumer Protection Act.
  • In 2021, Ronald successfully represented American Iron & Metal inc. in a major fraud claim filed by American Iron & Metal inc. against several Defendants.
  • Representing several financial institutions in multimillion-dollar cases involving fraud committed by employees, bank verification agreements, clients' obligation to verify cheques and to implement internal measures to prevent fraud.
  • Representing clients in multimillion-dollar fraud cases known as the "President Fraud" and implementing strategies and extraordinary recourses to trace and recover stolen funds.
  • Obtaining several protective measures, seizures and injunctive reliefs, to protect several Plaintiffs in fraud cases.
  • Defending shareholders' rights in several private company shareholders dispute.
  • Defending a financial institution with respect to a dispute related to the closing of a customer's account after the discovery of a fraud committed by the customer.
  • Successfully represented a financial institution in a dispute related to a fraud committed by its former employees.
  • Defending several financial institutions in several cases related to the negotiation of falsely alleged fraudulent cheques.