Corporate Compliance Lawyers

Running a business in Quebec comes with a steady list of legal obligations: yearly filings, corporate records, privacy rules, French-language requirements and industry permits. A corporate compliance lawyer can tell you which of these apply to your company, put simple systems in place and help you fix gaps before they become a problem. On this page you can compare lawyers who handle corporate compliance, see their rates and availability, and book a consultation online.

Corporate compliance is one part of business law. For company disputes, contracts and other corporate matters, see our page on business and corporate lawyers.

What a corporate compliance lawyer does

Compliance work is mostly about prevention. Depending on your business, a lawyer can:

• Review where you stand: a check-up of your filings, records and policies to spot what is missing or out of date.
• Keep your corporate records in order: minute book, registers, annual resolutions and shareholder meetings.
• Handle government filings: annual updating declarations and changes to your registered information.
• Build privacy and language compliance: policies, consent practices and French-language requirements.
• Advise directors and officers: on their duties, their personal exposure and how to document decisions.

Annual filings with the Registraire des entreprises

Most businesses operating in Quebec are registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec, and must file an annual updating declaration to confirm or correct their information, such as their address, directors and main activities. Changes during the year often have to be declared as well. Missing filings can lead to penalties and, if ignored long enough, to the company being struck from the register. Federal corporations registered in Quebec have these Quebec obligations in addition to their federal filings.

Minute book, annual resolutions and meetings

A corporation must keep its corporate records: articles, by-laws, registers of shareholders and directors, and the minutes and resolutions of its board and shareholders. Each year, shareholders typically approve the financial statements, elect the directors and deal with the auditor or waive an audit, either at a meeting or by written resolution. An up-to-date minute book matters most when you least expect it: when you sell the business, bring in an investor, borrow from a bank or face a dispute.

Individuals with significant control and transparency

Both Quebec and federal law now require many corporations to identify the individuals who ultimately own or control them, beyond the names on the share register. Federal corporations keep a register of individuals with significant control and report it to Corporations Canada, and Quebec requires enterprises to declare their ultimate beneficiaries to the Registraire des entreprises. The rules on who counts and what becomes public are technical, so it is worth having a lawyer review your structure.

Privacy: Quebec's Law 25

Quebec's private-sector privacy law, as modernized by Law 25, applies to businesses of every size. In general terms, a business must have a person in charge of the protection of personal information (by default, its highest authority, who can delegate the role) and publish that person's contact details, adopt privacy policies, obtain valid consent, and keep a register of confidentiality incidents, reporting serious ones. The Commission d'accès à l'information oversees these rules and publishes guidance for businesses.

French language: the Charter and Bill 96

The Charter of the French language, strengthened by Bill 96, affects how a business operates in Quebec: the language of contracts, invoices, signage, product information, websites and the workplace. Employees generally have the right to work in French, and larger businesses have francization obligations. The Office québécois de la langue française administers these rules and supports businesses through the process.

Industry licences and permits

Many activities require a licence or permit from a regulator, for example in construction, food, financial services, transport or consumer sales. A lawyer can identify the permits your activities need, help with applications and renewals, and advise you if a regulator opens an inspection or investigation.

Directors' duties and personal liability

Directors and officers must act with prudence and diligence, and with honesty and loyalty in the interest of the corporation. In some situations, the law makes them personally liable for certain company debts, such as unpaid employee wages or tax remittances, even though the business is a separate legal person. Good compliance, documented decisions and appropriate insurance are the main ways directors protect themselves. A lawyer can explain what applies to your role and what to do if the company is in difficulty.

When to get a lawyer

• Your minute book has not been updated in a while, or you are not sure it exists.
• You are preparing to sell, raise money, borrow or bring in a new shareholder.
• You collect personal information from clients or employees and have no privacy policy.
• You received a notice from a regulator, the Registraire des entreprises or the Commission d'accès à l'information.
• You are joining a board, or you are a director of a company facing financial trouble.

Preparing for your consultation

• Your company's name, Quebec enterprise number and, if federal, its corporation number.
• The minute book, or whatever corporate records you have.
• Recent filings and any notices received from government bodies.
• Existing policies (privacy, language, employment) and a list of your permits.
• A short list of questions and what worries you most.

Compare and book on JustiConnect

Browse the lawyers listed below, filter by location, rates and availability, and book a consultation directly. You can also search all corporate compliance lawyers or see corporate compliance lawyers in Montreal. For tips on picking the right fit, read our guide on how to choose a lawyer in Quebec.

Frequently asked questions

What are examples of corporate compliance violations?

Common ones include missing annual filings, an outdated minute book, collecting personal information without proper consent or a privacy officer, contracts or signage that do not meet French-language rules, and operating without a required permit. Most are easier and cheaper to fix early.

Does a small business need to worry about compliance?

Yes. Annual filings, privacy rules and French-language requirements apply to small businesses too. The work is lighter than for a large company, but the basics still need to be in place.

Can I keep my own minute book?

You can, but many businesses ask a lawyer to maintain it, prepare the annual resolutions and keep registers current, so the records are reliable when a bank, buyer or investor asks for them.

Who is responsible for privacy in my company?

By default, the person with the highest authority in the business is responsible for protecting personal information. That role can be delegated in writing to someone else, whose title and contact details must be published.

Can a lawyer help if a regulator contacts me?

Yes. A lawyer can assess the notice, help you respond, correct the problem and deal with the regulator on your behalf.