Melissa Feriozzo, Toronto

About Melissa

Melissa's practice is focused on the evidentiary aspects of complex civil and regulatory litigation, investigations and enforcement proceedings, securities litigation and professional liability class actions, and corporate and shareholder disputes. Melissa works closely with the Blakes Litigation & Dispute Resolution team to plan and execute the evidence-based phases of mediations, arbitrations, motions, hearings and trials. This includes conducting detailed analyses of documentary evidence, merits assessments, damages analyses, and responses to regulatory disclosure requests.

With significant experience in e-discovery technologies and techniques, Melissa helps clients leverage the resources of Blakes inSource for complex review projects. She works extensively with accounting and audit firm clients, financial institutions, public issuers, and other capital market participants. Melissa's deep understanding of audit files, combined with her creative problem-solving skills and ability to quickly synthesize and assess complex evidence, is highly valued by clients.

Melissa was called to the Bar in 2017 and joined Blakes in 2018.

Select Experience

Recent matters in which Melissa has been involved include representing:

Canadian and international accounting firms in civil claims alleging improper conduct of audits, including claims brought by audit clients, receivers, and shareholders/unitholders of audit clients
A large accounting firm in an Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) enforcement proceeding and related class and other civil actions alleging contraventions of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards in connection with its audits of a group of investment funds
An Ontario broker-dealer in an Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) enforcement proceeding alleging misuse of and failure to safeguard confidential information
Financial institutions, financial advisors, brokers and dealers regarding civil and regulatory allegations of unsuitable investment advice and other claims of negligence, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty
An insurance company in a class action brought on behalf of 73,000 policyholders alleging misrepresentation of management and performance of a segregated fund product