Vancouver, B.C., June 6, 2022 — Cozen O’Connor introduced Canadian litigator Jeremy Gellis — a seasoned enforcement manager with the British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) — as the newest member of its fast-growing North American White Collar Defense & Investigations practice. Gellis joins the firm as a member and will represent clients facing securities regulatory proceedings, enforcement-related litigation, and investigation matters. He is the 14th attorney to join the firm’s Vancouver office since it opened in June 2021, further strengthening its Canadian-based Securities Litigation and White Collar Defense & Investigations practices.
As manager of the BCSC’s Litigation branch, Gellis oversaw a team of 14 litigators carrying out enforcement actions for fraud, misrepresentation, unregistered trading and advising, the illegal sale of securities, insider trading, and market manipulation. Gellis directed Commission litigators and worked closely with investigations staff to prosecute cases, recommend and provide enforcement-related legal opinions based on BCSC priorities and objectives, and coordinate with other securities regulators and law enforcement agencies.
Gellis also actively worked with the Capital Markets Regulation and Corporate Finance divisions of the BCSC and is uniquely positioned to assist clients with registration, transactional, and disclosure-related issues. Gellis brings rare, valuable knowledge about how Canadian securities regulators make enforcement decisions.
“As a litigator, Jeremy has appeared before securities commissions, all levels of British Columbia courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada,” said Brigeeta Richdale, vice chair of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice. “He brings our clients critical, first-hand knowledge of how white-collar cases are built and how they can be resolved before they reach the enforcement stage.”
“The Canadian offices are in a growth mode, focusing on recruiting top talent and leaders in the Canadian market,” said Shane Hardy, office managing counsel of Cozen O’Connor’s Toronto office. “We continue to attract results-oriented lawyers who have the experience to match our clients’ needs. Adding exceptional leaders, like Jeremy, is central to our mission of building a client-focused team that is dedicated to the highest service standards.”
Overseeing and resolving inquiries has long been a part of Gellis’ 22 years as a litigator. Prior to joining the BCSC, he was in private practice as a criminal defense attorney and served as an international staff attorney with the Claims Resolution Tribunal in Zurich, Switzerland — a U.S. federal court-created independent body. In that role, he was charged with resolving claims stemming from a Holocaust Victim Assets Litigation class-action lawsuit filed against Swiss banks and other Swiss entities.
“Being with the BCSC for more than a decade, I understand how Canadian securities regulators operate and can help our clients navigate what are often complex regulatory compliance and enforcement issues,” Gellis said. “That experience will help me not only defend clients facing allegations of wrongdoing, but also help them establish or update internal compliance measures to prevent similar issues from occurring again.”
Gellis earned his J.D. from York University Osgoode Hall Law School, his LL.M. from the University of London, and his B.Com. in finance from McGill University.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.
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