Top 10 Dos And Don’ts For When Competition Enforcers Knock On Your Door

Search warrants have been a longstanding tool in the Competition Bureau's arsenal, and domestic and international "dawn raids" are standard in almost all significant cartel investigations.

Don't let a dawn raid catch you unprepared. Here are the top 10 dos and don'ts for managing a search and seizure.

Do

1. Remain calm and cooperative when the competition officers arrive.
2. Record the officers' time of arrival and ask for identification. Escort the officers to a meeting room and assign an employee to accompany them.
3. Contact external counsel. Ask officers to delay the search until external counsel arrives. This request may be granted or denied.
4. Ask the officers to provide you with the warrant authorizing the search. Immediately provide copies of the warrant to external counsel and appropriate employees.